Coventry City vs Luton Town FC (8th Mar 2022)

Report | Coventry City 0-1 Luton Town

The Hatters moved back into the Sky Bet Championship play-off places with another huge midweek win on the road at Coventry.

Elijah Adebayo's first-half goal, his 14th of the campaign, was enough to complete the double over fellow play-off chasers City as Nathan Jones' side continue their quest to feature in the race for promotion to the Premier League.

The win, a fourth successive success on a midweek away day in 2022 following successes at Reading, Swansea and Stoke, takes Town up to sixth place and keeps the Sky Blues six points below them in 11th.

Manager Nathan Jones made five changes to the team that lost 2-1 at Middlesbrough on Saturday, with Dan Potts coming into defence after starting recently against Chelsea in the FA Cup, with Kal Naismith absent.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu returned to the midfield as captain after missing the last four matches, joining Luke Berry and Jordan Clark - the latter of whom was starting for the first time since the 2-0 away win against Reading, and after scoring his tenth goal in all competitions on Saturday, Harry Cornick came in to start alongside Adebayo.

The hosts came out of the traps quickly, Viktor Gyokeres breaking down the right and crossing low for Matty Godden to steer an effort on target within 13 seconds of the kick-off. Palmer saved that one comfortably, before Gyokeres blazed over from the left side of the penalty area with just three minutes on the clock.

Adebayo led the Town's first attack down the right, cutting the ball back in the direction of strike partner Cornick, with Clark retrieving it and standing up a cross to the far post, where Todd Kane headed behind for a corner.

From the set piece, the Sky Blues cleared and broke quickly, with Amari'i Bell becoming the first name into referee Oliver Langford's notepad on eight minutes for pulling back Ian Maatsen as he looked to get in on goal.

Berry had the Hatters' first attempt on target in the 27th minute, but home keeper Simon Moore was right behind the the 25-yard curler, before another opening came his way just after the half-hour, Coventry managing to block and clear as the midfielder prepared to latch onto Cornick's long throw.

Palmer had to be alert to keep out a near post shot from Kane as the Sky Blues broke immediately down the right, then the hosts appeared fortunate to still have 11 men on the pitch as Jamie Allen clattered into Berry with his arm, ref Langford choosing to only show yellow.

Palmer was soon to play a crucial role at both ends of the pitch as the Hatters took a 38th-minute lead. Just seconds after saving well from Gyokeres, after Gustavo Hamer had played the Swede in on the left side of the box, the West Brom emergency loanee played a long ball forward that home centre-half Michael Rose misjudged.

Adebayo was alive to the opportunity and took the ball into the Coventry area, then slid a right-footed shot beyond Moore and inside the far post for his 14th goal of the season.

Coventry came out after the break seeking an equaliser, Kyle McFadzean heading over from Hamer's free-kick, then Maatsen cut in from the left and hitting one that was thankfully too high with 55 minutes gone.

The Hatters had the ball in the net again just after the hour, with Potts tapping in after Adebayo's shot had been saved by Moore, then turned goalward again by Lockyer, but the Town defender was in an offside position as he finished from close range.

Clark was having a terrific game in the Town engine room and a brilliant 50-yard run, in which he twice stayed on his feet when Coventry players tried to bring him down, almost put Cameron Jerome into the byline, but the sub - on for Cornick - had just strayed offside.

Jones made his second switch with 20 minutes to go, bringing Allan Campbell on for Berry, another of the returning midfield trio who had put in a tremendous shift alongside Mpanzu and Clark.

Gyokeres tried his luck with a right-footer from the left side of the Town area with 15 minutes to go, but Lockyer got his head in the way and deflected the ball behind for City's first corner of the night - which Palmer also watched gratefully sail over his crossbar.

The irrespressible Clark then tricked his way past his man on the left, sending in a teasing cross that was just too high for Adebayo at the far post, before Palmer made another wonderful save from point-blank range as Callum O'Hare burst into the box with ten minutes to go.

Clark made way for Henri Lansbury with six minutes left, as Jones looked to cement the result, and Adebayo was soon tricking his way down the left and drawing Coventry skipper McFadzean into a foul that led to a yellow card.

Bree whipped the free-kick across City's six-yard box, but Moore gathered as a host of Town attackers looked to pounce.

Coventry could find no way past a stubborn Town backline, with Maatsen's injury-time header finding only the side-netting and the Hatters ensuring they still haven't lost back to back league games all season, to the delight of the 1,757 travelling supporters.

Onto Sunday lunchtime and the visit of QPR to Kenilworth Road!

Goals: Adebayo 38

Att: 16,996 (1,757 Hatters)

Alan Sheehan on the Coventry win

Hatters coach Alan Sheehan saluted the “stubborn” Town squad and praised the “togetherness” that runs through the club, from the stands to the pitch, after securing another big win on the road at Coventry.

The former Town captain saw the team record a seventh win in ten Championship matches to move back into the play-off places, courtesy of Elijah Adebayo’s 38th minute goal.

Afterwards, he said: “You can’t play unbelievable football every week and tonight was a night for the basics. The pitch was a bit bobbly out there and hard to gain momentum at times, but I think it was important that we did the basics well and we did that.

“We stayed in the game, defended our box really well when we had to and we probably had the better chances over the 90 minutes. Another clean sheet was important, so it’s definitely a night to look at the positives.

“The way the lads defend for each other, the way they work hard for each other is just so impressive. That togetherness is worth an extra few points at the end of the season. When we go a goal ahead we rarely get beaten, so to get that first goal and see it out was excellent.”

Emergency loan keeper Alex Palmer made two big saves, one in each half, and provided the assist for Adebayo’s goal.

Asked about the West Brom man’s performance, Sheehan said: “I thought he was fantastic, coming for crosses and really covering his box well. His kicking was really good and sometimes coming into a club – I think he came in on Friday before the Saturday game in a real difficult venue against Middlesbrough – I thought he was outstanding again tonight.

“He did whatever he had to do, along with the back three in front of him, Belly and Breezy and the midfielders. Everybody worked hard, everybody gave it everything, we did the basics really well and we proved that we are really stubborn to beat."

Sheehan, who returned to Kenilworth Road in a coaching role in January, has seen the Hatters rise from the bottom half of the table to sixth by winning nine of 13 league games in that time.

“Without getting carried away, we know there is a lot of football to be played but we are in an excellent place, the club is in an excellent place, it is a wonderful place to work, you’ve got wonderful players and staff, everyone is pulling together, we've got wonderful fans," said the 35-year-old.

“I think I’m repeating myself possibly from a few years ago, but when everyone is pulling in the right direction, something good comes from it, and the togetherness here at this football club is outstanding, it really is.”

On the 1,757 Hatters in the away end, the Irishman added: “They always make a lot of noise, they are outstanding. After a long trip on Saturday to Middlesbrough, to recover, with the games are coming thick and fast, and to have them getting behind us and getting us over the line, I thought they were outstanding again tonight.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRyTaD4NMKM – Alan Sheehan interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpM6rKvkaes – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fg_5JntJfo – Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu interview

Adebayo the hero as Luton defeat play-off rivals Coventry

Championship: Coventry City 0 Luton Town 1

Elijah Adebayo's first half half goal saw the Hatters pick up yet another in a seemingly endless line of statement victories, with a 1-0 success at fellow play-off rivals Coventry City this evening.

Many thought Town's triumph at Swansea cemented their ambitions of being genuine promotion contenders, or the triumph over West Bromwich Albion, or Stoke, or Derby County, but with 11 games remaining, they are now truly in and amongst those battling to finish in a top six berth in May.

Boss Nathan Jones made five changes from the side who lost 2-1 at Middlesbrough on Saturday, with Harry Cornick back after his 10th goal of the season, making his 200th appearance for the club.

Dan Potts, Luke Berry, Jordan Clark and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu also returned to the side, with Allan Campbell and Cameron Jerome dropping to the bench, Kal Naismith and Gabe Osho out injured, with Danny Hylton not involved either.

The Sky Blues almost got off to the perfect start, with Matt Godden left unmarked just 12 yards from goal, but couldn't get enough on his shot, Alex Palmer saving easily.

City threatened again moments later, Gustavo Hamer finding top scorer Viktor Gyokeres, but he got his finish horribly wrong, slicing miles wide of the target.

Bar Clark's cross that was headed behind for a corner, Town didn't come close to testing home keeper Simon Moore in the opening stages, until Coventry gave the ball away in their own half, Berry's 25-yarder comfortable the stopper.

Palmer, who was looking increasingly assured, made a decent stop from Gyokeres after the striker was released by the influential Hamer once more, as Luton went straight up the other end to open the scoring.

Adebayo timed his run to stay onside and collect a ball over the top, as he then advanced into the area and where at the other end Gyokeres couldn't, was able to sidefoot beyond Moore and into the corner for his 14th of the season.

The strike ended a run of five games without a goal for the attacker, and also five matches since Town had netted in the opening 45 minutes too.

Berry tried to double the lead with an audacious hooked volley from all of 50 yards, which was a more than decent attempt, not missing by too much.

The second half saw City's Kyle McFadzean direct his header from Hamer's free kick, while Chelsea loanee Ian Maatesen couldn't keep an attempt down on his weaker right foot.

Luton looked like they were going to extend their advantage when Adebayo found space in the box, his powerful blast parried by Moore, with Tom Lockyer's fierce follow up bravely blocked, Potts turning the loose ball home, but even he know the offside flag would be raised, which it was.

With Town looking to preserve their lead, the bookings began to tot up, City going close to a leveller when Lockyer diverted a shot narrowly over his own bar, the following corner then clipping the top of the woodwork on its way behind.

Luton were then indebted to an excellent save from Palmer with 10 minutes left, the on-loan West Brom stopper making himself big to deny sub Callum O'Hare after the Sky Blues had sliced through Town's back-line.

James Bree went for a second himself after Adebayo had won a free kick, but it bounced into the midriff of Moore.

City thought they had stolen a point in the final seconds of stoppage time, but Maatsen's flying header at the far post went into the side-netting as Luton climbed back into the play-off places once more, with the team directly below them, QPR, visiting Kenilworth Road on Sunday.

Sky Blues: Simon Moore, Jake Clarke-Salter, Michael Rose, Kyle McFadzean ©, Jamie Allen, Martyn Waghorn (Callum O'Hare 62), Viktor Gyokeres, Ian Maatsen, Todd Kane, Matty Godden (Fabio Tavares 78), Gustavo Hamer.

Subs not used: Ben Wilson, Callum O'Hare, Ben Sheaf, Josh Reid, Ricardo Dinanga, Ryan Howley.

Hatters: Alex Palmer, James Bree, Amari'i Bell, Tom Lockyer, Reece Burke, Dan Potts, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jordan Clark (Henri Lansbury 85), Luke Berry (Allan Campbell 69), Harry Cornick (Cameron Jerome 60), Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Robert Snodgrass, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Admiral Muskwe.

Booked: Bell 8, Allen 34, Clarke-Salter 45, Cornick 60, Jerome 65, Burke 73, Kane 87.

Referee: Oliver Langford.

Attendance: 16,996 (1,757 Luton).

Sheehan lauds Luton's 'togetherness' as they earn crucial win at Sky Blues

Town up to sixth in the Championship once more

Town first team coach Alan Sheehan hailed the togetherness shown by the Hatters after they moved back into the top six with a crucial 1-0 win at fellow play-off rivals Coventry City this evening.

A game that would never be placed in the memory banks as a classic in terms of quality, saw the Hatters take the lead through Elijah Adebayo’s 14th goal of the season on 38 minutes, and then as they so often do when netting the first goal, dug in by any means necessary to secure a valuable victory.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Sheehan said; “You can’t play unbelievable football every week, tonight was a night for the basics.

"The pitch was a bit bobbly, hard to get momentum at times, I think it was important we did the basics well.

"We stayed in the game, defended our box really, really well when we had to and we probably had the better chances over the 90 minutes.

"It was important we had another clean sheet, definitely a night to look at the positives.

“The way the lads defend for each other, the way they work hard for each other, that togetherness is so impressive and is worth an extra few points at the end of the season.

"When we go a goal ahead, we rarely, rarely get beaten, so to get that first goal, is excellent, excellent from the players.

Town made five changes from the 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday, with Jordan Clark, Luke Berry and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu all starting after missing the last few weeks.

Sheehan added; “We had three midfielders out there who haven't played a lot of football in the last three or four weeks.

"We’ve had illness throughout the club, a lot of staff are missing tonight, so it’s about everyone coming together, everyone grafting for each other.

"It wasn't pretty, wasn't a great spectacle for the supporters, but the Luton fans will be happy going away with three points tonight.”