Luton Town FC vs Aston Villa (2nd Mar 2024)

Hatters comeback ended by late Villa winner

It’s the hope that kills you.

With a minute left on the clock, and with a point within their grasp following one of the finest, battling 45 minutes at Kenilworth Road this season, all of the Town’s incredible endeavour was undone in heart-breaking fashion.

Moussa Diaby swung in a cross from the right and fellow substitute Lucas Digne nodded past Thomas Kaminski at the back-post and a relieved Aston Villa celebrated a crucial win in their quest for Champions League football.

The Town, inconsolable, were left to reflect on nothing to show for their efforts that saw them battle back from the dead to level after a first half that saw Villa ease into a two-goal lead.

Ollie Watkins was the difference in the opening period with two very well taken goals to put Unai Emery’s side in control. His first was a bullet header in the 24th minute from a right-wing corner and the England striker doubled his and Villa’s advantage five minutes before the break when latching onto forward pass and finishing brilliantly past Kaminski.

Kaminski had earlier repelled Villa with a series of fine saves but the Town keeper’s night was much quieter after the interval as the Hatters took the game to their visitors.

In a wonderful response despite trailing by two, the Hatters penned Villa back and deservedly halved the deficit on 66 minutes when Tahith Chong bundled the ball over from close range after Villa couldn’t deal with a right-wing cross.

Kenilworth Road was bouncing. It was just what the Sky Sports cameras wanted. Six minutes after making it 2-1 it was level and the noise was deafening as belief flowed through those in orange. Alfie Doughty’s deep left-wing free-kick was floated to perfection to the back-post for Carlton Morris to send a side-foot finish beyond Emil Martinez. It was reminiscent of his goal at Everton and the eighth goal involvement in his last seven games.

All of a sudden the Town tails were well and truly up and Villa had no answer. Three minutes after the equaliser – and with 15 minutes left – Morris nodded straight at Martinez following Jordan Clark’s cross. Kenilworth Road’s foundations might not have coped had that effort found the target.

Villa made four changes at once with 11 minutes left on the clock but with five minutes left a carbon-copy chance for Morris of his equaliser saw the striker volley side-foot wide – yet an offside flag had already been raised.

Still the Town pushed. But Villa, who without doubt showed their class in the first half, had the final say to knock the stuffing out for the Hatters at the death when Diaby and Digne combined and that was that.

The fight for survival heads for Crystal Palace next Saturday.

We’ll see you there.

Come on Luton.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré, Doughty, Burke, Mengi, Bell (sub Ogbene 6); Clark, Barkley; Chong (sub Mpanzu 84), Townsend (sub Hashioka 53), Morris.

Subs: Shea, Krul, Berry, Woodrow, Nelson, Piesold.

Attendance: 11,594, the biggest of the season so far, including 1,358 in the away end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4i3fA1QWsM – match highlights

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

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

Luton hit by yet another gut-wrenching defeat as Digne scores late, late winner for Villa

Premier League: Luton Town 2 Aston Villa 3

Luton Town conceded yet another in a now lengthy line of cruel late goals at Kenilworth Road as they were robbed of a deserved point by Lucas Digne's last-gasp strike for Aston Villa this evening.

After a first half in which the Hatters looked miles adrift of their far superior opponents, trailing to Ollie Watkins' clinical double, they had done superbly to restore parity in the second period thanks to goals from Tahith Chong and Carlton Morris. However, just when thoughts were turning to another battling point, or maybe even a famous winner, the hosts switched off defensively, Digne left unmarked to power his header beyond Thomas Kaminski and strengthen the visitors' claim for a top four spot.

Luton boss Rob Edwards had made three changes for the fixture from the side hammered by Manchester City in the FA Cup, Thomas Kaminski replacing Tim Krul in goal, while Issa Kabore started for the first time since before the Africa Cup of Nations, with Andros Townsend also included. That saw Chiedozie Ogbene drop to the bench, along with Cauley Woodrow, where they were joined by Japanese international Daiki Hashioka for the first time in a league game, plus teenagers Zack Nelson and Axel Piesold.

Having conceded early goals in their last two home games, Town were clearly desperate to stay on level terms in the opening stages this time and give themselves a chance of building into the game. However, they still almost came a cropper when Villa attacked on the right through Watkins, but Jacob Ramsay could only chest wide.

Town were then dealt yet another in a seemingly endless list of injury blows on five minutes as Amari'i Bell, who had been a huge injury doubt going into the game, pulled up when trying to track a run forward and was immediately replaced, Ogbene on and over to left wingback role, Doughty going in at left centre half.

Luton were indebted to Kamsinki for keeping them level on 14 minutes, John McGinn's pass opening up the hosts defence all too easily for Edwards' liking and Ramsey's curler brilliantly palmed behind by the Belgian, From the resulting corner, Town didn't cover themselves in glory defensively though, Douglas Luiz allowed a free header that thankfully dropped wide.

With Town not playing quite as gung-ho as they had in recent weeks, intent on staying in the game, they needed Kaminski again when Watkins was sent away on the right, his shot turned over the top. However, Unai Emery's side weren't about to let their hosts off again for some sloppy marking in the box, as Leon Bailey's delivery was headed in by Watkins from a few yards out on 24 minutes.

Villa looked for the killer second as Luton struggled to really land any kind of blow on their opponents, Clement Lenglet's stretching header just too high and then Watkins making another terrific run and unleashing a shot that fortunately for Luton kissed the outside of the post. He did find the net again on 38 minutes when Luton gave away a free kick which saw Reece Burke booked, the set-piece quickly played forward to him as Town stood still once more and he produced an unerring finish beyond Kaminski and into the bottom corner.

The flag went up, with Town fans hoping they had been given a reprieve but a VAR check showed that he was in fact being played onside by Ogbene, so the goal stood and Luton's mountain got that bit steeper. It was starting to become a contest of Kaminski versus the Villa forwards as a poor pass from Ogbene saw sub Morgan Rogers unleash a curling effort that was flying in but for the outstretched fingertips of the keeper.

Tahith Chong burst into the area, his blast charged behind, while Luton's half was summed up when he got into crossing position and ended up blazing hopelessly behind. Town did then threaten again, with their best move, Ogbene riding some tackles and his cross was met by Kabore at the back post, Morris nodding back and Townsend heading just over the top.

After the break, Luton began to look like they could at least threaten at getting back into the contest, with Kabore in particular showing real intent on the right flank, winning a number of free kicks as he sped at the Villa back-line, as the home fans belatedly came to life. Watkins' hat-trick attempts were easily saved by a sprawling Kaminski, but Luton's supporters finally began to find their voice as a slither of belief washed over Kenilworth Road, the Hatters starting to produce some of the swashbuckling football that has won them so many fans this term.

Eager to capitalise, Edwards brought on Hashioka for the ineffective Townsend, as he moved the Japanese international to left centre half, freeing up Doughty to return to his more accustomed wingback role, Ogbene heading out to the right, where he doubled up with the flying Kabore. With Town now looking more at home and players in the right places, Doughty's free kick saw Morris's header fail to comedown in time, but the whole feel about the game was different, Town's players roared on.

It paid off on 66 minutes too, as Doughty managed to keep his corner away from pantomime villain Emiliano Martinez, Luton winning the first contact, Burke's header from close range brilliantly repelled off the line by Matty Cash. Morris kept it alive though, the loose ball dropping to Chong who tucked home to make a game of it.

Another wonderful Kabore cross caught his team-mates out somewhat, as they didn't react in time, Chong crowded out on this occasion, but they were on level terms just six minutes later. This time it was a Doughty free kick that did the damage, Morris watching it all the way on to his right boot to bury a marvellous volley into the bottom corner and make it 2-2.

Rather than sit off their opponents, Luton went for a third, a wonderfully crafted move on the right seeing Jordan Clark's first time cross met by a towering Morris, but his downward header was grabbed by Martinez. Villa then made four subs, and when Chong had to be replaced by Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu after a contact injury, two of them combined for what turned out to the winner, as Kabore, who had jus tbeen named man of the match, didn't realise Digne was behind him, the full back heading in Moussa Diaby's terrific cross.

The Hatters almost managed to claim what would have been a fighting point in stoppage time, Teden Mengi getting too much on his header from Doughty's corner as once more they were left with nothing to show for their efforts.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Issa Kabore, Teden Mengi, Reece Burke, Amari'i Bell (Chiedozie Ogbene 6), Alfie Doughty, Ross Barkley, Jordan Clark, Tahith Chong (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 84), Andros Townsend (Daiki Hashioka 54), Carlton Morris (C). Subs not used: James Shea, Tim Krul, Zack Nelson, Luke Berry, Axel Piesold, Cauley Woodrow.

Villa: Emiliano Martinez, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn (C), Youri Tielemans (Nicolo Zaniolo 79),Ollie Watkins, Alex Moreno (Lucas Digne 79), Clement Lenglet, Leon Bailey (Moussa Diaby 79), Jacob Ramsey (Morgan Rogers 30, Tim Iroegbunam 79). Subs not used: Robin Olsen, Pau, Calum Chambers, Kaine Kesler-Hayden,

Referee: Michael Oliver

Booked: Burke, Luiz, Bailey, Rogers, Zaniola

Attendance: 11,594 (Villa 1,358)

Undeserved Villa defeat leaves Hatters boss the 'angriest' he has been so far

Reaction from Luton chief to late loss against Villains

Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted the manner of this evening’s last-gasp 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa left him the ‘angriest’ he has been so far this season.

With Town trailing 2-0 at half time courtesy of an Ollie Watkins brace, Villa showing just why they are challenging for a top four spot this term, the Hatters did superbly to hit back and draw level with 15 minutes to go, Tahith Chong and Carlton Morris both finding the net. However, the hosts then switched off in the final minute, as Moussa Diaby swung in a cross from the right and Issa Kabore, who had just been named man of the match, switched off, allowing Lucas Digne to power a header beyond Thomas Kaminski to win it for the visitors.

Facing the press afterwards, asked how he was feeling, Edwards said: “As you can imagine, down. It’s always hard and difficult to come out after a defeat, but one where I feel like, and I might be wrong in saying, but I feel like we don’t deserve to. Based on the performance and the chances we created, so many things, it’s really difficult to take right now. It’s probably the angriest I’ve been today, yes.”

Asked if that had been with Luton’s display in the first period, Edwards continued: “Not at half time, everyone gets fixated on goals and scorelines, the performance was decent in the first half. We conceded from a corner, from a quick turn over in transition and we conceded from a quick free kick. It’s hard to get behind Aston Villa, they’re a team fighting for Champions League, what are we expected to be, 2-0 up against Villa? I don’t know.

"There was lots to like about the performance in the first half. We were a lot more solid than against City, it’s just difficult to get behind them. They’re so well organised, it’s difficult to get around them, hard to create chances, so just because we were 2-0 down, there wasn’t loads wrong. We shifted one or two little bits, we asked them to up the intensity more because it doesn't matter now, we’re 2-0 down, the games done, so we might as well leave it all out there as we always do.

“We found a way to get back into the game with loads of quality, loads of endeavour, loads of passion and heart. I thought the crowd were brilliant and it hurts to concede in the way that we did late on. There’s so much to like about how we played against a brilliant team, but we’ve done that before. Same story.”

Once Luton had got back on level terms, it looked like they were the ones who were going to go on and win it, Morris putting a downward header too close to Argentinian World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez. However, despite barely featuring as an attacking force, Villa went on to claim all three points, but Edwards didn’t think they paid the price for not opting to settle for a point.

He added: “If we do that, we concede chances, too many chances and I want to win the game. We’re in the business of trying to win games of football, three points helps us more than one, one helps us more than none, I know that, but I didn’t think we took any more unnecessary risks at 2-2. We wanted to win the game, it’s not in our nature at home especially to sit and take it unless we’re getting forced to do that.

"Villa weren’t necessarily forcing us to sit back and defend, so there’s no need to do that, and I think if we invite pressure, with the quality that Aston Villa have got, they’ll find a way through. I know they did anyway, but we could have been better in that moment.”