Luton Town FC vs Bristol City (21st Apr 2025)

21/04/2025 LUTON TOWN 3-1 BRISTOL CITY

Town keep survival hopes alive

Hatters make it back-to-back wins over Easter to continue their bid to beat the drop

It was a happy Easter for the Hatters as they followed up their vital Good Friday win at Derby by recording their first back-to-back victories since September to strengthen their chances of Championship survival.

Second-half goals from Thelo Aasgaard, Carlton Morris and Isaiah Jones helped put play-off chasing Bristol City to the sword to give the Town their fifth win in their last 10 games.

Wins elsewhere might have kept the Hatters in the bottom three, but the feel-good factor was back at Kenilworth Road come the full-time whistle ahead of another important home game to come on Saturday against Coventry.

The three-goal blast in the second half was only the second time this season the Town had scored three in a game since the win over Watford back in October.

And it came after an even first half in which both sides had opportunities to open the scoring.

Liam Walsh, who orchestrated proceedings throughout, danced into the box to warm the palms of Robins goalkeeper Max O’Leary on 10 minutes.

Eight minutes later Aasgaard came close – not that the Norwegian international knew much about it. City’s Cameron Pring’s clearance struck Aasgaard six yards out but, with the ball flying goalwards, O’Leary clawed the ball away brilliantly to keep it goalless.

The visitors, arriving in fifth place in the table, came close when Nahki Wells rolled a shot wide on 29 minutes but in truth it was the Town enjoying the better of the play.

Aasgaard wasn’t a million miles away from perfecting a 22-yard free-kick when his effort curled inches over the crossbar three minutes before half-time as the Hatters continued to push for the breakthrough.

However, the midfielder didn’t have to wait long to break the deadlock when he fired the Town in front four minutes after the restart. The Hatters appealed for a foul on Millenic Alli after he was clattered in the box by O’Leary, but the ball fell to Aasgaard on the edge of the box and then fizzed a low shot that skimmed off the wet turf and under O’Leary.

Ahead, the lead did not last. City responded three minutes later with a fine strike of their own. Teden Mengi’s headed clearance found George Tanner on the edge of the box, and the Robins’ defender arrowed a beautiful volley into the bottom corner of the net to make it 1-1.

Level again, the Town wasted no time in allowing the frustration of the equaliser to affect them and just before the hour they were in front once more.

The lead was restored when Walsh hung a right-wing corner into the box, Mengi and Christ Makosso nudged the ball into the path of Morris and the captain was on hand to finish from close range. It was the striker’s first goal of 2025. And you could see his relief. His hard work has been unquestionable leading the line and this was fine reward.

Back in front, the Town then needed Thomas Kaminski for the first time of the afternoon to keep out another equaliser when Tanner’s back-post shot was stopped by the goalkeeper before the City scorer blazed the rebound into row Z of the Kenny end.

With Hatters heart-rates raised every time the visitors attacked, the home crowd’s nerves were settled on 72 minutes when Jones made it 3-1. The ball broke loose for the wing-back after it had run behind Alli and the former Middlesbrough man fired a wonderful finish past O’Leary.

Hearts were then in Town mouths on 76 minutes when Mengi wrestled with Sinclair Armstrong just outside the box but referee John Busby remained unmoved.

As time ticked down the Hatters had the rare luxury of a two-goal cushion and Kaminski was only tested once more when substitute George Earthy stung the palms of the goalkeeper in the final minute.

Four added minutes came and went without incident before the Town were able to celebrate a massive three points in their quest for another season in the Championship and their eighth in a row against City at the Kenny.

Wins for Derby and Hull kept the Hatters in the bottom three but those results took nothing away from a resounding performance to boost confidence ahead of the final two games.

It’s Coventry next here at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

It’s a big ‘un and we’ll need your support again.

See you then.

Happy Easter.

UTT.

Town: Kaminski; Jones, Bell, Makosso (sub Burke 68), McGuinness, Mengi; Walsh, Lamine Fanne (sub Baptiste 82), Aasgaard, Alli, Morris.

Subs: Krul, Andersen, Nakamba, Chong, Hashioka, Nelson, Nordås.

Attendance: 11,874, including 1,335 in the away end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsM4yDOIdsA – Matt Bloomfield post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYlKRa878dA – match highlights

Hatters end their scoring woes at home as they stun in-form Robins

Championship: Luton Town 3 Bristol City 1

A terrific second half performance saw Luton make it the perfect Easter period as they earned back-to-back wins for the first time since September by beating play-off chasing Bristol City this afternoon.

After a drab first half that finished goalless, it didn't look like Luton were going to change the kind of troubles in front of goal that had seen them score just three times in the previous eight games at Kenilworth Road under boss Matt Bloomfield. However, that all changed in the second 45 minutes, Thelo Aasgaard, Carlton Morris and Izzy Jones all finding the net to ensure the Hatters scored three goals at home for the first time since October 19, which with results elsewhere in the relegation battle all going against them, was to prove utterly crucial.

Bloomfield had made two changes to his XI for the contest, Teden Mengi and Liam Walsh recalled for the injured Jordan Clark and unavailable Kal Naismith, who couldn't play against his parent club. In the early stages, it was City who settled first on a slick surface, George Tanner flashing a drive narrowly wide on seven minutes, but going up against his former side, Walsh had a terrific start, thundering into a challenge which got the home fans going, and then twinkling his way through a few tackles inside the box, Max O'Leary gathering his cross-shot at the second attempt.

On corner duty in the absence of Clark, a floated delivery by the midfielder was headed out as far as Jones who saw his hopeful volley fly wide. Town were denied an opener on 18 minutes when Mengi's pass released Morris whose low cross was cleared by Cameron Pring but straight into the face of an unexpecting Thelo Aasgaard, the ball arrowing into the bottom corner, only for O'Leary to throw himself to his right and superbly scoop the ball away.

Having weathered that mini spell of pressure, City continued to look the better side, Tanner this time teeing up Nahki Wells just 10 yards out, but he dragged behind. It looked like Luton's chances would come from set-pieces or throw-ins, as it almost proved the case on 38 minutes, Christ Makosso hurling into the box and Morris flicking on for the lurking McGuinness who got too much on his volley.

Aasgaard then took it on himself when Fanne won a free kick some 25 yards from goal, putting his shot over the top with O'Leary definitely worried. He was more than worried just four minutes into the second period though as a flick on by Morris saw Milli Alli flattened by the keeper, but the ball landed to Makosso who was able to tee up the Norwegian international. He took a touch and had a crack as with O’Leary unable to react in time, his low drive fizzed into the net.

Unfortunately, Luton didn't hold on to the lead for more than a couple of minutes though as a high ball into the box was headed out by Mengi but only straight to Tanner who connected with a brilliant volley that was in from the moment it left his boot. Makosso really should have picked a better option moments later after winning the ball back high up, but with Morris and Aasgaard screaming for it, had a go himself only to shank woefully into the stands.

Town were able to keep pressing as they moved back in front on 59 minutes, a ball forward saw Morris control brilliantly, his attempt deflecting behind off Rob Dickie. Walsh then drilled the corner into the area where it was met by Makosso, Mengi also getting involved, before Morris was able to hook the ball into the net to end his lengthy goal drought stretching back to December 29, the Luton skipper barely celebrating, as he simply looked to the skies in sheer relief.

An in-form City, who had lost just once in their last 12 matches and are looking to exit the league at the right end, came on strong, George Earthy's mishit shot comfortable for Kaminski. The Belgian was fully extended on 64 minutes, as the dangerous Tanner was left completely unmarked at the back post, only for Town's stopper to get across and parry, the attacker failing to keep his head when sending the rebound wildly into orbit.

Haydon Roberts also had a pop, before Luton then had the previously unheard of luxury of a third as Jones played the ball forward and when it took a nick off Dickie, simply kept on running to face O'Leary one-on-one, holding his nerve to fire in brilliantly off the underside of the bar. Town then had a huge let-off on 76 minutes when Sinclair Armstrong looked to be clean through, as with Mengi in hot pursuit, a tangle of legs saw the Kenilworth Road faithful hold their breath waiting for either a penalty to be awarded or a red card brandished.

Bizarrely, neither of those were forthcoming, as Mengi got off scot-free, Kaminski off his line to gather the loose ball, and the Robins striker left completely and utterly bemused. City then brought on Scott Twine, but unlike he did at Ashton Gate, the midfielder couldn't find the net when some space arose, as the play-off chasers didn't give in during the closing stages, West Ham youngster Earthy unable to beat Kaminski, putting City's final opening well wide, as Town could celebrate a first win in Bedfordshire since beating Portsmouth on March 1.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Christ Makosso (Reece Burke 67), Mark McGuinness, Teden Mengi, Izzy Jones, Liam Walsh, Jordan Clark, Lamine Fanne (Shandon Baptiste 82), Thelo Aasgaard, Amari’i Bell, Milli Alli, Carlton Morris (C).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Marvelous Nakamba, Zack Nelson, Tahith Chong, Lasse Nordas, Mads Andersen, Daiki Hashioka.

Robins: Max O'Leary, Ross McCrorie (Elijah Morrison 76), Cameron Pring (Haydon Roberts 20), Max Bird, Anis Mehmeti (Scott Twine 76), Jason Knight (c, Sinclair Armstrong 60), Zak Vyner, Rob Dickie, George Tanner, Nahki Wells (George Earthy 60), Marcus McGuane.

Subs not used: Stefan Bajic, Yu Kirakawa, Joe Williams, Sam Bell.

Referee: John Busby.

Booked: McCrorie 22, Knight 83.

Attendance: 11,874 (1,335 Robins).

Bloomfield elated with Luton's second half display when beating play-off chasing Bristol City

Town rack up three goals for the first time since October

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield was elated with his side’s second half showing as they racked up a brilliant 3-1 victory over Bristol City at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Having failed to break the deadlock, or bar a Cameron Pring clearance that cannoned off Thelo Aasgaard, to seriously threaten Robins goalkeeper Max O’Leary in the first period, it was a different story after the interval, City’s stopper having to pick the ball out of his net three times. Aasgaard opened the scoring just four minutes in with a cracking drive from outside the box that flew under O’Leary, before George Tanner levelled moments afterwards with a stunning volley of his own.

Rather than let that their heads drop, Town were back in front on 59 minutes as Carlton Morris ended his lengthy goal droughty by hooking home from a Liam Walsh corner, Izzy Jones ensuring the hosts had a third on home soil for the first time since mid-October when he arrowed into the net via the underside of the bar after going clean through.

With the result keeping Luton firmly in the battle to stay up, Bloomfield, who had seen his players score just three goals in eight matches prior to today, said: “I’m really proud of the players, really pleased with the support and the way our supporters were right behind the players and roared us on. Second half we really wanted to attack and I thought we were excellent. We created some good opportunities, pressed at the right moments, had a nice variety in our play, which was probably the most pleasing aspect.

"I was really pleased that we were able to really step on second half. In a game that both teams have got so much to play for, the first half being slightly edgy and not free-flowing was probably understandable, but I thought it was a great game second half. Both teams going for the win and it made for a nice game to watch. For us it was nice to have that little cushion as it meant we could enjoy that little bit towards the end.

"The pitch was excellent as with the rain it enabled us to zip it around second half. We really came out of the traps and once that first goal goes in it opens the game up, but I think characteristically and psychologically I’m really proud as we took a knock when Bristol City equalised, but we went again. The result is crucial today but the manner in which we did it was very pleasing.”