Fulham vs Luton Town FC (2nd May 2022)

Report | Fulham 7-0 Luton Town

The Hatters crashed to a 7-0 defeat as Fulham wrapped up the Championship title at Craven Cottage tonight.

Manager Nathan Jones initially made six changes to his starting line-up from the 1-1 draw against Blackpool over a week ago.

Matt Ingram started in goal subject to terms of his emergency loan, with Harry Isted amongst the substitutes.

Fred Onyedinma was back to full fitness and started following the injury suffered against Cardiff City on the road, whilst there was a return to the starting line-up for Reece Burke in defence.

Henri Lansbury was due to join Scottish duo Allan Campbell and Robert Snodgrass in midfield, and up-front, Danny Hylton and Cameron Jerome started together - but Campbell had to drop out in the warm-up through injury, with Dan Potts coming into the starting line-up and Elliot Thorpe onto the bench.

Jordan Clark was also named on the bench having been absent from the matchday squad since victory against Hull in March.

Back in the midfield role he has played in recent weeks following the late change, Naismith was the first to have a shot on goal when his fourth-minute skidding effort from outside the box was pushed round the post by Marek Rodak.

Potts, pushed up from left-sided centre-half for the corner, then rose highest to meet Robert Snodgrass' right-wing delivery, but was off target with his header.

Hylton became the first player into ref Tim Robinson's notepad on ten minutes for a foul on Harrison Reed, but it didn't diminish the talismanic forward's determination to get in and around the home defenders as they attempted to play it out from the back.

Town really took the game to Fulham in the opening exchanges, and it wasn't until the 23rd minute that the hosts had their first sight of goal, Championship player of the year Aleksandar Mitrovic's snapshot saved well by Ingram at his near post.

Tom Lockyer was the next to see yellow for a foul on Mitrovic, then the Town's injury curse struck again when Onyedinma pulled up as he chased a ball from Lansbury down the right wing as they tried to spring a counter attack from defending the free-kick.

While the right wing-back was down awaiting treatment, Fulham broke and their captain, Cairney, crashed a shot into the roof of the Hatters' net to give the champions-elect a 28th-minute lead.

Peter Kioso was brought on to replace Onyedinma, and he was soon into the action as the Town tried to get back into the game, although Snodgrass and Lansbury quickly became players three and four into Robinson's book for quickfire fouls on Fabio Carvalho.

It was 2-0 in the 39th minute when Kenny Tete collected possession from Amari'i Bell's header clear and struck a rocket into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

The Cottagers came within an inch of making it three by the 43rd minute when Mitrovic dropped deep and played Harry Wilson into the box, but having rounded Ingram, the former Liverpool youngster saw his Welsh international team-mate Lockyer get back to clear his shot off the line.

It was 3-0 by the 54th minute when Carvalho started and finished a flowing move that involved Mitrovic and Wilson, and it was four just after the hour when Mitrovic netted his 42nd goal of the season.

Jones brought Admiral Muskwe on for Jerome in the 63rd minute, but within two minutes the fifth goal had gone in as Bobby De Cordova-Reid span in the box and placed his shot into the corner past Ingram.

Clark made his return from injury in place of Snodgrass, but by the 79th minute it was six when Jean Michael Seri hit a 30-yarder past Ingram into the bottom corner.

Mitrovic further compounded the Hatters' misery in added time as the Cottagers lifted the Sky Bet Championship trophy.

Goals: Cairney (29'), Tete (39'), Carvalho (54'), Mitrovic (62', 90+2'), De Cordova-Reid (65'), Seri (79')

Nathan Jones on Fulham defeat

Nathan Jones spoke after a ‘tough day’ as his side were well beaten by newly crowned champions Fulham.

It was an afternoon to forget after the rampant Cottagers scored seven as focus now turns to Saturday’s season finale against Reading, where a victory would guarantee Town’s place in the playoffs.

“It was a real tough day. A real tough game to watch. I haven’t felt like that in my career before if I’m honest, but they are the best team in the league, congratulations to them. They have a fantastic side, the only equivalent I can say is we have nine injuries, nine first-team injuries. If they had nine injuries and went to Man City, that’s the equivalent of the game.

“We have been magnificent, every single thing is going against us in terms of injuries so what we have to do is dust ourselves off and we’re ready to go on the weekend.”

Having suffered two further injuries on the evening, Jones commented on the injury situation once more, adding: “We have people on the bench we couldn’t really bring in. We couldn’t bring on Harry Cornick today and we’ve lost some big players. It boils down to one giant, mammoth, unbelievable game and we would all have taken that at the beginning of the season.

“Let’s look forward to that rather than dwell on a performance, which was a poor performance because they were good, but we weren’t as aggressive as we have been, we didn’t defend our box and in the end, we felt a bit sorry for ourselves.

“Hopefully we’re not too depleted and we go into the game knowing what we need. We know if we get a win we will be in there, a point may do it you never know but we can’t be relying on that.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il0Jq3rWlmI – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UTDAGjnO70 – Kal Naismith interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLIpx6Hm9jY – match highlights

Hatters hammered by Fulham as red-hot Cottagers are crowned champions

Championship: Fulham 7 Luton Town 0

Luton were totally and utterly swept away by completely dominant Fulham side this evening as the Cottagers produced a quite wonderful display to hammer their opponents and secure the Championship title in front of what was a boisterous Craven Cottage crowd.

The Hatters had looked like they were potentially capable of at least competing in the early stages, giving as good as they got, but once falling behind on 28 minutes, were simply no match for their opponents, as an abject defensive display led to what what will surely be one of the most embarrassing nights in manager Nathan Jones' career.

Trailing 2-0 at half time, it turned the second period into a damage limitation exercise and one that the Hatters failed quite spectacularly, cut open time and time again, conceding a further five goals on their way to their joint heaviest defeat at this level in recent years since the 7-0 thrashing at Brentford back in November 2019.

Although embarrassing to be breached seven times, particularly as it was in front of a viewing TV audience with the game broadcast live on Sky as well, there were further ramifications, with Town's goal difference, which had been healthier than all the sides around them in play-off contention, taking a battering, to up the pressure on Jones' men in Saturday's deciding final fixtures.

The Hatters chief had made six changes to his side from the 1-1 draw with Blackpool, emergency loan signing Matt Ingram handed an instant debut under EFL rules, Harry Isted dropping to the bench.

Also in was Fred Onyedinma, plus Reece Burke, Henri Lansbury, Cameron Jerome and Danny Hylton, as Dan Potts, Peter Kioso and Harry Cornick dropped to the bench, joined by fit-again midfielder Jordan Clark, with Sonny Bradley and Elijah Adebayo both absent.

However, Luton were once more hit with another injury problem ahead of kick-off, Allan Campbell pulling out and Potts back in, Kal Naismith moving out of defence to take up his midfield role from recent matches.

An action packed opening five minutes saw Fulham have huge appeals for a penalty turned away when Naismith went sliding in on Fabio Carvalho, appearing to make clear contact with the winger, only for referee Tim Robinson to give nothing.

Naismith was then involved at the other end, his low drive turned behind by home keeper Marek Rodak, as Robert Snodgrass's corner was headed well wide by the leaping Potts.

An early booking for Hylton after a challenge on Harrison Reed ensured the striker had to approach the remaining 78 minutes with caution, as Ingram continued to settle into his role, positively claiming one cross and then able to to watch Aleksander Mitrovic's header fly harmlessly over.

Snodgrass sent in another wonderful set-piece which just needed a touch from his team-mates to see it flash in, before Mitrovic had his best sight of goal in the opening 25 minutes, found by a pass from Harry Wilson, shooting low at Ingram.

Town's quite frankly ridiculous luck with injuries reared its ugly head yet again on the half hour as Onyedinma set off on a sprint down the right, before pulling up holding his hamstring.

It happened off the pitch and although he managed to get back on to the field, by that time, play had transferred up the other end, and Wilson was able to find the unmarked Tom Cairney who had ghosted into the area, slamming into the top corner for what was the Cottagers' 100th goal of the season.

There wasn't that much time before the home fans were celebrating a 101st too, a high ball dropping for Kenny Tete, who with Luton not getting out to close him down, was able to take a touch, steady himself and fire into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Burke was able to prevent the impressive Carvalho from going clean through, timing his sliding tackle perfectly, when anything else would have resulted in a straight red card.

A relentless Fulham were showing just why they have scored fives, sixes and two sevens this term, Wilson going through and rounding Ingram, only denied a third by a brilliant goal-line clearance from a full stretch Lockyer.

Such was the confidence that everyone wanted to score, Tosin Adarabioyo's pop from distance easy enough for Ingram, but the half time whistle at least gave Town the solace of 15 minutes out of the firing line from what was a rampant Cottagers side, eager to wrap up the title.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Fulham showed no signs of letting up in the second period, Cairney's magnificent first time curler a matter of inches wide, with Carvalho leading a three on two break which the visitors just about snuffed out.

Luton's aims were now avoiding a larger defeat to keep their better goal difference in tact going into the final game of the season, and also keeping 11 on the pitch, Potts joining Hylton, Lockyer, Lansbury and Snodgrass in the book from the opening period.

It didn't work though, as they kept getting caught with precious few defenders back, the hosts making it 3-0 on 53 minutes, carving Luton apart with another sizzling team move as Carvalho, deserving of every bit of hype that has come his way this term, bent his shot beyond Ingram and into the bottom corner.

The goals just kept on coming for Fulham too, Wilson the architect once more, his ball finding an advancing Mitrovic with 62 gone, who was always going to get his customary goal against Luton, although there was a slight element of fortune, Burke making a fine block, only for the ball to rebound into his path for an easy finish.

Four swiftly became five just three minutes later, Luton's back-line cut to shreds once more as Bobby De Cordova-Reid this time the grateful recipient, able to go one-on-one with Ingram and turn the keeper's evening into what was swiftly becoming a nightmare, calmly finding the net.

Ingram was finally able to prevent being forced to pick the ball out of the net for a sixth time, as Town were sliced open yet again, the keeper doing excellent to stick out a hand and turn De Cordova-Reid's attempt behind.

The only bright point for Town was 24 minutes for Clark, replacing Snodgrass to get some much needed fitness for the weekend

Ingram once again stopped another goal, gathering Mitrovic's potshot, but he was beaten again with 11 minutes left, unable to get down in time to stop sub Jean Michael Seri picking out the bottom corner from fully 30 yards, no doubt disappointed to get beaten from such a distance.

Seri tried to catch out Ingram from a free kick that flew wide, but with three minutes of stoppage time added and Luton hopeful they had got to the end of the humiliation, found themselves conceding a seventh.

This time Wilson went through and found Mitrovic who had the now simple task of beating Ingram for a quite sensation 43rd goal of the season.

That though, was thankfully the end for a bruised Luton side, who dropped down to sixth in the table, below Sheffield United on goal difference, opening the door for both Middlesbrough and Millwall on the final day of the season.

One plus on an evening of negatives for the Hatters though is for them the equation remains the same, a win on Saturday against Reading, if they have enough players still standing, and they will have secured their place in the play-offs, which would be a quite wonderful achievement this term.

Cottagers: Marek Rodak, Kenny Tete, Harrison Reed ( Jean Michael Seri 72), Harry Wilson, Aleksander Mitrovic, Tom Cairney (C, Rodrigo Muniz 90), Tim Ream, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Tosin Adarabioyo, Fabio Carvalho (Neeskens Kabano 79), Antonee Robinson.

Subs not used: Paulo Gazzaniga, Michael Hector, Nathaniel Chalobah, Joe Bryan.

Hatters: Matt Ingram, Fred Onyedinma (Peter Kioso 31), Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer, Dan Potts, Amari'i Bell, Henri Lansbury, Robert Snodgrass (Jordan Clark 67), Kal Naismith ©, Cameron Jerome (Admiral Muskwe 64), Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Elliot Thorpe, Harry Cornick, Carlos Mendes Gomes.

Bookings: Hylton 12, Lockyer 28, Snodgrass 36, Lansbury 38, Potts 51 Wilson 83, Muskwe 85, Mitrovic 90.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Jones eager not to dwell on Fulham thrashing ahead of 'massive' play-off decider with Reading

Town chief gives his thoughts on tough night at Craven Cottage

Luton boss Nathan Jones was eager not to dwell on this evening’s hammering at the hands of Championship winners Fulham ahead of Saturday’s ‘mammoth’ game with Reading which could secure Town a play-off place.

The Hatters were handed their biggest defeat of the season by a rampant Cottagers side who were easily a class above the level, securing the title in a dazzling display of attacking football, as Luton were handed a heaviest defeat at this level since November 2019, thrashed by Brentford.

It doesn’t change the stakes for Jones and his men though, who know a win against the Royals this weekend will secure their top six berth, with a draw possibly enough should results go their way.

With that in mind, Jones, who saw his side suffer yet another two injuries, one before kick-off with Allan Campbell forced to withdraw from the side, and then in the first half, Fred Onyedinma appearing to pull his hamstring, said: “It’s a real tough day, real tough game to watch.

"I haven’t felt like that in my career before if I’m honest, but they’re the best team in the league, congratulations to them.

"They’re a fantastic side and the only thing I can say is we’ve got nine injuries, if they had nine first team injuries and went to Man City, that’s the equivalent of the game, that’s all I can say.

"We’ve been magnificent, every single thing is going against us in terms of injuries, so what we have to do is make sure we dust ourselves off and we’re ready to go at the weekend.

“We’ve got people on the bench who we can’t really bring on, we couldn’t really bring Harry Cornick on today really so we’ve lost some big players, but it boils down to one giant, mammoth, unbelievable game and we’d have all taken that at the beginning of the season.

"So let’s look forward to that rather than dwell on a performance that was a poor performance, as they were good, but we weren’t as aggressive as we are, we didn’t defend our box as well, and in the end we felt a bit sorry for ourselves.

"Even the final goal summed it up, a square ball when we’re 90 plus three, we don’t need to do that, keep it there and see it out.”

Jones didn't want to risk Campbell as tight hamstring forces midfielder to pull out of Fulham clash during warm-up** - **Town hit by yet another injury at Craven Cottage

Hatters boss Nathan Jones admitted there was no point in risking midfielder Allan Campbell after he pulled out in the warm-up ahead of last night’s 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Fulham.

The former Scottish U21 international has been one of the stars of the campaign for Town, voted as the Luton News Player of the Season by supporters for his tigerish display in the centre of the park.

Having started the last 10 league games and 18 out of 19 in total, Campbell had been named on the teamsheet at Craven Cottage, only to complain of an injury before kick-off, his place going to Dan Potts instead.

With one match to go, a home contest against Reading on Saturday where victory for the Hatters would see them into the play-offs, ones said: “He just felt his hamstring, so we can’t risk him.

"There’s no point risking him for this game as it’s a tough game anyway, and then have him miss next week which arguably, is not more important, but it’s logical what we did, so we had to pull him out, as if we risk him and he pulls something.

"He’s done miraculous, as he’s the one who hasn’t got injured, he’s the one who’s stayed in and done big distances and that’s the position we’re in.”

Campbell’s late withdrawal saw Kal Naismith, who was originally due to start on the left of the back three, revert to the holding midfield role has been occupying in recent weeks.

The fellow Scot conceded it was tough to make a change so late in the day, saying: “You prepare all week one system then you feel sorry for the gaffer, everyone’s going down and he’s trying to put a system together.

"We work on that plan all week and then Al, who would not complain about an injury let me tell you unless he wasn’t feeling it, so he was feeling something, hopefully he’ll be all right next week, as there was no point rushing him.

"I stepped forward one, Pottsy came in, who did nothing wrong, he just came in against a Fulham side who were exceptional and we were a bit off it as a team, they were on it and they hurt us.”

Campbell’s absence was yet another in a long list of injuries that have decimated the Hatters in recent weeks, with Fred Onyedinma also going off after half an hour with another hamstring problem.

It means that Luton are without nine first-teamers, as their lack of numbers showed, particularly second half, as buoyed by their 2-0 lead, Fulham went on to hit another five to ensure Town’s previously healthy goal difference, took a battering.

Even at the break, Jones had felt his side, who had held the champions to a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road back in December, could get back into it though, adding: “We tried to be aggressive early on and tried to get the next goal, but they got it and they got another one quickly again.

"Ours can feel sorry for ourselves as we’re going down with injuries.

"We played them at home, we watched the game yesterday and we were wonderful.

"We had pace, power, aggression, we’re right up against them, should have won the game, but today, we lose all that, as all my midfield players pretty much are injured.

"Pelly-Ruddock (Mpanzu), Jordan Clark came back today, Allan Campbell’s missing, Gabe Osho, Luke Berry, so the one recognised one we’ve got is Henri Lansbury.

"Then my two front two (Elijah Adebayo and Harry Cornick), all my goals, are missing today.

"You take nine out of the Fulham side, you take (Aleksander) Mitrovic, Harry Wilson, (Fabio) Carvalho, (Tom) Cairney, Harrison Reed, any one of those out of the side, they’re going to struggle.

"That’s what we’ve got, and bearing in mind we’re pretty much bottom budget, so to compete with them is tough.

"Today we got a real lesson, but one magical game (on Saturday) and that’s everything we’ve worked for.”