Luton Town FC vs Blackburn Rovers (17th Sep 2022)

Report | Luton Town 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

Second half goals from Carlton Morris and Reece Burke saw Luton Town return to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers.

After a quiet first half, Town took the lead through Morris who stabbed home from close range after Jordan Clark’s cross.

The second came less than ten minutes later, as Burke surged up the pitch and produced a brilliant curling effort from 25 yards.

Nathan Jones made five changes from the midweek draw against Coventry City. Henri Lansbury came into the starting line-up for his first start of the season, with Burke, Tom Lockyer, and Amari’i Bell making it three changes in defence.

Cauley Woodrow started up front, with Elijah Adebayo and Harry Cornick missing out through injury.

The game’s first chance fell to the away side. Ben Brereton Diaz thought he had done enough to put Rovers ahead with his effort, but Dan Potts raced back in time to clear it off the line.

Lansbury was the first to threaten for the Hatters, breaking into the box before firing on goal, which was well saved by Thomas Kaminski.

After a quiet and cagey first half, Town started the second half on the front foot. Clark and Woodrow combined well in the box, but both players were unable to get shots anyway before Rovers eventually cleared their lines.

The Hatters continued to threaten, and came close to the opener through Clark’s snapshot which went just wide of the post.

And Town’s bright start was rewarded just before the hour mark as Carlton Morris got ahead of the Blackburn defender and stabbed home from Clark’s cross.

Morris then almost turned provider, flicking a header into Woodrow’s path, who would see his volley blocked well by a defender.

It wouldn’t take long for Luton to add their second of the afternoon, and they did in sensational fashion. Burke picked the ball up just past the halfway line and broke forward, with the defender producing a fantastic curling effort to beat Kaminski from 25 yards.

Luke Freeman and Cameron Jerome were introduced as Jones made a double switch, replacing Woodrow and Lansbury.

Morris’ afternoon came to an end in the game’s dying embers, as he was replaced by Fred Onyedinma. Gabe Osho was also introduced late on, replacing Clark.

Town would see the game out comfortably and claim all three points, their first of the season at Kenilworth Road.

Goals:

Town: Morris (58’), Burke (67’)

Att: 9,889 (712 away)

Nathan Jones on win against Blackburn!

Manager Nathan Jones described victory against Blackburn Rovers as a ‘wonderful performance’ as the Hatters recorded their first home win of the season.

After a cagey opening against a Blackburn side who occupied third position prior to the match, Carlton Morris scored his sixth goal of the campaign and Reece Burke followed up 10 minutes later to solidify the lead, which proved a challenge too far for the away side.

“It was a wonderful performance, especially second half,” Jones said post-match. “We haven’t actually scored in the second half at home so we really put a big emphasis on it, they’ve had to come back from midweek where we weren’t great but we still should have won the game.

“They had to cope with quite a lot but today we were magnificent. Second half we were aggressive, we pressed, we looked a threat, and we should have had more.

"Jordan Clark passed it to Cauley when he should have shot, Cauley had a volley and we had real good opportunities to have made it more, so it was a wonderful performance.”

The boss made five changes following the midweek draw against Coventry City and he was played with what all offered, including the returning Burke who made his mark with a stunning strike.

“They were wonderful today. Dan Potts came back from a tough night the other night and was excellent, really superb and he’s playing through injury, so it shows the character that he has.

“Cauley Woodrow has had to bide his time and was excellent in terms of everything he does and then for me Reece Burke had a wonderful game but Carlton Morris – what a performance from a centre-forward.

He did everything – held it up, got his goal, comes in, works hard and he’s hungry. That is what we build on, anyone in our group that isn’t hungry, it shows and that is why we paid a lot of money for him.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ7TKSJwKNo – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ud9qxVpT7kQ – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXTQVr2zBek – Reece Burke interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKNkObX18Jw – Scenes at full time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-PpJTEw4TA – Ethan Horvath interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI-JLymKu84 – reverse angle

Morris scores again and Burke curls in a stunner as Luton beat Blackburn to finally record a home victory

Championship: Luton Town 2 Blackburn Rovers 0

A fine second half performance capped by Carlton Morris's sixth goal of the season and a stunning Reece Burke strike saw the Hatters finally end their lengthy wait for a home win by beating Blackburn Rovers this afternoon.

After an opening 45 minutes that barely saw either keeper worked, that was all to change after the interval, Morris showing again just why the Hatters forked out a club record fee for him, Burke then arrowing a magnificent 20-yard curler into the net to give Town some real breathing space, as this time there was to be no advantage frittered away.

Boss Nathan Jones made five changes for the clash, with boss Nathan Jones taking out two of the defence he was critical of in midweek, Gabe Osho dropping to the bench and Sonny Bradley missing out completely, with Burke fit and Tom Lockyer rightly restored to the back three.

Also returning was Henri Lansbury for his first start of the season, with Amari'i Bell and Cauley Woodrow included, the latter partnering Morris up top, for Fred Onyedinma, Harry Cornick and Luke Freeman, while summer signing Alfie Doughty was among the substitutes for the first time this term.

The visitors started on the front foot, as they looked at ease in possession particularly in their own half, determined to take risks when passing out from the back to play through the thirds, Ben Brereton Diaz almost putting them ahead.

With keeper Ethan Horvath slow to react, the Chile forward nicked the ball goalwards, Town's USA international getting just enough on his attempt, Dan Potts clearing unconvincingly off the line, as the opportunity was eventually smuggled clear.

A quiet opening was enlivened when Lansbury started getting involved, one meaty challenge and then an exquisite crossfield ball followed up with rampaging burst through the middle, shooting straight at Thomas Kaminski on 19 minutes when he had more time than he thought.

That was it really for the remainder of what was an increasingly mundane first period, neither side able to grab any kind of initiative with too many passes going astray.

It was finally punctured just before the break, but even that led to nothing tangible, Ryan Hedges’ curler falling tamely wide of Horvath's goal.

After the break, it was a completely different story, Allan Campbell showing brilliant tenacity to win the ball back not once but twice, with Jordan Clark advancing into the box.

As the home stands urged him to pull the trigger, he for some reason tried to find Woodrow, whose return pass was intercepted, much to the frustration of everyone in orange

With Rovers doing their best to give Luton a leg up, their tactics in playing out from the back, perfect for the Hatters' press, which appeared to have renewed energy, to exploit, the hosts looked the team more likely, Clark opting to go for goal this time, slicing wide on his left foot, Woodrow's instinctive volley also not testing Kaminski.

However, Blackburn's persistence in going short from goal kicks, which always looked like it could cost them, did on 58 minutes, as another drilled pass through the centre saw Lockyer there to cause a nuisance of himself once more, Town winning it back.

Clark too matters up on the left, cutting in to steady himself and send over a cross that Morris, who else, met with a cushioned side-footed volley into the corner of the net to continue his marvellous scoring spree at Kenilworth Road, on target now in his last four outings.

With breaking the deadlock not leading to as many wins as it had last term, Town giving the advantage away in each of their last three home matches, Jones’ me looked for that second.

Clark, now eager to shoot from anywhere, had a go from 20 yards, forcing Kaminski to paw behind, while Morris's header just wouldn't drop in time for Woodrow, Rovers getting back to block.

However, Town did then double their lead with 67 on the clock, and in quite magnificent fashion too, Burke picking up a loose ball midway inside Blackburn's half, continuing his forward surge and sending a sumptuous curler into net to break his league duck for the Hatters in some style.

Hunting a third now, James Bree almost had it after the visitors gave the ball away once more, Lansbury eating up the yards and the wingback's low shot kept out by Kamsinki at the second attempt.

Rovers, who had barely had any sight of Horvath's goal since the break, had a half chance on 70 minutes, Hedges once more slicing wide of the target.

With Luton becoming slightly sloppy as they looked to close out a home triumph, Blackburn almost gave them a nervy four minutes of stoppage time, but George Hirst lashed waywardly into the stands when through on goal, Lockyer doing just enough to put him off.

There were no further scares for the Hatters though as they saw out the latter stages without any further alarms as Jones and his players could finally celebrate a long overdue win in front of their own fans.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, James Bree, Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer, Dan Potts (C), Amari'i Bell, Henri Lansbury (Luke Freeman 74), Allan Campbell, Jordan Clark (Gabe Osho 90), Carlton Morris (Fred Onyedinma 89), Cauley Woodrow (Cameron Jerome 74).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Louie Watson, Alfie Doughty.

Rovers: Thomas Kaminski, Harry Pickering, Daniel Ayala, Dominic Hyam, Tyler Morton (John Buckley 70), Thrhys Dolan (George Hirst 59), Scott Wharton, Hayden Carter (Callum Brittain 59), Ryan Hedges, Ben Brereton Diaz, Lewis Travis (C).

Subs not used: Tayo Edun, Aynsley Pears, Bradley Dack, Ashley Phillips.

Referee: Josh Smith.

Booked: Morris 41, Travis 45, Brittain 60, Lockyer 60.

Attendance: 9,889 (Rovers 712).

Jones lauds Town's 'wonderful' second half performance as Hatters defeat Rovers

Reaction from Luton chief to 2-0 victory

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was eager to hail a ‘wonderful’ second half performance from his side, as they tasted that winning feeling for the first time this season at Kenilworth Road, with a 2-0 success over Blackburn Rovers this afternoon.

Going into the game, Luton had taken just three points from their opening five league matches in front of their own fans, also losing the Carabao Cup first round clash against Newport County.

They hadn’t found the net in the second half of any of their Championship contests in Bedfordshire either, but despite going into the break on level terms, there was no need to worry about that stat anymore, thanks to the laser sharp finishing of Carlton Morris and previously unseen long range shooting from Reece Burke.

First, Morris cushioned a terrific side-footed volley from Jordan Clark’s cross into the net on 58 minutes for his sixth in six games, before Burke’s sortie forward ended with a marvellous 20-yard curler on his left foot that flew past a stunned Rovers keeper Thomas Kaminski nine minutes later.

Speaking after a result which lifted Town up to 11th in the table, Jones said: “It was a wonderful performance, especially the second half.

“We’ve actually not scored in the second half at home, so we’ve really put a big emphasis on it.

“They’ve had to come back from midweek (2-2 draw with Coventry) where we weren’t great, but we still should have won the game in terms of a late penalty, so they’ve had to cope with quite a lot.

"But today they were magnificent, second half we were aggressive, we pressed, we looked a threat and should have had more.

"Jordan Clark passed it to Cauley (Woodrow) when he should have shot, Cauley has a volley, we’ve had real, real good opportunities as well where we could have made it more.

"But it’s a wonderful performance and needed.

“We picked a side to win the game, we’ve got big players missing, but it just shows what a good group we’ve got.

“I’m really proud of that and it’s good to go into the international break with a win.”

Luton boss has a message for Hatters fans who believe Town 'should be' beating sides in the Championship

Hatters manager insists there’s no ‘God-given’ right for his side to triumph in the second tier

Hatters boss Nathan Jones had a message for Luton fans who expect their side to just be turning up and winning games in the Championship following this afternoon’s 2-0 victory against Blackburn Rovers.

Goals from Carlton Morris, his sixth of an increasingly prolific season, and defender Reece Burke’s wonderful 25 yard curler ensured Town picked up a first victory in front of their own fans this term.

It was enough to see Luton climb up to 11th in the table, as they are now just two points adrift of the play-off places they reached last term.

The fact they are in such a good position for the second season running isn’t something that supporters should be just banking on though according to Jones, especially against a side like Blackburn, who went into the contest sitting third in the table, after beating recently relegated Premier League outfit Watford in midweek.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, the Town chief said: “It was a wonderful performance and needed because, I don’t read social media, but people sometimes show me stuff and people say ‘we should be doing stuff, we should be doing stuff’, so I’ve got a message for our fans.

“There are a lot of Championship teams that have been in the Championship that ‘should be’ beating teams, and their fans keep saying it, ‘we should be beating teams’, and they don’t and they’re still in the Championship.

“We’re not a team that ‘should be’ beating teams.

"What we are is a team that goes about our business with humility, we’re hard-working, got an honest group, got a wonderful way of doing stuff.

“We’ve got an environment that’s fantastic and, at times, it’s difficult because Championship games are very difficult to win, as you found out, the first year that we were in it.

“Now, we can say ‘we should be, should be, should be’ but those are the type of performances we put in and the crowd should get behind that, because there’s no God-given right to win a football game.

“We’re a relatively new side at this level at the minute and, with the greatest of respect, we haven’t got the resources that those sides that ‘should be’ winning games

“But we just keep doing it and I’m really proud of the team, so get behind the team because they (fans) were magnificent today, but when they’re apprehensive then it affects people.

"As we’ve got a wonderful group here with a wonderful way of doing stuff and I want them to get behind that, because we shouldn’t be beating teams, we do, but there’s no God-given right to do that.”

After an opening nine games that saw Luton record just two wins, Jones had also picked up on some rumbling from fans worried about the campaign ahead, as they felt Town were going to struggle near the foot of the table.

Putting that right, he continued: “I’m really proud of the team and how they went about it, as they’ve had to show a bit of resolve, as some people have got on to them.

"I’ve heard someone say, ‘it’s going to be a long season boys,’ fans, honestly, it’s mental, it’s absolutely berserk, because we have to realise what we are.

"We’re a wonderful side that does things excellently and I’m really proud of the group, how they react, how they come through stuff.

"Because we are, at times we’re fighting against the odds but we continue to do that.”

Jones had words of praise for those inside Kenilworth Road though who saw Town finally put their home issue to be when recording their first victory at the seventh attempt this season.

He added: “They’re an ex Premier League side, they’ve won the Premier League, and that’s what we’re coming up against.

"There’s no God-given right and I reiterate that to our fans, there’s no God-given right to win a game, ‘we should be’, why should we be?

"Because we have a recent history, we have a recent real, energetic past in terms of a recent past, that doesn’t give us a right to win games.

"We still have to work hard, still have to do all the things because there are a lot of good sides in this division, and it’s a tough division.

We have to keep going constantly, again, the fans were brilliant today, but come on, lets have an element of realism as well.

"We have to keep working hard, keep getting behind the team as that showed today.

"As when they do that, it’s a wonderful place to play football, a wonderful place to be this place.”