Cardiff City vs Luton Town FC (30th Aug 2022)

Report | Cardiff City 1-2 Luton Town

The Hatters recorded a second successive double in south Wales with Luke Freeman and Gabe Osho both netting their first goals for the club to record a 2-1 win at Cardiff City Stadium.

Following hot on the heels of victory along the M4 at Swansea last week, Town leapfrogged their opponents into the top half of the table by securing another three points - making it six points from both trips to south Wales for the second season in a row.

Nathan Jones named an unchanged team from Friday's 1-1 draw against Sheffield United, with Elijah Adebayo partnering Carlton Morris up front, the latter who had scored twice in his last two matches.

The only alteration came on the bench, where Henri Lansbury was named amongst the substitutes instead of Admiral Muskwe, having not featured since picking up a knock in the Carabao Cup first round defeat to Newport three weeks ago.

Jordan Clark had seen a long range effort deflected well wide in the early stages, but it was Ethan Horvath who was the first goalkeeper called into action, the American having to get down to his right to turn a Max Watters drive away in the 11th minute.

Sheyi Ojo spurned a better opening a minute later, stabbing over the bar from close range as Town struggled to clear a corner, before Niels Nkounkou shot wide of the target from distance just before the quarter-of-an-hour mark.

Freeman was the first player into referee James Linington's notepad for a foul on Andy Rinomhota in the 21st minute, but Adebayo was soon causing concern in the Bluebirds' penalty area, attempting to round Ryan Allsop before being forced back, then Morris drew a first save out of the former Wycombe and Derby keeper.

In between those Hatters chances, Ojo had Horvath scampering across his line to make sure a curling effort went the right side of his right post, as the game developed into an end-to-end affair.

Cardiff captain Joe Ralls was next to go close, his 25-yarder always rising over Horvath's bar, before Morris turned impressively in the box and flashed a 41st-minute cross-shot across the face of Allsop's goal.

Amari'i Bell whipped in an inviting cross for Adebayo a minute before the break, but Nkounkou did well to ease him away from the ball as he looked to attack it at the far post, with a yellow card for the Town striker the only other incident of note, for a late challenge on Mahlon Romeo, before the break.

Jones made a change at half-time, Fred Onyedinma coming on for his first appearance of the season in place of Reece Burke, who had required treatment for a facial injury early on.

James Bree went to centre-half with Onyedinma deployed as right wing-back, and his impact was immediate, the former Wycombe man beating his man and drilling a cross from the byline for Freeman to volley past Allsop from six yards out in the 47th minute.

Cardiff tried to mount a response, Romeo skimming a low shot wide of the far post, but Jordan Clark was controlling the midfield and he was the next to have a sight of goal, although his volley from the edge of the area was too high.

Jones replaced the goalscorer, Freeman, with Osho on 56 minutes and Town went close again within seconds, Bell and Campbell pressing Cardiff on their own 18-yard line to present Morris with a shooting opportunity, but his right-footed curler wouldn't come back enough to find the far corner.

Osho's impact was perhaps not as immediate, but equally telling as he met Bree's outswinging 62nd-minute free-kick with a far post volley that doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute.

Osho was soon into Linington's book for a foul on Nkounkou, but the Hatters were now in complete control, Morris attempting a 45-yard chip with Allsop well out of his goal, before the summer signing from Barnsley was replaced by Cameron Jerome.

Bree sent a 25-yard free-kick narrowly over the City bar on 73 minutes after Clark was brought down in full flight by Cardiff sub Romaine Sawyers. Then he had to be brave at the other end to throw himself in front of a shot from another City sub, Jaden Philogene, when the hosts looked certain to halve the deficit.

They did just with five minutes remaining as Sawyers cracked a 25-yard shot past Horvath into the bottom corner, and Jones quickly brought on Luke Berry and Cauley Woodrow.

It was a second win of the season for the Hatters as they moved up to 9th place in the table ahead of Saturday's home match against Wigan Athletic.

GOALS:

LT - Freeman 47, Osho 62

CC - Sawyers 85

ATT: 17,202 (421 away fans)

Nathan Jones' take on Cardiff win!

Nathan Jones believed his side showcased all of their best attributes to beat Cardiff City tonight.

Luke Freeman and Gabe Osho scored their first Luton goals in a brilliant second-half performance to give the Hatters a second win of the season – both of which have come in Wales.

Town have picked up seven points from a possible nine in the last three matches and after the game, Jones said: “We’re probably disappointed we haven’t got nine points because I thought we were excellent against Sheffield United and they’ve shown what a wonderful side they are today by beating Reading 4-0.

“We’ve been up and down the M4 with this ridiculous schedule and we’ve shown we’re resilient. We’ve been good on the road, we were excellent at Swansea and excellent again tonight.

“I thought first half we weren’t quite as fluent, we weren’t as aggressive as we needed to be but we still had the better chances, better situations so we knew we could score a goal. Then we made really bold changes in terms of going aggressive second half and we got our rewards.

“To be honest with you, we’ve had some real good chances late on – Cameron Jerome is clean through and can put it to bed but I was very pleased because we’ve shown every part of our character tonight. Resilience, aggression, quality in the final third and it’s a tough place to come. To beat Cardiff City again this year is a real good coup for us.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv7BVNZp_V0 – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbdyij7p0p0 – NJ interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUrpPrXALp0 – full time scenes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eb3G_J21Hao – Gabe Osho interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjHDlHunRZk – reverse angle

Freeman and Osho on target as Luton win in Wales once more

Championship: Cardiff City 1 Luton Town 2

Luke Freeman and Gabe Osho both scored their first goals for the club as Luton won at Cardiff City for the second successive season with a terrific victory this evening.

Although a late strike by Romaine Sawyers led to some nerves jangling in the final moments, Nathan Jones' side have now taken seven points from nine, climbing to ninth in the table.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones went with an unchanged side from the team who drew 1-1 with Sheffield United on Friday night, although midfielder Henri Lansbury replaced Admiral Muskwe on the bench.

The visitors started by far the brighter, with the ball almost exclusively in and around the Bluebirds penalty area during the opening five minutes, although it wouldn't quite drop for a clear-cut opportunity.

After Reece Burke required treatment for a head injury when landing heavily following an aerial duel, it seemed to puncture Town's early momentum, the hosts switched on far quicker from the restart, Max Watters' low attempt drawing a smart save from Ethan Horvath who got down well to parry behind.

Cardiff then had another opportunity which they might well have done better from, the visitors defence caught out by a header and Sheyi Ojo lofting over from close range with Horvath diving straight at him.

Niels Nkounkou dragged wide from 25 yards on 14 minutes too as Town's early dominance had definitely faded.

Midway through the first period, the game then became stretched, Elijah Adebayo stealing in ahead of Ryan Allsop to reach a backpass, but the keeper was able to shut the angles down and close out any shot.

Play was immediately transferred to the other end, with Ojo 20 yards from goal, his curler narrowly falling wide of the target.

Back came Luton once more, Morris beating the offside trap, much to the annoyance of the home supporters in line with the referee's assistant, and after cutting inside his man, went for goal rather than try to locate a team-mate, Allsop spreading himself well.

The game calmed down somewhat, Joe Ralls whizzing one just over the top from 25 yards after a Hatters counter had broken down.

Town were then able to gain a modicum of control, shutting down any Bluebirds breaks, and with Morris holding the ball up impressively, able to wrest the initiative back, Adebayo just not able to reach Bell's searching cross at the far post.

Boss Jones made one change at the break, bringing on Fred Onyedinma for his first minutes of the season in place of Burke, the sub going to wingback as James Bree dropped into the back three.

The move paid instant dividends as the sub was found by an exquisite crossfield pass by Clark, and set about running at his marker Nkounkou to reach the byline and deliver a pinpoint ball that Freeman volleyed past Allsop for his first goal in Luton colours.

Mark Harris sliced miles over as Cardiff tried to respond, while Ralls gave up when a throughball would have picked him out after rolling under Clark's foot, Mahlon Romeo also off target.

With home keeper Allsop looking far ambitious in possession than he was during his Wycombe days, the hosts tried to play out from a goal kick, only to find Luton's press alive to the situation, Morris curling inches wide of a third in as many games.

Town did double their advantage on 62 minutes though when Onyedinma was able to win a free kick on the right flank and Bree swung a magnificent set-piece which could have been converted by a number of unmarked Town players.

Dan Potts wasn't quite able to, but there were still two left at the back post who were, Osho, only just on for Freeman, prodding home just before Tom Lockyer could do so, wheeling away to celebrate in front of the joyous away end.

With Allsop continuing to come out of his are with regularity, the stopper almost lost out to Adebayo, Morris trying his luck from fully 45 yards, the home keeper able to backpedal and coolly bring down on his thigh.

City's efforts continued to look more in hope rather than expectation, Andy Rinomhota tamely wide from the edge of the box.

Town then won a free kick which first team coach Alan Sheehan would have loved to take, scoring from an almost exact position in the stadium three years ago, as this time Bree stepped up, whipping an effort only just over the top.

City poured forward in an attempt to try and halve the deficit, but were met by a Town defence determined not to be breached, Bree producing an absolutely wonderful block to prevent Jaden Philogene from beating Horvath, when he appeared destined to do so.

The hosts gave themselves a lifeline when they finally did have their radar on with six minutes left, Sawyers picking up a poor clearance and rifling into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Jones brought on Cauley Woodrow and Luke Berry to try and shore up his side for the closing moments, but Cardiff might have been on level terms, a bouncing cross catching Town's defence out once more, Jaden Philogene twisting but unable to keep his header down.

Rather than that led a grand crescendo for Cardiff, Luton managed to impose themselves once more, with Woodrow seeing plenty of the ball, and from his flick, fellow replacement Cameron Jerome should have put the result beyond doubt, only for Nkounkou to make a terrific sliding challenge.

With the Bluebirds remaining intent on passing it out from the back, a poor sideways ball that went straight out was gleefully seized on by Luton as they made it two wins from three with yet another brilliant away day in Wales.

Bluebirds: Ryan Allsop, Mahlon Romeo, Ryan Wintle, Joe Ralls (C, Rubin Colwill 59), Sheyi Ojo, Cedric Kipre, Mark Harris, Andy Rinomhota (Romaine Sawyers 70), Max Watters (Jaden Philogene 59), Niels Nkounkou, Perry Ng.

Subs not used: Jak Alnwick, Joel Bagan, Gavin Whyte, Jack Simpson.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, James Bree, Reece Burke (Fred Onyedinma 46), Tom Lockyer, Dan Potts (C), Amari'i Bell, Allan Campbell (Luke Berry 87), Luke Freeman (Gabe Osho 56), Jordan Clark, Carlton Morris (Cameron Jerome 69), Elijah Adebayo (Cauley Woodrow 87).

Subs not used: Matt Macey, Henri Lansbury.

Referee: James Linington.

Booked: Freeman 21, Adebayo 43, Osho 63.

Jones hails 'every part' of Town's character after picking up Cardiff victory

Town chief reacts to Bluebirds triumph

Hatters boss Nathan Jones praised every part of his side’s character after they recorded yet another victory in Wales this month, beating Cardiff City 2-1 this evening.

Luke Freeman and Gabe Osho both scored their first goals for the club in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, as although Romaine Sawyers pulled one back late on, Town had done enough to make it three unbeaten and an impressive seven points from a possible nine.

Speaking afterwards, when asked how good a week it has been for the club, Jones said: “It really has, we’re probably disappointed we haven’t got nine points as I thought we were excellent against Sheffield United and they’ve shown what a wonderful side they are today by beating Reading 4-0.

"But we’ve been up and down this M4 with a ridiculous schedule and we’ve shown we are resilient.

"We’ve been good on the road, we were excellent at Swansea, excellent against Sheffield United and been excellent tonight.

"I thought first half we weren’t quite as fluent in terms of we weren’t as aggressive as we needed to be, but still had the better chances, had the better situations, knew we could score a goal.

"Then we made some real bold changes, we’ve really gone aggressive second half and got the rewards.

"We had some real good chances late one, Cameron Jerome’s clean in and could have put it to bed, but I’m very pleased as we’ve shown every part of our character tonight.

"Resilience, aggression, quality in the final third, and it’s a tough place to come.

"To beat Cardiff City again this year is a real good coup for us.”