Luton Town FC vs Bristol City (25th Jan 2022)

Match Report | Luton Town 2-1 Bristol City

Tom Lockyer and Elijah Adebayo scored as Luton Town extended their home unbeaten run to four matches in all competitions with a 2-1 win over Bristol City.

Lockyer, back in the Town line-up for the first time since the Cardiff fixture in November, netted from a James Bree cross in the first half to put the Hatters ahead.

Andreas Weimann scored an equaliser in the second half for the Robins, after being found by Antoine Semenyo.

Adebayo scored his 12th goal of the season to put Town back in front, stabbing home from close range after another Bree cross.

Nathan Jones made six changes to the side that started Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United. Lockyer came in for Sonny Bradley, who dropped out through injury. Elsewhere in defence Bree comes in for Peter Kioso, with Gabe Osho replacing the suspended Reece Burke.

Glen Rea takes his place in midfield, alongside the returning Luke Berry who makes his first start since the win over Hull City in October. The sixth change sees Adebayo return up-front, with Admiral Muskwe partnering.

The game, with Town sporting their white 'Legends' kit in support of Shelter’s No Home Kit campaign, had a cagey opening half hour, with neither side registering a clear effort on goal.

Town sparked into life ten minutes before the break, with Adebayo spinning beyond Zak Vyner. His ball across the box could’ve gone anywhere, but it was diverted out for a corner by Tomas Kalas.

From the resulting corner, Rea had a free header but was unable to direct goalwards as it went wide of Max O’Leary’s post.

The Hatters continued to grow into the game as the first half came to a close, and took the lead through Lockyer’s header. After a short corner, James Bree’s cross into the area was perfect for the header to head in the opener, his first goal for the club.

After a quiet opening 10 minutes into the second half, the visitors would find their equaliser. Weimann was given too much time and space after being found by Semenyo, and slotted beyond James Shea.

Bristol City then came close to finding the lead. Cameron Pring’s effort looked like it had been touched over the bar by Shea, but the referee gave a goal kick Town’s way.

On the hour mark, Town made their first changes of the game. Allan Campbell and Fred Onyedinma were introduced in the place of Berry and Muskwe.

Town would then go back in front through Adebayo. Bree’s free-kick caused havoc in the Bristol City area, with Adebayo reacting quickest to stab the ball across the line.

Entering the final ten minutes of the game, the visitors had another sighter on goal. Weimann’s twist and volley went over Shea’s crossbar.

With five minutes of regular time remaining, Lockyer’s return was over, with Peter Kioso coming on in his place.

Seven minutes of stoppage time were added by the fourth official, with Town looking to hold onto the three points.

Late on, Bristol City could have snatched a point after Weimann’s header across goal gave Nakhi Wells an easy finish, but the striker could only find the outside of the post.

Despite the late chance for the Robins, it would be Town who claimed the victory and all three points courtesy of Lockyer and Adebayo.

Goals:

Town: Lockyer (42’), Adebayo (68’)

Bristol City: Weimann (55’)

Att: 9,202 (586 away)

Nathan Jones' Bristol City reaction

Manager Nathan Jones was pleased to see his side get over the line against Bristol City, despite being ‘a mile off’ their usual standards.

A goal in each half helped the Hatters extend their home unbeaten run to four matches in all competitions courtesy of a first Luton goal from Tom Lockyer, followed by Elijah Adebayo’s 12th goal of the season.

Speaking to BBC Three Counties radio after the match, Jones said: “Performance wise we were a mile off where we need to be. Credit to Bristol City because they must have contributed to that, but Championship wins and Championship points are so hard to come by.

"You have to do so much for them and tonight we grounded it out because we were nowhere near our best, nowhere near our energetic best, our aggressive best and that showed tonight.

“I’ll take the three points. This was one of our games in hand, I didn’t really mind the performance because we just had to increase our points total tonight. We had to take advantage because not many were playing but we did and we have taken advantage of that.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RERxuUC2WlM – Nathan Jones interview

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0pYFePdFAQ – Tom Lockyer interview

Adebayo the match-winner as Luton climb to 10th with Robins victory

Championship: Luton 2 Bristol City 1

Striker Elijah Adebayo was the match-winner as Luton bounced back from their 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday with a hard-working and battling victory against Bristol City this evening.

The Hatters made a hefty six changes from the reverse at Bramall Lane, with Reece Burke suspended, while Sonny Bradley and Jordan Clark missed out due to injury.

Peter Kioso, Henri Lansbury and Allan Campbell dropped to the bench as in came Tom Lockyer and Glen Rea for their first starts since November 27, James Bree, Luke Berry, Gabe Oso and top scorer Adebayo returning too.

Town were almost undone from the first corner, James Shea beaten, but skipper for the night Kal Naismith was covering behind to head over his own bar, as City had the better of the opening stages, a much-altered Luton having an increasingly disjointed feel to them.

Another set-piece delivery midway through the first half saw the ball fall to Han-Noah Massengo who drilled over.

With the home crowd getting increasingly frustrated as passes went astray and Town lacked any real intensity out there, they finally had something to get excited about on 36 minutes, Adebayo nutmegging his man and winning a corner, headed disappointingly wide by Rea.

The high class delivery from Bree was to prove a theme throughout the match, as on 42 minutes, he was behind the opening goal, receiving a short corner back from Kal Naismith.

The full back swung in a deep cross which allowed Lockyer to power home his header at the far post for a first Luton goal, the defender enjoying his moment in front of the away fans who had given him merciless abuse at Ashton Gate in the previous fixture for his lengthy Bristol Rovers affiliation.

After the break, Town made a far brighter start, two good breaks leading to two corners, Bree's improved delivery forcing the visitors into some hurried clearances.

City got themselves on the front foot once more though and had the leveller they deserved on the balance of play, Osho not dealing with a long ball forward, Lockyer slipping, allowing Andreas Weimann acres of space to go through and coolly slip his shot beyond Shea.

The Luton keeper thought he had kept Town in front with a stunning stop from Cameron Pring, arching his back to flick his angled drive over, although an infringement in the build-up unbeknown to anyone had been spotted.

Jones responded by bringing on Fred Onyedinma and Campnbell, the former's first involvement to shoot low at O'Leary, while Osho's header from another good Bree corner was wayward.

Bree, who has clearly worked extensively on his set-pieces in recent weeks, was then the architect of Luton's second goal on 68 minutes.

From a free kick this time, he sent over another excellent delivery which led to an almighty scramble in the area and Adebayo eventually wheeling away to celebrate a 12th goal of the season.

Just when Luton looked to have got control, the Robins were inches away from a second equaliser, that man Weimann again spinning to fire narrowly over the top, sub Nahki Wells also going close in the latter stages.

The Robins should have snatched a leveller in stoppage time, Weimann who looked suspiciously offside for the second time in a matter of minutes in the build-up, left all alone in the box from Cameron Pring's cross.

He somehow put his free header across goal, Wells unable to turn the follow-up in, finding the side-netting.

Joe Williams then shot tamely at Shea from outside the box, as Luton dug in to ensure they had done enough to move back up to 10th ahead of a visit from title-chasing Blackburn Rovers this weekend.

Hatters: James Shea, James Bree, Gabe Osho, Tom Lockyer (Peter Kioso 86), Kal Naismith ©, Amari'i Bell, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry (Allan Campbell 61), Admiral Muskwe (Fred Onyedinma 61), Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Simon Sluga, Henri Lansbury, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Dan Potts.

Robins: Max O'Leary, Jay Dasilva (Tommy Conway 85), Chris Martin, Callum O'Dowda (Joe Williams 76), Andreas Weimann ©, Cameron Pring, Antoine Semenyo (Nahki Wells 76), Tomas Kalas, Zak Wyner, Alex Scott, Han-Noah Massengo.

Subs not used: Daniel Bentley, Danny Simpson, Sam Bell, Ayman Benarous.

Booked: Berry 25, Semenyo 62, Pring 67, Kioso 90.

Referee: Geoff Altringham.

Attendance: 9,202 (586 Robins).

Jones admits Town had been second best during City win

Reaction from Town chief to midweek success

Luton boss Nathan Jones admitted his side were fortunate to leave Kenilworth Road with all three points after a 2-1 victory against Bristol City this evening.

After a disappointing opening 30 half hour in which a Town team showing six changes from the defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday struggled to get going, they led 1-0 at the break through Tom Lockyer’s first goal for the club, the former Bristol Rovers defender heading home from James Bree’s cross.

Andreas Weimann levelled the scores early in the second half, but Bree was the provider once more with 68 minutes gone, his free kick bundled home by Elijah Adebayo.

The Robins had the better of possession and the majority of the shots, but it was Town who held on in the closing stages, as Jones said: “Performance wise we’re a mile off where we want to be, but we’ve had so many games.

"We’ve had Bournemouth here, which went to the wire, we had two away games, a tough game at Bramall Lane where we dig in with 10 men and then we’ve had to come here tonight and we haven’t played well but we’ve managed to grind out a result.

We know we can play better, we know we will play better, we’ve had to make six changes tonight, most of them enforced and then we've put four or five of them in that haven’t played football in six, seven weeks.

"So in the context we’re delighted with the win, performance-wise we’ve got to get better, but it happens.

“Bristol were probably better than us tonight, and that’s not often we can say that to a team that comes here.

"So they contributed to a good performance, we contributed to a poor performance, but at the end of the day we’ve gone on to 38 points, gone into top 10, this is one of our games hand as well, so it was really important we increased our points tally.”

On Lockyer’s maiden strike for the club, on his first start since November 27 due to an ankle injury, he added: “I’m pleased he’s back and he’s managed to get near enough 90 minutes into him, that’s pleasing.

"He had a bit of stick from the Bristol fans, so it was good to do that, but I’m just pleased he’s scored for us."

Hatters defender Lockyer insists he should be credited with winning strike as he claims a brace against Robins

Town centre half believes he notched twice in City victory

Luton defender Tom Lockyer insisted he should be credited with Town's winner against Bristol City this evening.

There was no doubting the former Bristol Rovers' player was on target late in the first half, powering a header from James Bree's cross beyond visiting keeper Max O'Leary.

Then, with the Robinson level terms, he got first contact once more on another terrific Bree free kick, before chaos ensured in the City area, ending up with the ball in the back of the net and top scorer Elijah Adebayo wheeling away in celebration, awarded with his 12th goal of the campaign.

According to Lockyer, it should go down as his goal though, saying: "I’ve let myself down with the header.

"I should’ve just put it in straight away but I’ve headed it at the geezer, he couldn’t sort his feet out and it’s gone in.

“Eli’s been in the game long enough now to know that if he runs away with his hand up, he’s going to get it.

“When the footage from behind the goal comes out, I fully expect that to go down as mine, and Breezy gets the assist he deserves.

“He’s got loads of goals already. I was obviously a bit gutted coming off at the end, knowing I was on a hat-trick.

“I wanted that match ball, but it wasn’t to be.

"Eli’s been brilliant this season. I’m not sure how many he’s got but I don’t think he can be claiming that, if I’m honest.

“I’m fully in the ring for that and when that footage comes out, the dubious goals panel, if it has to be, then I will go down that route.

“Eli’s got enough, so let’s just wait and see the footage."

"I went to sleep last night, thinking I was going to score down that (away) end, which obviously happened.

“I didn’t know I was going to score at the other end as well, but it is what it is. I’ll take it. It’s a good night for me."