Hull City vs Luton Town FC (29th Mar 2025)

29/03/2025 HULL CITY 0-1 LUTON TOWN

Own goal gives Town priceless win

The Hatters grind out an important away victory to inch closer to Championship safety

A bizarre, beautiful and crucial own goal 12 seconds into the second half earned the Hatters yet another valuable win away from home to keep their Championship survival hopes alive.

After a goalless first half that saw the Town hit the post through Elijah Adebayo, the game’s defining moment came moments after the restart when Hull captain Lewie Coyle’s clearance struck the back of teammate Alfie Jones and the ball bounced into the net.

Hull pressed for an equaliser but the Hatters held on make it three wins in their last five games to move to within three points behind the Tigers in the Championship table.

It was no more than the Town deserved for another determined performance on the road that could have been more comfortable had they taken their excellent chances in the first half.

Adebayo struck the post as early as the seventh minute after taking Jordan Clark’s clever pass, drilling a low shot across goal that rebounded away to safety.

Four minutes later the Hatters came close once more, this time captain Carlton Morris volleying wide at the back-post after being found unmarked by a beautiful Liam Walsh free-kick.

After missing those opportunities, the Town then needed to dig in defensively as the hosts pushed for a leveller.

However, it wasn’t until the final minute of the half that the Tigers threatened when Kasey Palmer’s goal-bound shot was cleared by Mark McGuinness.

At half-time Reece Burke – making his first start since November – was withdrawn and replaced by Tahith Chong and within seconds of his introduction the Hatters led thanks to one of the strangest own goals of the season.

Morris and Adebayo forced a chance for Thelo Aasgaard but, with the Hull defence sensing danger, Coyle’s clearance hit teammate Jones and bounced gloriously past Ivor Pandur in the Tigers’ goal.

It was a huge slice of luck for the Town but it was the kind of fortune which has been missing for large chunks of this season. You certainly take those.

The MKM Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for the Hatters – prior to kick-off the Town had won on their last three visits – and, ahead, it was time for Matt Bloomfield’s side to hold on.

Clark and Amari’i Bell – the latter making his 150th appearance in Luton colours – did well to force out Kyle Joseph as the home forward raced in on goal on the hour before the same fate bestowed Aasgaard at the other end minutes later.

As time ticked down the hosts became more frantic but the Town kept their heads and held firm in defence with Thomas Kaminski gathering Abu Kamara’s shot comfortably with 16 minutes left.

Kamara then dragged a shot wide with just three minutes remaining before the officials added five additional minutes at the end.

Just when you sensed the game was up there was one final chance – and the Town had Kaminski to thank. Hull worked the ball short to Charlie Hughes and the Hull midfielder hit a rocket from 20 yards that Kaminski acrobatically turned away.

Hull could not muster another chance in the moments that remained and the Hatters were left to celebrate a huge three points away from Kenilworth Road for the second game in a row.

That’s three wins in five, two away on the spin and the league table – at full-time at least – was looking as healthy as it’s looked for months.

Promotion chasing Leeds are next at Kenilworth Road for another biggy… enjoy your weekend and we’ll see you then.

UTT.

Town: Kaminski, Burke, Doughty, Bell, McGuinness, Makosso, Walsh, Clark, Aasgaard, Adebayo, Morris.

Subs not used: Krul, Walters, Naismith, Chong, Alli, Lamine Fanne, Nelson, Nordås, Bowler.

Attendance: 23,005, including 1,147 singing for the Town

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHcvFZGQgV4 – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHcvFZGQgV4 – Matt Bloomfield post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0HaUol_uDM – Game day unmasked

Comical own goal sees Luton claw three vitals points back on Tigers

Championship: Hull City 0 Luton Town 1

A bizarre own goal saw Luton Town take another huge step in their battle for Championship safety with a massive 1-0 victory at fellow relegation strugglers Hull City this afternoon.

Matches at the MKM Stadium over the years have often ended with wins for the visitors that were graced with wonderful goals for the Hatters, Kazenga LuaLua, James Bree and Henri Lansbury all producing the goods in magnificent fashion. This time, the outcome was the same, but the manner of the victory was bordering on comical, an unwitting Alfie Jones deflecting Lewie Coyle's clearance into the net just seconds after the interval with what proved to be the winner.

Ahead of kick-off, Town made just one change from the goalless draw with Middlesbrough as Reece Burke came in against his former side for Izzy Jones who picked up an injury on international duty with Guyana. An open start to the contest saw Luton inches away from taking the lead after just eight minutes as Burke kept the ball in, finding Jordan Clark making a move in front of him.

He threaded through to the unmarked Elijah Adebayo who beat keeper Ivor Pandur but not the outside of the post, further extending his own personal wait for a goal. Town worked the rebound well too, Clark doing superbly to trick his way past a few markers as Pandur shovelled his cross-shot away. Bar some long throws from Gustavo Puerta and Joe Gelhardt's awkward volley that was well wide, the hosts didn’t really threaten, as Luton had to do better on 11 minutes, Liam Walsh's terrific free kick from deep missing out the entire home defence and finding Morris who had peeled off his markers.

However, he opened his body to try and take it first time, when he had time for a touch, only able to sidefoot tamely wide of the target. Hull then weathered the spell of pressure and mounted some of their own, forcing three corners in succession for Puerta, who showed he was just as dangerous with his feet, the first two cleared away by Thelo Aasgaard and Thomas Kaminski, the third missed by Town's keeper but fortunately bouncing out for a goal kick.

With chances at a premium, Hull's Abu Kamara tied to break the deadlock in spectacular fashion, cutting in from the right only to send his curling attempt wayward, as Joe Gelhardt tried his best to win a penalty when deliberately colliding with Christ Makosso in the area, but it was swiftly waved away by an unimpressed referee Darren Bond.

Hull looked destined to open the scoring just before the break, as Mark McGuinness gave the ball away when passing straight out, the throw-in worked to the isolated Kasey Palmer who drew his foot ball and with the net waiting to bulge, the centre half redeemed himself by charging down the attempt with a vital block.

Doughty followed suit, as the hosts ended the first period strongly, Luton opting to bring on Tahith Chong for Burke at half time and before a large number of the 23,005 spectators inside the MKM Stadium had retaken their seats, Town were ahead in the most strange manner, a long ball forward flicked on by both Morris and Adebayo as Aasgaard looked to get on the end of it.

He was beaten to it by Coyle, whose clearance crashed into the face of a desperately unfortunate Jones to wrongfoot Pandur and put the Hatters in front, as the Tigers defender put through his own net for the second game in succession against Luton, having done so when Town triumphed 2-0 during their last visit to Humberside.

City responded well to the setback, as they attacked down the flanks, McGuinness doing well to turn one cross away and Kyle Joseph's header straight at Kaminski. The hosts really should have tested the Belgian on the hour mark as Luton played themselves into trouble, Amari’i Bell, on his 150th appearance, having his pocket picked as Joseph was eventually fed in the box but he took an age allowing the Jamaican international and Clark to smother him, leaving the home fans incensed.

Kaminski continued to command his box with an air of real authority, plucking another Gelhardt corner out of the sky as Town were stuck on the back foot, unable to get out of their own half, home sub Lincoln Dos Santos connecting with fresh air when a cross reached him. Town made a double change themselves, Milli Alli and Lamine Fanne on for Adebayo and Walsh which gave them fresh impetus, winning back to back corners as they were able to halt some of the Tigers' momentum for a period of time.

However, City were soon back in the ascendancy, but Town stuck to their task well, defending the area which was coming under increasing pressure, Puerta heading over the bar and then Kaminski climbing from Kamara's weak attempt. With 11 minutes left, Luton tried to double their lead as Morris did all the hard work by getting into the box but snatched at his opportunity, rashly slicing off target.

As time began to tick away, Luton brought on Kal Naismith and Lasse Nordas, with Kamsinki, who had already used his head well, venturing miles out of his goal to chest and volley away from danger too. City kept pressing, but their finishing was a huge issue, Kamara dragging wide and Kaminski saving his best to last, tipping Charlie Hughes’ 20-yard blast over the top, as after a season of woe on the road, Town’s fans could celebrate a successive victory on the road.

Tigers: Ivor Pandur, Lewie Coyle ©, Charlie Hughes, Alfie Jones, Sean McLoughlin, Steven Alzate, Gustavo Puerta (Nordin Amrabat 77), Kyle Joseph (Matt Crooks 63), Joseph Gelhardt, Abu Kamara, Kasey Palmer (Lincoln Dos Santos 63).

Subs not used: Thimothee Lo-Tutala, John Egan, Fin Burns, Cody Drameh, Regan Slater, Mason Burstow.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Christ Makosso, Mark McGuinness, Amari’i Bell, Reece Burke (Tahith Chong 46), Liam Walsh (Lamine Fanne 66), Jordan Clark, Thelo Aasgaard, Alfie Doughty (Kal Naismith 85), Elijah Adebayo (Milli Alli 67), Carlton Morris (C, Lasse Nordas 85).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Kal Naismith, Reece Burke, Zack Nelson, Josh Bowler.

Referee: Darren Bond.

Attendance: 23,005.

Bloomfield declares Luton's fighting spirit shone through with Hull victory

Town give their survival chances a huge boost

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield insisted his side showed their desire to fight and get out of the Championship relegation zone with a crucial 1-0 victory at fellow strugglers Hull City this afternoon.

With the Hatters needing to pick up a victory at the MKM Stadium to avoid being cut adrift below the dotted line, they did just that courtesy of a bizarre own goal from Alfie Jones just seconds after the break, the Tigers defender unwittingly deflecting Lewie Coyle’s clearance into the net with his face. From then on, Town dug in defensively, with Mark McGuinness and goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski in particular excelling, as they picked up a first clean sheet on the road for over six months to cut the gap on their hosts to three points.

Bloomfield, who has now masterminded successive away victories, with Luton also winning a third game in five matches having seen off Portsmouth at Kenilworth Road, said: “We’re in there fighting every day in training. We’ve got a huge amount of work ahead of us and we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves, but that’s three wins in five now, so we’ll get in the building on Monday and keep fighting.

“We’ve got to be really proud of the performance today. I thought we started incredibly well, hit the post, a couple of decent chances and then being the away team there was always going to be a time where we had to defend and we did at times. The goal was obviously extremely fortunate but in terms of our performance, the endeavour, the way the boys are playing, the shape at the moment, there’s a lot to be really, really pleased and really, really proud about.

“The fans want to see our boys’ grit and determination, that’s what the club stands for and they saw that. As manager of that team I’m incredibly proud of them as they’ve had some tough time the boys. We’ve got lots of work to do but we’ve given ourselves a good base level of performance and a good base level of shape and identity. The identity is coming back and we’re really, really pleased with that.

“I know everyone’s going to want to talk about the goals for, but the endeavour of the group is incredible. One thing I feel in life is the harder you work, the luckier you become. We’re working incredibly hard, we’ve had some real nearly moments that have gone against us since we’ve been here. The belief comes through, the moments turn in your favour and we have to believe that more will turn in our favour.”