Luton Town FC vs Blackpool (23rd Apr 2022)

Match Report | Luton Town 1-1 Blackpool

Luton Town had to settle for a point after a 1-1 draw at home to Blackpool at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

The Hatters made the perfect start to the game, after Elijah Adebayo’s deflected effort gave Town the lead after only two minutes.

But Blackpool would go home with a point after Gary Madine levelled from the penalty spot.

Nathan Jones made four changes from Easter Monday’s win away at Cardiff City. Harry Isted made his first start for the Hatters, replacing the injured James Shea. Sonny Bradley returned to the Town defence following suspension, with Peter Kioso also coming into the starting line-up.

Up front, Harry Cornick replaced Fred Onyedinma. On the bench was Development side goalkeeper Jameson Horlick, who made the senior matchday squad for the first time.

Luton went in front within two minutes, through Adebayo. The 24-year-old got beyond the Blackpool defender and found the bottom corner with his effort.

Town could’ve added a second goal after Kal Naismith found Cornick with a superb ball over the top. Chris Maxwell in the Blackpool goal made a good save to deny Cornick’s volley, however.

The Hatters continued to threaten in the first half, and could’ve added a second goal when Cornick rose highest from Robert Snodgrass’ cross, but saw his header go just wide of the post.

Just under ten minutes after the restart, Blackpool would have a leveller. CJ Hamilton found his way into the Town box and was fouled by Dan Potts. Madine stepped up and beat Isted from the penalty spot.

The first Town switch came just after the hour mark, with Bradley unable to continue, with Admiral Muskwe the player coming on.

And within moments of coming on, Muskwe almost restored Town’s lead. With his first touches of the ball, the striker forced Maxwell into a smart stop.

Jones made his second substitution with 15 minutes left, as Henri Lansbury came on for Potts.

Town’s third and final change of the game saw Cameron Jerome replace Cornick with just under ten minutes left.

Jerome came close to finding a second for the Hatters, but couldn’t guide his header goalwards from Snodgrass’ cross.

Town thought they had found a late winner after Adebayo teed up Muskwe to tap in, but the lineman had already flagged.

Goals:

Town: Adebayo (2’)

Blackpool: Madine (55’)

Att: 9,842 (581 away)

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljLhFP8Lntw – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fegpn3KxbKc – Peter Kioso interview

Nathan Jones on Blackpool draw

Manager Nathan Jones was left to rue decisions going against his side during the 1-1 draw against Blackpool this afternoon.

Elijah Adebayo had given the Hatters an early lead before Gary Madine replied for the away side in the second half.

More aggrieved with decisions that didn't go his way, namely a foul on Robert Snodgrass in the area and Admiral Muskwe's winner that was ruled out, the gaffer reflected on proceedings during his post-match press conference.

“We haven’t been anywhere near our best today, but we’ve had some clear chances to have won the game. What we always do is create chances and we had some glorious opportunities to have won the game.

"I thought we did right at the end, it’s perfectly legit and to be fair to him, the linesman has apologised, he’s got a big decision wrong, and he should have waited. He didn’t and he’s given a real harsh decision. The big decisions haver gone against us today.

“He's got beyond him, used his strength and crossed it. It’s a perfectly legit goal, it’s how we score goals but he’s put his flag up and gone early. He knows he has made a mistake, he’s big enough to own up but it’s a big mistake they’ve made.

On his side not being at their best this afternoon, the Welshman admitted: “It’s not nervousness. When we play the way we do, we need energy and we’re 44 games into a Championship season. We’re picking up so many injuries lately but the shifts the boys are putting in is taking its toll. They are fresh, they can keep four up top, they play in such a way and they were probably the all-round better team today but we created the better chances to have won the game.”

Ending on a positive note, Jones added: “If you can’t win the game and you can’t play well enough to clearly win, then don’t get beat and that’s what we did today. We grounded out the point and who knows, that could be a glorious point.”

Hatters fail to cement play-off place after being held at home by Blackpool

Championship: Luton Town 1 Blackpool 1

Luton couldn't edge over the line to virtually assure themselves of a place in the Championship play-offs after being held by a plucky Blackpool at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

A point wasn't the worst result for the Hatters against a visiting side who impressed throughout, playing with the freedom that comes with securing their second tier status a number of weeks ago.

Town might have even grabbed all three in stoppage time, sub Admiral Muskwe tapping home, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul in the build-up by Elijah Adebayo.

Luton made four changes to the side from the 1-0 victory at Cardiff last weekend, with Harry Isted making his full debut for the club almost five years after signing, with James Shea out as expected due to the knee injury suffered in Wales.

That meant that development keeper Jameson Horlick was named on the bench, a definite gamble by boss Nathan Jones, with the teenager having never been involved in a first team match-day squad before.

James Bree, Reece Burke and Fred Onyedinma all missed out as well, with Peter Kioso, Sonny Bradley and Harry Cornick coming in, Cameron Jerome fit enough to return to the bench as well.

Hatters got off to the perfect start, ahead on just two minutes, when Adebayo escaped on the right and beat James Husband, before his deflected cross-shot caught keeper Chris Maxwell out and nestled in the corner, despite Amari'i Bell's attempt to get the final touch.

Although behind and with a poor record on their travels in recent months, the visitors didn't let their heads drop, having the better of the opening stages, Keshi Anderson's volley skewing wide, before a long throw caused confusion, Gary Madine prodding wide.

Isted certainly showed he wasn't fazed by the occasion, tipping away one cross, before making a superb stretching claim from another that looked like it was dipping into the net.

Luton looked to weather the pressure they were under and might even have had a second, Kal Naismith lifting the ball back in following a free kick and Harry Cornick's fierce half-volley drawing a decent parry from Maxwell.

With half an hour gone, Town should have increased their lead with almost a carbon copy of Easter Monday's winner at Cardiff, Robert Snodgrass sending over a wonderful first time cross but this time, the unmarked Cornick was unable to keep his header down.

The visitors', who were now posing less of a threat, tried their luck from range again, former Barton Rovers forward Anderson firing into the stands .

Just prior to the break, it looked like Luton's injury curse would strike again, Bradley holding the back of his leg after a routine header to Isted, hobbling gingerly and looking like he would be withdrawn at the break.

The skipper soldiered on though, out once more after the break, and despite looking like he still wasn't totally comfortable with the injury, bravely continued.

Blackpool did get the goal their overall play deserved on 55 minutes, CJ Hamilton getting the better of Bell, Potts making the unnecessary decision to slide in, the Tangerines attacker needing very little invitation to go to ground himself for a penalty that Madine drilled beyond Isted.

As they had done in the first half, Blackpool continued to look the more cohesive side, Madine's 20-yard snapshot easy for Isted.

Town then finally took off Bradley who was continuing to look troubled, Admiral Muskwe on, and his first touch almost resulted in a goal, Maxwell pawing away from close range.

Anderson might have done much better when sending a free kick over, before Adebayo had calls for a penalty himself, dragged down by Callum Connolly, nothing doing from referee John Brooks on this occasion.

Hamilton got it all wrong when cutting inside Kioso, slicing out for a throw, before the Town defender had a go himself, a horrible connection seeing the shot dribble tamely through to Maxwell.

With Cameron Jerome on in the closing stages, the forward almost got a winner with four minutes left, rising superbly to meet yet another brilliant cross from the increasingly influential Snodgrass, only to power wide.

In stoppage time, Luton thought they had won it when Adebayo raced on to Henri Lansbury's quick free kick and Muskwe who scored.

Unluckily for him though, his team-mate, who also worryingly hobbled away following the incident and didn’t reappear for the final seconds, was adjudged to have fouled defender Richard Keogh before delivering the assist, meaning Town added just one and not three points to their overall tally.

Hatters: Harry Isted, Peter Kioso, Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley (C Admiral Muskwe 66), Dan Potts (Henri Lansbury 76), Amari'i Bell, Kal Naismith, Robert Snodgrass, Allan Campbell, Harry Cornick (Cameron Jerome 81), Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Jameson Horlick, Danny Hylton, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Elliot Thorpe.

Tangerines: Chris Maxwell (C), Callum Connolly, James Husband, Keshi Anderson, Kenny Dougall, Gary Madine, Marvin Ekpiteta, CJ Hamilton, Richard Keogh, Charlie Kirk (Josh Bowler 69), Jake Beesley (Shayne Lavery 76).

Subs not used: Jerry Yates, Stuart Moore, Matty Virtue, Luke Garbutt, Jordan Thorniley.

Bookings: Dougall 19, Hamilton 68, Madine 90, Lavery 90.

Referee: John Brooks.

Attendance: 9,843 (Tangerines 581).

Luton chief blasts a 'grave' and 'catastrophic error' to disallow Muskwe's stoppage time strike against Tangerines

Luton boss slams officials for disallowing late goal

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt the officials made a ‘grave’ and ‘catastrophic error’ in disallowing what would have been a last minute winner Admiral Muskwe against Blackpool this afternoon.

With the scores 1-1, a quick free kick by Henri Lansbury saw Elijah Adebayo outmuscle experienced defender Richard Keogh and cross for Muskwe to tap home from close range.

However, the celebrations were cut short by a raised flag from the referee’s assistant who adjudged that Adebayo had fouled his man when winning the ball.

That was a definite mistake according to Jones though, who said: “It’s a clear, clear goal, there’s no foul in any part of it.

“It’s just he’s flagged early, he’s recognised he’s flagged early, if he had just let it play, they would have talked about it and given the goal.

“But he didn’t, he flagged early, it's a grave error, a catastrophic error for us really as that would have won us the game and we’d be having a totally different conversation now.

“We’re very, very hard done by not to have got three points.”

Jones was also disappointed by the decision from John Brooks to give the Tangerines a penalty on 55 minutes following a sliding challenge by Dan Potts on CJ Hamilton, but not award Town a spot-kick when Robert Snodgrass was felled later on.

He continued: “It’s not a penalty, but it looks like a penalty, so I can understand why he gives it.

“Dan has to stay on his feet and not do that and not give them something and then it’s fine.

“He (Brooks) made a few decisions, but we should have had a penalty and should have a goal and should have won the game, regardless.

“If everyone does the right things, we win the game, but it’s another point, and could be another important point.”

Although Jones knew Town weren’t at their best, he still felt they had the chances to go on and all but secure a place in the top six, adding: “We didn’t play well today, we weren’t ourselves but we did enough to win the game.

“We had some glorious chances, Harry Cornick had two first half, Cameron Jerome’s had one, Admiral Muskwe’s had one, Allan Campbell’s had a chance, we had a penalty shout and that’s a clear goal, no issue whatsoever.

“Suddenly we don't get that and we end up drawing the game.

“Blackpool were front-footed today, caused us a few problems.

"Harry (Isted) hasn’t had many saves to make, but they’re playing with freedom, four up top, it’s easy to do that when you’re 16th and haven't really got anything to play for and we’re really at it.

“It (play-offs) doesn't feel close at all at the minute as until everything is mathematical, you don't feel that.

"If everything goes for us this afternoon then okay you feel a lot more confident, a lot can happen this afternoon but we’re prepared for it to go to the wire.”