Crystal Palace vs Luton Town FC (9th Mar 2024)

Report | Last-gasp Woodrow equaliser gives Town a point at Palace

The late hurt and heartbreak from last weekend’s defeat to Aston Villa was quickly banished as the Hatters served up a late show of their own to earn what could be a crucial point come the end of the season.

As the games begin to runout, all of a sudden every point becomes more precious – and when an equaliser comes in the final moments of a game which the Town had not been at their best – the scenes of jubilation in the away end and among the squad come the end told its own story.

As Rob Edwards would say afterwards, the Hatters were not at their best but Cauley Woodrow’s 96th-minute header gave them reward on an afternoon that seemed to be drifting to disappointment.

Trailing to Jean-Phillippe Mateta’s 11th-minute goal, the Town rallied in the second half but all seemed lost but with one final action two substitutes combined to breathe new life in the Hatters’ survival hopes. Andros Townsend, a former Palace favourite who was given a fine reception throughout, flew down the right, cut inside on his left foot and arced a dangerous cross that found the head of Woodrow. 10 years ago the striker scored his last in the Premier League for Fulham – against the Eagles – and the striker sunk the home crowd here as his effort bounced gloriously into the bottom corner past the outstretched gloves of Sam Johnstone, the Palace goalkeeper.

It was reward for the Town’s own survival instinct in this game. Palace, buoyed by the arrival of a new manager, could have extended their lead throughout had half-chances gone the other way.

Yet the Hatters clung on, and stayed in – like so often this season in this Premier League adventure – the game.

Mateta’s opener exasperated those of a Town persuasion as the striker nonchalantly turned home inside the six-yard box after Alfie Doughty’s back-pass left Thomas Kaminski and Gabe Osho leaving the ball for each other.

Palace spurned several chances to double their lead. Mateta heading over on the half-hour before shooting wide after being gifted the ball by Jordan Clark shortly before the break.

After the break the Hatters’ chances of a positive result took a turn for worse when Edwards lost Osho and the impressive Teden Mengi in the space of 15 minutes as the Town revered to a back-four with Daiki Hashioka and Reece Burke operating in the centre.

But the Town upped their enterprise in the search of a leveller and on 67 minutes their efforts were nearly rewarded when Carlton Morris struck a volley straight at Johnstone.

After that let off Palace then should have been out of sight on 74 minutes when Kaminski produced a fantastic save to thwart Mateta from close range. It would turn out to be a key moment.

Eberechi Eze almost scored from 50 yards with an audacious effort that clipped the crossbar and, as time ticked down, it seemed that the Town were running out of ideas in their quest for a late point.

But just when it looked all over, Townsend and Woodrow combined and the Hatters were left to celebrate a momentous point with their travelling fans at the end.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré, Doughty, Osho (sub Woodrow 81), Mengi (sub Hashioka 62), Burke; Barkley, Clark (sub Nelson 88); Chong (sub Berry 88), Ogbene (sub Townsend 87), Morris.

Subs not used: Shea, Krul, Mpanzu Piesold.

Reaction | Rob on Palace point

Rob Edwards was relieved that the Town were able to come away from Selhurst Park with a point thanks to Cauley Woodrow’s injury-time header.

“I think we it’s hard for us to be at our best and weren't at our best today,” said the boss.

“We’ve got so many players out key players out – and that's no disrespect to the lads that we got available – but they were amazing for us.

“They're giving us everything, but it's hard for us to be at our best. Hard for us to find loads of rhythm against the team that was almost shape for shape, man, for man.

“However, we gifted them a goal. A human error that can happen. We don't want it to. But it happened and we dealt with it.

“So we had a bit of a reset at half-time and I thought our intensity was better in the second half.

“I thought we had a lot of momentum, but struggled to sort of break them down.

“We weren't quite weren't quite our best there in the final third either. Thomas Kaminski’s made a brilliant save at 1-0, a bit of magic from Eze and we could have been further behind.”

On Woodrow’s late show, the boss added: “That’ll give him confidence. He’s been class for us all season long. He had a difficult start with injury. But he's been really important as the season has gone on and he's played a number of games, scored one or two important goals – none more so than today’s.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRkbgGfDa8s – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e306-Cv0QBo – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3MFUoO4RNs – Extended match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrA692fqe_I – behind the scenes

Wonderful Woodrow salvages Luton a dramatic point at Palace with stoppage time header

Premier League: Crystal Palace 1 Luton Town 1

Substitute Cauley Woodrow popped up with the most dramatic of late levellers at Crystal Palace this afternoon as his goal in the final seconds of stoppage time rescued a potentially massive point for the Hatters in their battle to stay up.

With the match ticking into the final moments of the six added on minutes and Town having been second best for almost all of the contest, sub Andros Townsend sent in a magnificent cross from the right hand side and fellow replacement Woodrow, who had only just come on too, diverted a brilliant header beyond the previously underworked Sam Johnstone and in off the post to make it 1-1.

With AFC Bournemouth held 1-1 at home by Sheffield United, but more importantly, Everton having lost 2-0 at Manchester United in the lunch-time kick-off, it means Town remained third bottom, but are now three points adrift of Nottingham Forest, who head to Brighton &Hove Albion tomorrow. The point did come at a cost for Luton though, who had to take off defenders Gabe Osho and Teden Mengi in the second half, with captain Carlton Morris also holding his hamstring towards the end too.

Osho and Chiedozie Ogbene had been the two changes made by boss Rob Edwards for the contest, Amari'i Bell missing out with injury and Townsend dropping to the bench. It was the Hatters who threatened first, Issa Kabore doing well to win a corner and when Alfie Doughty's delivery was cleared, Luton kept the ball alive, Tahith Chong sending in a cross that Ross Barkley nodded over, the midfielder then needing lengthy treatment for a bloodied nose after connecting with a covering defender.

Any hopes of a bright start were dashed on just 11minutes as Doughty, in no danger at all, sold Thomas Kaminski well short with an intended backpass that caught Osho out too. It was pounced upon by Daniel Munoz, able to burst away and round the Belgian, who looked like he had initially pushed him wide, only to find Jean-Philippe Mateta with his back to goal, the Frenchman able to spin and unleash an audacious backheel that beat two Town defenders who had got back, giving Palace an early advantage.

The Eagles looked to add to their tally, Kabore doing well to clear a cross from Jordan Ayew after Mateta dummied, Jefferson Lerma smashing wide and then Joel Ward heading over the top when picked out following a short corner routine. Town had a chance to draw level midway through the half, a corner dropping to Jordan Clark on the volley, but he couldn't keep his effort down, skying into the home fans.

Palace could have put the game beyond Luton with some sustained pressure, a wonderful cross from the left seeing Mateta's glancing header look goalbound, only to hit Teden Mengi and fly narrowly over. That led to a run of three successive corners, as Luton just about kept their hosts out, the last headed over from six yards by Mateta who had got the better of Ogbene.

With Town finally settling down, they were able to restrict the chances for the latter stages of the first half, Ayew's low effort easy for Kaminski to gather. Palace should have had a second in the closing stages though, Clark playing in Mateta, but with Kaminski out to face him, he could only find the side-netting as the angle narrowed.

Set-pieces remained the Hatters main threat, Ross Barkley's ball in seeing Osho get underneath his header, with Johnstone untroubled. Visiting boss Edwards didn't look at all happy as he made his way to the tunnel for the break, knowing his side needed a performance similar to Aston Villa last week to try and rescue something from the game.

Luton should really have had a mountain to climb straight away, Munoz getting it all wrong when trying to turn in Eze's pinpoint cross from a few yards out. Eze then missed a great opportunity himself on 52 minutes, running beyond the Luton defence to bring the ball out of the sky and fire over, while he cleverly fashioned another shooting chance which rolled tamely at Kaminski.

Just before the hour mark, Luton started to look for the first time that they could get back into the contest, Kabore's deflected cross met by the hanging Ogbene, who could only nod wide from six yards out. Town's injury problems then began to rear their head again, Mengi off following treatment, as Daiki Hashioka came on for his second Premier League outing.

Luton went on to have their best chance midway through the half, Doughty's inviting cross met by Morris, whose athletic volley was unfortunately straight at Johnstone, when either side of the keeper and it was 1-1. Clark's run to the byline and resulting cross landed to Hashioka, who couldn't keep his unorthodox volley down, as Kaminski ensured Luton were still in the game when using his feet to save brilliantly from Mateta's point blank header, the rebound hammered wastefully wide.

Town's never-ending defensive issues hit again on 80 minutes as Osho this time went down holding his knee, unable to carry on, Woodrow on, meaning Luton went to a back four with Burke and Hashioka the centre halves. Eze who was beginning to roll out the party tricks, spotting Kaminski off his line and unleashing an outrageous attempt from inside the centre circle that beat the Belgian but kissed the top of the bar.

Town were then denied by the woodwork at the other end, Doughty's deep cross met by Ogbene at the far post, his ball back in hitting the top of the frame of the goal. Edwards threw caution to the wind in the final minutes, with Luke Berry and Townsend coming on, youngster Zack Nelson handed his Premier League debut as well.

Morris had a volley blocked which looked to be Town's final chance to snatch a point, as Palace remained on top in extra time, play almost exclusively in the visitors' half, Odsonne Édouard clipping the top of the bar and then Kabore making a terrific block. It looked like Oliver Glasner’s side would keep the points in South London, but Town had other ideas, Townsend able to find a slither of space to send in a brilliant cross and Woodrow doing the rest to ensure scenes of pure jubilation amongst the away end.

Eagles: Sam Johnstone, Joel Ward (C), Tyrick Mitchell, Jefferson Lerma, Jordan Ayew (Naouirou Ahamada 70), Eberechi Eze, Daniel Munoz, Jean-Phillipe Mateta (Odsonne Edouard 81), Joachim Andersen, Adam Wharton (Will Hughes 81), Chris Richards. Subs not used: Dean Henderson, James Tomkins, Nathaniel Clyne, Luke Plange, Kaden Rodney, David Ozoh.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Issa Kabore, Teden Mengi (Daiki Hashioka 61), Reece Burke, Gabe Osho (Cauley Woodrow 81), Alfie Doughty, Ross Barkley, Jordan Clark (Luke Berry 87), Tahith Chong (Zack Nelson 87), Chiedozie Ogbene (Andros Townsend 87),Carlton Morris (C).

Subs not used: James Shea, Tim Krul, Axel Piesold, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

Referee: Sunny Singh Gill.

Booked: Kabore 27, Eze 37, Burke 56, Chong 84, Berry 90.

Attendance: 25,103.

Edwards hopes Hatters can use Eagles point as a 'springboard' in battle for Premier League survival

Town chief reacts to Luton’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace

Luton boss Rob Edwards wants the Hatters to use the manner of this afternoon’s late 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace as a ‘springboard’ for their battle to stay up this season.

Town gained another massive point in their bid to remain a Premier League outfit this term courtesy of Cauley Woodrow’s equaliser in the sixth and final minute of stoppage time at Selhurst Park, denying the hosts, who had looked odds-on to secure victory having dominated large parts of the contest, missing a host of chances.

The visitors also saw Gabe Osho and Teden Mengi forced off with injury in the second period, but still managed to claim a share of the spoils, as speaking afterwards, Edwards said: "We've been performing well, results have been against us, but that can happen against Manchester United, Liverpool, (Aston) ViIla.

"We played well in those games in big, big spells, but hopefully this is a springboard. Hopefully it garners a lot of belief, we’re up against it at the moment. I know there are a lot of clubs suffering with injuries, but it’s hard for us with so many players missing, and then to lose two centre backs during the game as well.

"We’ve got a lot of square pegs in round holes out there towards the end and to find a way when we're not at our best, away from home in the Premier League, with so many injuries, to find a way to get something, drag something out, drag a result out is huge.”

Discussing the disappointing nature of the opening 45 minutes in which Jean-Philippe Mateta’s audacious backheel gave Palace the lead after Alfie Doughty’s poor backpass was seized upon by Daniel Munoz, Edwards continued: “I think we’ve got nine senior players missing and I don’t think we're going to be at our best at the moment.

"I don’t think that’s any disrespect to the players out there playing, I love them, they’re giving us everything, but I think it’s a mixture of players missing, we're away from home in the Premier League, Crystal Palace are good, the shapes are similar so it was hard to find rhythm, hard to find spaces to play and we gifted them a goal early on. That rocked us a little, the manner of conceding the goal was disappointing, human error, it can happen, so I think there were a number of factors.

"We took the handbrake off in the second half, we had a lot of momentum, huffed and puffed but couldn’t create big chances. Carlton (Morris) had one decent touch and volley, Chieo’s (Ogbene) header, a lot of threat with crosses into the box, the keeper catching it and some if only moments. Then we’re pushing, changing things around, players are coming off injured, (Eberechi) Eze had a couple of moments of genius and we could have been 2-0 down, but I thought intensity improved in the second half and that was probably the key to it.”

When asked what it felt like to gain a point at such a late period of the game having been hit by a late defeat at Aston Villa the previous weekend, Edwards added: “It feels good, we came here to try and win the game, I don’t think we deserved to, but I also don’t think we deserved to lose with everything that’s going against us at the moment. I think we can take a lot of confidence from that, they had a bit more threat I would say, but Thomas (Kaminski) made a big, big save.

“The threat from their set-pieces as well, but in terms of control and possession in the game, thought it was very even, just disappointed we didn’t create more. We were a little bit blunt, but found a way to score and get something from the game, so I feel really good now. If you’d offered me a point at the beginning of the game I’d have probably said no, as we want to win every game and that’s our aim, but with how it went it’s a good feeling right now.”

Edwards hopes Luton's character is being spoken about following last-gasp Eagles leveller

Town chief on late, late equaliser at Selhurst Park

Luton boss Rob Edwards is hoping that his side’s terrific character and outstanding never-say-die attitude is highlighted after the manner of their injury time point at Crystal Palace yesterday afternoon.

The Hatters looked like they were going to be consigned to a sixth straight defeat in all competitions when Daniel Munoz took advantage of a poor Alfie Doughty backpass to find Jean-Philippe Mateta for the opening goal after just 11 minutes. Oliver Glasner's side had plenty of opportunities to extend their lead, Mateta shooting into the side-netting before the break, while after the interval, Daniel Munoz missed a fine chance, Eberechi Eze clipped the top of the bar from inside the centre circle, Edouard was also denied by the woodwork, with Thomas Kaminski saving well from Mateta, ensuring the Eagles couldn’t find a second goal.

Town made them pay too, as in the final minute of six added on, one final attack saw substitute Andros Townsend swing a wonderful cross into the box from deep, fellow replacement Woodrow there to nod his glancing header into the net via the inside of the post for his first top flight goal in almost a decade. It means that Luton have now scored five goals in stoppage time this term, earning themselves points against Nottingham Forest and Burnley, while Woodrow also making a name for himself, having scored the winner at Everton in the FA Cup with seconds remaining.

Speaking afterwards about the way in which the visitors kept going to boost their chances of staying up, Edwards said: “I hope people see it and are speaking about that. We’ve had a lot of people being very respectful about us this year, but we do keep going, we do keep pushing to the very, very end and take teams right to the wire. We managed to do that here when we weren’t at our best, I think understandably there are reasons for that at the moment, but we’ll take a point from the game.”

On the goal itself, which maintained Luton’s wonderful run of scoring in their last 15 top flight games, Edwards added: “It was brilliant, two subs combining and that’s important. We’ve not got loads of senior players out there and available at the moment, two coming on to have a massive effect on the game. Cauley starting the move off on the half-way line and we finish off with seven or eight people in the box, so we’ve thrown everything at it right at the end, great delivery, great header.”