Luton Town FC vs Bournemouth (15th Jan 2022)

Match Report | Luton Town 3-2 AFC Bournemouth

Kal Naismith netted a stunning last minute winner as Luton Town beat league leaders AFC Bournemouth 3-2 at Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon.

Town were two up at half-time, with goals via a Lloyd Kelly own goal and Allan Campbell’s first for the club.

The Cherries found a way back into the game through Emiliano Marcondes and Morgan Rogers.

But with seconds left, the ball fell to Naismith, who sold the defender with a brilliant dummy, before finding the bottom corner for Town’s winner.

Nathan Jones made two changes to the side that were 4-0 winners against Harrogate Town in the Emirates FA Cup last weekend. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Allan Campbell return in midfield, with Henri Lansbury and Carlos Mendes Gomes on the bench.

The game’s opening minutes were a cagey affair, with Town registering the first opportunity. Elijah Adebayo broke into the area after being found by Amari’i Bell, but the attacker couldn’t get a shot away.

That effort sparked the visitors into life, with Ryan Christie finding space and forcing James Shea into a smart stop.

Town continued to threaten the Bournemouth goal, with Naismith at the heart of two chances. The defender flicked a header on from a Bell throw-in, with the ball eventually punched clear by Mark Travers.

The second chance saw Naismith’s first-time volley saved by the Travers’ legs, being put out for a Luton corner, which was eventually cleared by the Cherries.

Emiliano Marcondes was next to have an effort on goal in a lively first-half of football at the Kenny, with his free-kick being saved by Shea.

And just before the half hour mark, Town would be in front. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s cross was flicked into Adebayo’s path. His effort was saved by Travers, before being turned into his own net by Kelly.

Adebayo continued to be a constant threat for Town in the opening 45. After a charging run, his effort was deflected wide for a corner.

From the resulting corner, the Hatters thought they had added a second. Bournemouth failed to clear their lines, and Cameron Jerome reacted quickest to finish beyond Travers. However, after a lengthy discussion with the referee and linesman, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Town would have their deserved second goal before half-time. Campbell had acres of space on the edge of the Bournemouth area, and found the bottom corner with a brilliant effort.

Bournemouth would pull a goal back six minutes into the second half. Jack Stacey beat a number of Town players on a surging run, before finding Marcondes with a brilliant cross, who headed in.

Jones was forced into his first change of the afternoon, with Campbell unable to continue. Fred Oyedinma came on in his place.

Town were forced into another change minutes later. Reece Burke’s afternoon came to an end just after the hour mark, with Gabe Osho replacing him.

A tame half of football in comparison to the first, Mpanzu had an effort for the Hatters, but it was straight at Travers.

The away side would find an equaliser through Rogers. Jamal Lowe’s ball into the box found Rogers, who fired beyond Shea.

Henri Lansbury was introduced as Town’s third and final substitution late on, with Jerome making way.

Jordan Clark almost put the Hatters back in the lead five minutes from time. He latched onto a long ball forward from Shea, with his venomous effort tipped over the crossbar by Travers.

With the game seemingly destined for a draw, Town would find a winner in fantastic fashion. A free-kick fell to Naismith on the edge of the area, the defender brilliantly sold his marker with a dummy, and found the bottom corner with a curling effort.

In front of a sold attendance of 9,649, the roof came off at the Kenny with a brilliant and dramatic ending.

Goals:

Town: Kelly OG (29’), Campbell (42’), Naismith (90’)

Bournemouth: Marcondes (51’), Rogers (78’)

Att: 9,649 (1,032 away)

Nathan Jones' Bournemouth reaction

Nathan Jones was ecstatic after his side scored a 97th minute winner to beat league leaders AFC Bournemouth this afternoon.

After rushing into a two-goal lead in the first-half, the Cherries replied with two goals of their own in the second period, before Kal Naismith scored the decisive winner with the last kick of the game.

“We came back last week and dusted off the cobwebs and we were rusty last week but our performance level was totally different. First half I thought we were absolutely outstanding, we pressed, we were energetic and we looked a threat. Our front two were magnificent I felt and they were backed up by everyone.

"We scored two good goals, possibly could have had a third but I think if the corner had been given, then we wouldn’t have scored the second anyway. To get pegged back from a good side, we could have defended much better but to show the character and desire to go on and win the game, not just see it out, absolutely magnificent."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEnh9yA8IFk – Nathan Jones post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcuZKADADhc – final whistle scenes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk_-iilFJ3I – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Tr-ZTdtEE – Kal Naismith interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7RfGlgtHRg – Alan Campbell interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfbXzWdZqXs – Kal Naismith goal from every angle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8BaeP7baNo – Allan Campbell goal from every angle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClJGqWAy4io – Reverse angle

Naismith's stoppage time stunner earns Luton a famous win over Bournemouth

Championship: Luton Town 3 Bournemouth 2

Kal Naismith's stunning winner in the final seconds of stoppage time saw Luton record a famous victory over Championship leaders Bournemouth in a game that had absolutely everything and more.

With the clock ticking to the end of its allotted seven extra minutes, Luton fashioned one last attack, Bree sending over a hanging cross from the right which was headed out to Naismith some 20 yards from goal.

He cushioned it out of the sky on his chest perfectly, chopped inside an oncoming Cherries opponent and then bent his shot beyond Mark Travers and into the bottom corner as Kenilworth Road erupted to sounds not heard since Scott Cuthbert headed in against Blackpool or George Moncur's free kick that famously downed Portsmouth.

The goal saw scenes of unbridled joy from players, management and supporters alike, manager Nathan Jones' inner Jose Mourinho coming out with a celebratory kneeslide, as referee Leigh Doughty immediately signalled the end to proceedings from the kick-off in what was an truly absorbing contest, which reminded everyone just why they turn up every week to watch football.

Ahead of what was to be a breathless 90 minutes, boss Nathan Jones made two changes from last Sunday's FA Cup victory against Harrogate Town, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Allan Campbell in for Henri Lansbury and Carlos Mendes Gomes.

Bournemouth had former Town defender Jack Stacey in their ranks, as the Cherries looked to dominate possession in the early stages, keeping the ball with incredible ease, Ryan Christie's low shot well gathered by James Shea.

Luton looked to nick the ball off their opponents high up, Campbell doing just that, but Elijah Adebayo was flagged narrowly offside from Jerome's pass.

The visitors then went for the direct approach, Jaidon Anthony's deep cross met by Christie who had escaped at the back post, Shea doing brilliantly to get down and palm his measured volley away, also saving Emiliano Marcondes' free kick at the second attempt too.

With Jerome offering Luton an out ball, holding up the play impressively alongside Adebayo, it led to a long throw from Amari'i Bell that was flicked goalwards by Reece Burke.

Visiting keeper Mark Travers punched away, before Mpanzu's deep cross was cleverly controlled on his chest by Naismith, his instinctive volley turned behind by the Irish international.

That was the start of Town's best spell, Jordan Clark to the fore on the left, tenaciously wriggling away from his man to send over two dangerous crosses, Naismith also having an ambitious blast blocked as Luton looked to throw some punches at their opponents.

Town gained just reward for their intensity on the half hour when Mpanzu's inviting delivery was flicked on by Sonny Bradley and fell to Adebayo.

He got the ball out of his feet to shoot goalwards, with Travers sticking out a leg to save well, only to hit the unfortunate Lloyd Kelly and rebound in to his own net, as the Cherries defender scored his second own goal in successive games against Luton.

Adebayo looked up for the contest, his shot deflecting wide, as Town thought they had doubled their lead on 36 minutes when Bree's corner was met by Bradley, leading to some pinball inside the area.

When a Cherries player slipped trying to clear, Campbell charged down the loose ball, before it rebounded off Adebayo to Jerome who tucked it in, Doughty signalling the goal.

The visiting players went straight to the linesman to complain vociferously and Doughty eventually opted to rule the goal out after consultations with his assistant, a good minute after it had gone in.

Boss Jones was understandably apoplectic with rage as the home fans let the officials know in no uncertain terms what they thought of the decision for the remainder of the contest, as although replays showed Jerome was a shade offside, there was no doubt the officials caved to the prolonged protests, with no VAR in use at this level.

Rather than let their anger fester, Luton used it to their advantage, Naismith stepping out of defence with real purpose and picked out the unmarked Campbell three minutes before the break.

He was allowed to advance, the visiting defenders almost daring him to shoot, and he did just that, arrowing a drive into the bottom corner with this time, the linesman's flag staying firmly by his side.

After the break, Luton saw their advantage halved six minutes in when Stacey showed the kind of form that saw him a fans favourite during his time in Bedfordshire with a terrific run on the right, beating two men before delivering an inch perfect cross for Marcondes to head home from point blank range.

With memories of their capitulation to Swansea from a few months back, the nerves might have been jangling among the home support, Marcondes' tantalising corner saw Jefferson Lerma's deflected header bounce off the top of the bar not once, but twice, before dropping behind.

Town were then forced into two changes with Campbell and Reece Burke both pulling up within a few minutes of each other, Fred Onyedinma and Gabe Osho coming on.

Some good harrassing by Clark saw Mpanzu fail to get enough on his effort, Travers saving comfortably.

Just when it looked like Town were starting to weather the storm, they were breached again with 12 to go, Bell unable to cut out a pass to half time sub Jamal Lowe who raced away.

He showed real trickery to break into the box and cut the ball back for fellow sub Morgan Rogers to slam home with just his second touch.

Rather than go into their shells though, Town managed to get back on the front foot, which is no mean feat given their lack of match action over the Christmas period.

They went route one, Shea's clearance taken out of the sky by Jordan Ckark whose left-footer was flipped over the top by Travers.

Still Luton went for it though, and they got their rewards through Naismith's moment of magic, adding to already rich list of 'I was there' moments to come out of this famous old ground.

Hatters: James Shea, James Bree, Reece Burke (Gabe Osho 65), Sonny Bradley, Kal Naismith, Amari'i Bell, Allan Campbell (Fred Onyedinma 60), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jordan Clark, Cameron Jerome (Henri Lansbury 81), Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Simon Sluga, Dan Potts, Luke Berry, Carlos Mendes Gomes.

Cherries: Mark Travers, Lewis Cook (Morgan Rogers 76), Lloyd Kelly ©, Jefferson Lerma, Dominic Solanke, Ryan Christie, Emiliano Marcondes, Jack Stacey, Leif Davis, Gary Cahill, Jaidon Anthony (Jamal Lowe 46).

Subs not used: Orjan Nyland, Chris Mepham, Ben Pearson, James Hill, Gavin Kilkennym, Morgan Rogers.

Booked: Lerma 81, Christie 89.

Referee: Leigh Doherty.

Attendance: 9,649 (1,032 Cherries).

Jones: We were full value for Cherries victory

Town boss reacts to wonderful win

Luton boss Nathan Jones insisted his side were ‘full value’ for their thrilling victory over Championship leaders Bournemouth this afternoon thanks to Kal Naismith's magnificent stoppage time winner.

It had looked like the shares were going to be spoiled at Kenilworth Road the score locked at 2-2 going into six minutes of time added on, before the Hatters fashioned one last opportunity.

A cross from the left was cushioned out to James Bree by Henri Lansbury, and his looping delivery into the area could only be half cleared by the visiting defence.

Taking it out of the sky, Naismith brought the ball down on his chest, chopped inside an opponent and then cool as you like, picked out the bottom corner from 20 yards to ensue bedlam in Bedfordshire.

It brought the end to a game that had seen Luton lead through Lloyd Kelly's second own goal in as many matches against the Hatters, before Cameron Jerome's strike was controversially ruled out by referee Leigh Doughty for offside, after he had initially pointed to the centre circle.

Allan Campbell did make it 2-0 from 20 yards, but the second period saw Bournemouth level through Emiliano Marcondes and Morgan Rogers, before Naismith did his thing.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: "With the greatest respect, these will go up, these and Fulham, they’re the best two sides in the league, so to do what we did, as I thought we were full value for our win.

“We weren't categorically better than them, but I thought we were the more aggressive side.

"We created more problems, especially first half and then we finished with real intent to win a football match and that's what happened.

“It’s a wonderful way to win a game against a very, very, very good side, one of the top two sides in the division, that’s not even arguable.

“First half we were outstanding.

"I thought we were aggressive, thought we went after them, never mind about the disallowed goal as even if the goal hadn’t been given we wouldn’t have scored the second as the chain of events would have been different so a 2-0 lead going into half time was absolutely right.

“We were always going to lack a bit of energy second half because we haven’t played but the goals are poor, we should defend better, but to show the character that we did as I thought we were the ones pushing late on to win the game.

"We made the game changers, changed shape a little bit, I thought we were aggressive, we pressed them, continued to press high, Henri Lansbury gave us that real platform late on just to keep us on the attack.

"Arguably we could have had a penalty before the goal but I'm so glad that there is no controversy and three very good and legitimate goals were scored."