Luton Town FC vs Brentford (20th Apr 2024)

Report | Town fall to heavy home defeat

The Hatters suffered a set-back in their quest for Premier League survival after being well-beaten by Brentford at Kenilworth Road.

With the Town knowing a victory would lift them outside of the relegation zone, Rob Edwards’ men had no answer against the Bees.

Confidence was high before kick-off as Edwards named a side containing Teden Mengi, Gabe Osho and Sambi Lokonga but their returns to the side offered the Town little as Thomas Frank’s visitors ran away all three points.

The Bees could have already been ahead by the time they took the lead in the 24th minute when Yoane Wissa struck a fine first-time shot that flew into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Brentford has restricted the Town to scraps into the attacking third – with Tahith Chong and Carlton Morris closest with half-chances – and minutes after Bryan Mbeumo’s effort had struck the crossbar Wissa doubled the visitors’ lead when poking home inside the six yard box on the stroke of half-time.

The Hatters continued to struggle after the break and Thomas Kaminski produced a fine save to prevent Mikkel Damsgaard’s low effort from creeping home.

However, Kaminski’s goal was then breached twice in the space of three minutes as the Hatters fell apart. Firstly, on 62 minutes, Ethan Pinnock rose to head home a corner before Lewis Keane-Potter nodded home at the back-post to make it 4-0.

As the Town failed to produce a noteworthy attack in response it was almost 5-0, only for Kaminski to stop efforts from Kristoffer Ajer and Mbeumo.

Brentford did make it five with four minutes left when substitute Kevin Schade blasted into an empty after good work from Mbeumo.

The Hatters had barely created a chance in the second half but Edwards’ side did manage a consolation in injury time when substitute Luke Berry rounded Mark Flekken to score his second goal of the season.

The fight is not over. We’ll see you at Wolves next weekend.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré (sub Onyedinma 35), Doughty, Osho, Mengi, Burke (sub Berry 46); Lokonga (sub Hashioka 71), Barkley, Clark (sub Mpanzu 81), Chong (sub Townsend 71), Morris.

Subs not used: Shea, Krul, Woodrow, Johnson.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PYZocLDoJ0 – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XktD31EzSMI – extended match highlights

Reaction | "We are Luton Town and we prove people wrong" – Clark

Midfielder Jordan Clark apologised to the Luton Town supporters following the 5-1 home reversal against Brentford, but insisted that the club’s mentality to prove the doubters wrong will come to the fore once again in the coming days.

The Hatters suffered their heaviest league defeat at Kenilworth Road this season, as the Bees added three second-half goals to their 2-0 half-time lead before Luke Berry grabbed a consolation in added time.

An honest Clark said: “It was a tough loss to take. We built the game up all week but were second best all over the pitch and full credit to Brentford. They are a well-oiled machine, do the basics really well and have some quality players.

“We weren’t good enough today as a team, and we are sorry to the fans who were amazing as always.”

Discussions among the squad had already taken place in the immediate aftermath of the final whistle as they look to put things right for next Saturday’s trip to Wolves.

“A few lads have spoken and got stuff off their chests,” said the 29-year-old. “What is said in the changing room stays in the changing room, but you’ve got to look at yourself first and foremost. We’ve got to be men and we’ve got to bounce back now next week.

“We knew how big this game was, to get the three points to get us out of the relegation zone. It wasn’t meant to be, but we’ve got four massive games now – even bigger games – so we look forward to Wolves and we need a performance and a result.”

With 12 points to play for and the Town being just one adrift of 17th-place Nottingham Forest before their game at Everton tomorrow, Clark warned against writing the Hatters off.

“We were written off at the start of the season and we’ve had that tag all year,” he said. “They’ll probably write us off even more so after this, and obviously the Man City game last week. Conceding a lot of goals over two games is not good.

“But that’s what we do at Luton Town, we prove a lot of people wrong and we’ve still got the full belief in there, in each other and as a squad.”

Reaction | Tough to take but we can bounce back – Morris

Carlton Morris couldn’t fathom the reason behind the Hatters’ poor performance as they were beaten 5-1 at home to Brentford – but vowed his side can bounce back in their fight for survival.

The Bees dominated throughout with Luke Berry scoring a late consolation in a defeat that keeps the Town in the Premier League relegation zone.

“It’s extremely flat in the dressing room,” said the Town captain. “We haven’t really had a result like that, and in that in that fashion this is a tough one to take.

“I think we’ve got to use that as an opportunity now to show what we’re about and our bouncebackability, so we’ll go again next week. I think it’s just like in life: these things happen sometimes. I’m obviously extremely disappointed as are the lads.

“We know, at this stage of the season, it’s tough to accept that if I’m being honest.

“We’ll speak about it. We’ll learn from this like we like we have learned from every game. We’ll evolve and take it into our next game. As I said, it hasn't happened in that fashion this season at all. I know what the lads are about. I know the character we've got in the dressing room.

The captain also paid tribute to the Town faithful who stuck behind after the final whistle to applaud the players off.

“The fans have been incredible all season for us,” said Morris “I think that’s going to be crucial for us going forward because at the end of the day we’re still in with a shout and we've got every chance.

“I back myself and my teammates that we can, we can do this, that we can get enough points to stay up and having games and we’re going to need them more than ever.”

Hapless Hatters are absolutely hammered on home soil by Brentford

Premier League: Luton Town 1 Brentford 5

Luton picked one of the worst times to serve up their most inept performance of the season as they were quite simply outclassed during a humiliating 5-1 thrashing on home soil by Brentford this afternoon.

With Town having recently come through one of the toughest sequences of matches with their hopes of staying up still intact, only conceding twice at both Spurs and Arsenal, also keeping out Manchester City for an hour at the Etihad, this was the start of a five fixture run in which they were meant to flash their teeth in the battle to stay up, but were just no match for a Bees side who sliced them open time and time again.

The frustrating thing for the Hatters was that it was done with the strongest side available to them for a good number of weeks, boss Rob Edwards springing a number of surprises in his starting line-up, with Gabe Osho and Sambi Lokong both back, despite being ruled out in his pre-match press conference.

They joined Teden Mengi who missed last weekend as well, along with Issa Kabore, the quartet replacing Luke Berry, Daiki Hashioka, Fred Onyedinma and Andros Townsend, who all dropped to the bench. The signs looked ominous from pretty much the word go though, Luton unable to take any kind of noticeable boost from their returning players, as Brentford, without star striker Ivan Toney, appeared far superior in every department.

The visitors, who themselves were virtually safe after beating Sheffield United last weekend, looked to get the victory that would certainly secure it, Ethan Pinnock diverting an early header wide. They should have led on eight minutes too as Town looked nervy in the opening stages, Keane Lewis-Potter sprung clear on the left but faced with Thomas Kaminski, sliced wide in what was a huge let-off.

Town had their first real moment on 10 minutes, Lokonga showing just why he has been missed so much this term, driving forward from deep and finding Alfie Doughty who, after Tahith Chong's cross was blocked, tested Mark Flekken with a fierce first-time drive. Brentford were continuing to look the more likely, inches away on 19 minutes, a quick break seeing Sergio Reguilon send in a deep cross that Lewis-Potter met, the ball flying in but for the reflexes of Kaminski, who managed to claw away before it crossed the line.

The keeper was left helpless on 24 minutes when another quickfire break by the visitors paid dividends. Kristoffer Ajar's pass found Mbeumo who released Wissa, the forward taking his effort first time from just outside the box and giving Town's number one no chance, rifling into the roof of the net. Town should have responded straight away, Kabore winning a corner that was recycled on the left by Lokonga, Barkley playing in Chong, but he hammered rashly into the stands.

Brentford looked so dangerous whenever they attacked, which was often, constantly venturing into the area to cause problems, an effort from Ajer shanked just over his own bar by a hobbling Kabore. Unable to continue, the wingback was replaced by Onyedinma, Town almost falling 2-0 behind on 35 minutes, the Bees flooding forward once more, Lewis-Potter allowed time and space to line up his shot, which looked in but for the back of Mengi.

Still the visitors were by far the better side and in the closing stages of the first period, almost dealt a dagger blow, Mbeumo curling against the underside of the bar with his left foot as Town were clinging on. They were breached on the stroke of half time, almost comically so too, Mbeumo's cross seeing Burke try and fail to flick the ball away, Wissa prodding it beyond a frustrated Kaminski.

Morris attempted to pull one back instantly, fighting for some space in the box only to see his effort deflect comfortably through to Flekken. Town made one change at the break, Berry on for Burke, but their intended rally never appeared on the cards, Brentford just as slick and well-oiled as they had been in the opening 45 minutes, also beginning to manage the game effectively as well.

Kaminski kept the hosts in it with an hour gone, getting down to his right to prevent Damsgaard's daisy-cutter from creeping in, but Luton just didn't seem to have a fight-back in their legs this time, as they had done so against Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest earlier in the season, falling 3-0 down on 61 minutes, Pinnock able to head home a corner and put the result beyond doubt.

They quickly poured even more salt on the wounds just three minutes later, Town unpicked at the back and Mbeumo, as he had done all game, located another pocket of space, his cross misjudged by Onyedinma as Lewis-Potter finally found the net from just a yard out. Still the Bees hunted a fifth, Kaminski leaping to his right to keep out Ajer's towering header, with the hosts throwing on Daiki Hashioka and Andros Townsend in the vain hope of getting a consolation.

Kaminski saved well from the excellent Mbeumo and used his legs to prevent a cross reaching its intended target, but Luton still couldn't deal with the outstanding forward though as he teased his way into the box with four minutes left and slid in Vitaly Janelt, who drew Luton's stopper and found sub Kevin Schade to hammer into the empty net.

Luton did give their fans the smallest of consolations their performance scarcely merited in stoppage time, Berry pressing well to pinch the ball back high up, round Flekken, and expertly find the net for his second of the season. Mbeumo rifled over afterwards, but the win had long been assured, the result denting a massive blow to the Hatters hopes of staying up this season, as they remain in the bottom three with just four games remaining.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Issa Kabore (Fred Onyedinma 35), Reece Burke (Luke Berry 46), Teden Mengi, Gabe Osho, Alfie Doughty, Sambi Lokonga (Daiki Hashioka 71), Ross Barkley, Jordan Clark (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 81), Tahith Chong (Andros Townsend 71), Carlton Morris (C).

Subs not used: James Shea, Tim Krul, Joe Johnson, Cauley Woodrow.

Bees: Mark Flekken, Ethan Pinnock, Mathias Jensen (C Yehor Yarmoliuk 82), Yoanne Wissa (Neal Maupay 82), Sergio Reguilon, Bryan Mbeumo, Kristoffer Ajar (Mads Roerslev 76), Nathan Collins, Keane Lewis-Potter (Christian Norgaard 71), Mikkel Damsgaard (Kevin Schade 71), Vitaly Janelt.

Subs not used: Thomas Strakosha, Zanka, Saman Ghoddos, Frank Onyeka.

Referee: Jarred Gillet.

Booked: Pinnock 38, Daamsgard 47, Doughty 88.

Attendance: 11,877 (1,314 Bees).

Luton boss apologises to supporters as he felt Hatters lacked belief in Bees drubbing

Town chief reacts to heavy Brentford loss

Luton boss Rob Edwards apologised to the Hatters supporters who had to witness a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Brentford this afternoon, as he felt his side showed a lack of belief for one of the first times this season.

With fans going into the game buoyed by the news that Sambi Lokionga, Gabe Osho and Teden Mengi were all fit enough to return to the starting line-up, Issa Kabore also back after missing the Manchester CIty defeat, hopes were high at Kenilworth Road ahead of kick-off. However, it finished with the same scoreline that Luton had endured at the Etihad last weekend and while in that game, Town’s valiant effort drew praise from both the visiting fans and Edwards, this time his post match lap of appreciation was done with offering a hand to those who were still in attendance for the manner of his side’s timid display.

Speaking afterwards, he said: “I’ve got to say thank you to the supporters who stuck with us and apologise to them as well for having to live through that, a difficult day for them. I know we’ve got a lot of credit in the bank, especially this group of players, for what they’ve given them over recent history, recent past, but we don’t want to go through that again, so we’ve got to respond.

“I’m apologising and rightly so, it’s not good enough and its not been often I’ve had to say that, if at all really this year, but today, I shoulder it. I’m the manager and I’ve got to hold my hand up in that moment.”

The signs were bad early on, Keane Lewis-Potter slicing wide when left unmarked and then denied by Thomas Kaminski, as the visitors weren’t to be denied, Yoanne Wissa with a terrific first time strike on 24 minutes. Tahith Chong then fired over, but Luton fell 2-0 behind on the stroke of half time, Reece Burke’s failure to clear prodded him by Wissa for his second.

This time there was to be no rousing second half performance that had seen Town go close to rescue a result from losing positions against Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa, as they were breached three more times, Ethan Pinnock and Lewis-Potter scoring a quickie brace just after the hour mark to shut down any hopes the hosts had, sub Kevin Schade with a fifth late on.

Although Luke Berry pulled the merest of consolations with a tidy finish in injury time, Edwards felt his side fell short in a number of areas, particularly mentally, adding: “It was a really difficult day. As good as Brentford were, I thought we were equally as bad. Reviewing the goals and looking at them now, I felt we lacked an urgency and an intensity that we haven't really lacked all season long, especially in our defensive work, and that’s as a team, not just the defenders.

"The first goal was a good example of that, a quick turnover and then we don’t close gaps, we don’t quite see it quick enough and they’re a bit sharper on to things. Then first contact from a corner for the third goal, so a really disappointing day and it’s hard to put my finger on it right now. We had our moments in the first half when the game was in the balance, we did, Chongy had a great chance, Alfie (Doughty) had one.

"We got into good positions, but we weren’t ruthless enough at one end then we got punished and we for the first time really this season just looked like we lacked a bit of belief in that second half. That’s something that we’ve got to make sure that we snap out of very, very quickly. I don’t know why its happened as we know the importance of the game and to lose it in that manner is desperately disappointing right now, and a tough day for us.”