Fulham vs Luton Town FC (16th Sep 2023)

Match Report | Town fall to narrow defeat at Fulham

Fulham 1 (Vinicius 65 ) Town 0

Close. Closer. The Hatters came away from Craven Cottage with ‘what might have been’ after a solid display that on another could have seen the celebration of a first point of the season in the Premier League. Perhaps even all three.

However, as we have learned, you can be punished at this level, and so it proved as despite creating chances the Hatters fell to a narrow fourth successive defeat to leave Fulham relieved to take all three points.

With four changes to the side that fell to West Ham – including a debut for Sambi Lokonga in midfield and a first start for Jacob Brown – the Town’s first half display warranted better than to go in at half-time at 0-0.

After weathering a sustained period of Fulham possession, the Hatters had the better of the final 20 minutes of the opening half in the West London sunshine.

Growing into the game, Carlton Morris first went close, volleying a shot into the side netting on 25 minutes. Then, two minutes later, a real chance. Tahith Chong and Lokonga combined well in the middle of the park to send Issa Kabore away down the right. The Burkina Faso international delivered an inch-perfect cross that Brown met perfectly – too perfectly he would later say – however his bullet header came back off the post to the dismay of those of a Town persuasion.

While Fulham peppered the Town box with teasing crosses and intricate passing, not much got through to Thomas Kaminski to overly worry the travelling hordes decked out in orange in the away end.

Yet the Hatters held firm and moments before the break Morris believed he should have had a penalty when he was hauled to the grass by Harrison Reed. Nothing was given by the referee Michael Salisbury and there was no sight or signal of check from VAR. Afterwards, there were plenty of aggrieved faces once the Town had seen the footage back.

Not to be perturbed, the Town came out for the second half, shooting towards their noisy loyal faithful and two minutes after the restart that opening goal that's craved so dearly came within inches once more. This time Brown was the supplier, whipping a cross to the back-post to Amari’i Bell. The Jamaican international did brilliantly to be in the position to fashion a chance but couldn’t find that crucial killer touch and Bernd Leno, the Fulham keeper, was relieved once more.

After that, a period of Fulham domination. But the game was flat on the hour, and home boss Marco Silva introduced Alex Iwobi and Carlos Vinicius on 62 minutes. Three minutes later the hosts were ahead. Willian raced down the left and dug out a cross that Kaminski got a glove to – but in doing so the ball rolled free to the newly introduced Vinicius to slam home from close range.

Behind, the Hatters rallied as Fulham eyed a second. Captain Tom Lockyer denied the Fulham scorer a second with a breathtaking last-ditch tackle before the Town went in search of that late leveller.

The skipper by now was up in attack as the minutes ticked down and he had the final chance, getting his head on a ball from the right. Sadly, for all of us, the effort flashed wide and with it hope of a first Premier League point was over.

Close.

Closer.

Encouragement there for all to see and another tremendous reception awaited the players as they exited the field from their passionate followers.

We’re back at the Kenny next week for Wolves.

And we’ll see you there.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré, Bell, Burke (sub Woodrow 81), Andersen, Lockyer; Nakamba, Lokonga (sub Mpanzu 75), Chong (sub Adebayo 75) Morris (sub Ogbene 74), Brown (sub Dougthy 74).

Subs not used: Krul, Berry, Mengi, Giles.

Attendance: 24,467, including a wonderful 2,701 shouting for the Town.

Edwards | "We should be talking about a positive result"

Manager Rob Edwards felt the Hatters deserved something from the trip to Fulham this afternoon, when Carlos Vinicius’ 65th-minute goal proved the only difference between the sides.

The Hatters hit the woodwork through Jacob Brown in a first half in which Carlton Morris was denied a penalty when impeded off the ball at a free-kick, then saw Amari’i Bell and skipper Tom Lockyer spurn opportunities after the break.

Despite a fourth successive defeat in the Premier League, Edwards felt there was clear progress once again from the 2-1 loss at home to West Ham before the international break.

“The supporters that were here were amazing again and they will have seen a really competitive game of football,” said Edwards. “We’ve had three really big chances in the game and a penalty decision go against us where we should have had one. We’ve had some really good moments where we should have taken something from the game.

“I thought tactically the boys were superb, we limited them to very, very little. Defensively we were very organised, we didn’t allow them to play through, round or over us at all, and we retained a real threat on the counter attack and looked very dangerous with our speed and quality in those moments.

“I genuinely believe we should be sitting here talking about a positive result and a really good day for us. What I have seen is – and I keep using the word – progression, and I have seen a better performance to West Ham a couple of weeks ago.

“We’ve got to take that forward now, dust ourselves down. We are going to be disappointed, but we’ve got to keep believing in the work we are doing.

“We are working extremely hard to keep improving. I think in all four of the games now we have improved, we have got better. This is not an easy place to go. Nowhere in the Premier League is easy, and I really do believe we should have taken something from the game.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ2MtBbZGG4 – Rob Edwards post match

https://www.youtube.com/@LutonTown/videos - match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5Uu9uM8wQg – extended highlights

Luton's search for a first Premier League point continues following Fulham defeat

Premier League: Fulham 1 Luton Town 0

Luton’s search for a first Premier League point of the season continues after they were beaten 1-0 by Fulham at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

The Hatters came as close as they have come so far to breaking their winless run, level at the break for the first time, following an opening 45 minutes half in which they had the best chance, Jacob Brown heading against the post.

However, they were eventually undone midway through the second period, sub Carlos Vinicius stabbing home from close range with what proved to be the only goal of the game, ensuring Rob Edwards’ side left empty-handed once more.

Although the hosts bossed possession, with 78 percent of the ball, Town weren’t without their threats, but ultimately it was another match in which they couldn’t make the most of them, ultimately paying the price.

The Hatters had made four changes from their 2-1 defeat to West Ham United, on-loan Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambo Lokonga making an immediate debut, with skipper Tom Lockyer back too.

Brown was handed a first Premier League start, while Issa Kabore was recalled, Alfie Doughty, Ryan Giles and Elijah Adebayo dropping to the bench, Ross Barkley missing out with injury.

With Town opting to try and shore things up following nine goals conceded in three matches, they set up with Lokonga and Marvelous Nakmaba in the centre of midfield, switching to four behind lone striker Carlton Morris when not in possession, Brown on the right and Chong left.

It was Lokonga who set Town away for their chance on five minutes, finding Chong who had to go it alone from well inside his own half.

With no support and the angle rapidly closing, the summer signing had little option but to go for goal, Bernd Leno saving comfortably at his near post.

Fulham who were being cheered on by actor Hugh Grant, for the first half at least, started to dominate possession, Luton unable to get out of their half for the rest of the opening 20 minutes.

The Cottagers should have turned their dominance into the lead too, Kenny Tete heading a corner over from a matter of yards.

Town's eagerness to get a touch of the ball spilled over with Lokonga and Lockyer both lunging in for a dangerous free kick that Harry Wilson fortunately sent straight at Kaminski.

Trying to take the lead in a game for the first time themselves, Luton then began to get into proceedings, particularly down the right, with Kabore finding some joy.

First he saw a deep cross nodded back by Morris, Brown heading it to his team-mate, who could only volley wastefully wide at the far post.

Then on 27 minutes, Lokonga slid Kabore away on the right once more and he had acres of room to pick out a cross.

He did that just, finding the completely unmarked Brown but from eight yards, he directed his header against the outside of the post.

Luton were starting to get frustrated by a number of calls from the officials, one when giving a free kick against Amari’i Bell on the advice of his assistant that saw Wilson curl inches wide.

When Brown could turn and face his man, he had some joy, forcing Issa Diop into a trip that saw the defender booked.

Lokonga's ball in led to a collision between Morris and Harrison Reed, replays showed that the midfielder incredibly fortunate not to concede a penalty, his discretion no worse than Bell's on Wilson earlier in the half.

On level terms at the break for the first time this season, Luton then set about the second period clearly trying to remain in the game as long as possible.

They almost went one better just two minutes in, Brown wriggling away to cross for the stretching Bell, whose volley was gathered by Leno, the keeper just able to keep the ball the right side of the line from his perspective.

Fulham caused a moment of alarm when after a period of prolonged possession, Palinhna met a deep cross at the far post, his looping header landing on the roof of the net.

As the home fans began to air their frustrations at the scoreline, as despite entirely bossing the ball, the hosts were doing little with it, home boss Marco Silva turned to £22m deadline day signing Alex Iwobi and Carlos Vinicius from the bench just after the hour mark.

It was to pay instant dividends too, Willian finding space on the left and when his low cross wasn’t gathered by Kaminski, Vinicius fired the loose ball home with virtually his first touch.

Willian then went for goal himself, Kabore's foot taking it behind, as with 15 to go, Edwards didn't just roll the dice, he positively hurled them, a quadruple change seeing Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Chiedozie Ogbena, Doughty and Adebayo on for Lokonga, Morris, Brown and Chong.

It led to Luton finally giving their hosts something to think about, winning a corner that saw Doughty's delivery cleared away, while Kabore went close, when his fierce drive was deflected behind.

Iwobi failed to wrap things up, skying over after Bell was beaten by the flight of a long ball forward, as Cauley Woodrow came on, diverting Kabore's hanging cross wide.

Lockyer was then involved at both ends, coming to the rescue when Vinicius looked like he was going to wrar the points up with a second and then almost stealing a leveller, glancing wide from yet another Kabore cross.

Cottagers: Bernd Leno, Kenny Tete, Harrison Reed (Alex Iwobi 62), Raul Jiminez (Carlos Vinicius 62), Harry Wilson (Bobby De Cordova-Reid 81), Tim Rea (C), Andreas Pereira (Tom Cairney 81), Willian (Calvin Bassey 90), Timothy Castagne, Joao Palhina, Issa Diop.

Subs not used: Marek Rodak, Fode Ballo-Toure, Rodrigo Munez, Tyrese Francois.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Issa Kabore, Reece Burke (Cauley Woodrow 81), Mads Andersen, Tom Lockyer (C), Amari’i Bell, Albert Sambi Lokonga (Alfie Doughty 75), Marvelous Nakamba, Tahith Chong (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 75), Jacob Brown (Chiedozie Ogbene 75), Carlton Morris (Elijah Adebayo 75).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Luke Berry, Teden Mengi, Ryan Giles.

Referee: Michael Salisbury.

Booked: Chong 27, Kamsinki 36, Castagne 40, Diop 44.

Attendance: 24,467.

Hatters boss felt Luton were denied a clear-cut penalty at Craven Cottage

Reaction from Town chief to Fulham loss

Luton boss Rob Edwards felt that missed chances and a clear-cut penalty not being awarded prevented Town from getting their first Premier League points on the board after a 1-0 defeat at Fulham this afternoon.

With the scores goalless and half time approaching, striker Carlton Morris and Cottagers midfielder Harrison Reed collided inside the area when trying to meet Albert Sambi Lokonga’s free kick.

On first glance it appeared to be a coming together, but replays showed that Reed clearly stuck out a leg to catch the Town forward, bringing him down in the process.

VAR didn’t agree though and with Jacob Brown having headed against the post from eight yards, the second period saw Amari’i Bell’s volley caught by keeper Bernd Leno.

Town went on to pay the price just after the hour mark as Carlos Vinicius found the net, before skipper Tom Lockyer flashed a late header wide.

A frustrated Edwards said: “We're in the game right the way until the 94th and a half or whatever it is minute.

"Four and a half minutes? I'm sure other teams are getting a lot more extra time than we are added on when chasing, but anyway, I’m very proud of the lads.

"I think we missed three golden opportunities today, we had three brilliant chances, Browny’s header in the first half which hit the woodwork, Amari’i Bell’s one and Tom Lockyer right at the end.

"Three big, big chances and I think we should have had a penalty as well.

"I think the foul on Carlton Morris from the wide freekick, where Reed’s not looking at the ball and he fouled him, anywhere else on the pitch it’s a foul.

"So we should have had a penalty and I think we could have been in here talking about a very different result now.

"I do genuinely think we should be here talking about us getting something from the game.”

Asked whether VAR had looked at the incident, Edwards, who had seen Bell penalised for a similar offence on Harry Wilson just moments beforehand, added: “It does get checked, every decision like that will get checked.

"I’ve looked at it back and I do think it should be.

"There was one in the build-up that got given, that’s what I was saying, maybe inside the box, outside the box, is there a different rule?

"I don’t know, maybe there’s just one for Luton.”