Luton Town FC vs Burnley (3rd Oct 2023)

Report | Hatters denied point by late Clarets winner

Town 1 Adebayo 84

Burnley 2 Foster 45+2, Larsen 85

Just when it seemed as though the Town would take a deserved point – or more after a spirited second half display – Burnley delivered a cold, harsh lesson in Premier League finishing to condemn Rob Edwards’ side to a gut-wrenching late defeat.

Trailing to Lyle Foster’s late first-half strike, the Hatters hauled themselves level after a period of sustained pressure thanks to substitute Elijah Adebayo’s trickery and cute finish with barely six minutes left on the clock.

With Rob Edwards signalling for the Town fans to suck in a winner, 65 seconds later the Clarets, searching for their first win of the campaign, restored their lead with a wonderful finish from a substitute of their own, Jacob Bruun Larsen.

It was harsh on the Hatters following a second half of domination and endeavour that conjured up a multitude of half-chances.

It came in stark contrast to a first 45 minutes that saw Burnley boss the majority of the ball, passing the Hatters to pieces at times.

Thomas Kaminski had been the busier of the two keepers – once tipping over a goalbound header from Zeki Amdouni – but it wasn’t until the second minute of added time at the end of the half when Foster struck, latching onto Sander Berge’s throughball and neatly tucking home.

Trailing at the break, the Town upped the ante in the second period. Plenty chances came and went as the Hatters worked the ball into the box, only to see a flurry of headers miss the target.

On 64 minutes one header did almost land in the Burnley net when Jacob Brown rose in the box to nod goalwards – but the Clarets’ Josh Cullen, anticipating the danger, headed off the line to safety.

Shouts for a Town penalty – when Carlton Morris went down in the box – moments later were waved away but you felt the Hatters’ pressure would tell at some point as they pinned the Clarets back.

And with six minutes left it did pay off when Adebayo turned neatly in the box to beat James Trafford to make it 1-1 with his first Premier League goal. All of a sudden hopes of a comeback victory were reignited.

Yet Burnley and Larsen had the final say a minute later, cutting inside and placing a wonderful left-foot strike into the top corner to leave the Town searching for their first home win of the campaign.

Unbeaten Tottenham are up next here on Saturday.

See you then.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré (sub Adebayo 62), Doughty, Mengi, Lockyer, Bell (sub Burke 21); Nakamba, Mpanzu; Ogbene, Morris, Brown (sub Chong 69).

Subs not used: Krul, Andersen, Berry, Woodrow, Giles, Johnson.

Attendance: 10,918

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kevs5p3aXjI – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIi5h6msFNY – match highlights

Boss Rob Edwards said he was gutted after the Town fell to a defeat at home to Burnley at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters looked set to take at least a point when Elijah Adebayo found canceled out Lyle Foster’s first-half goal.

However, the Clarets won it 65 seconds after the striker’s equaliser to take all three points back to Turf Moor.

“I’m disappointed with the result, we all down in there. We flat, I'm hurting with the manner and the timing of it.

“They shaded the first half but we adjusted in the second half and then dominated – we had 15 shots inside their box and scored once – that is proving the most difficult at the minute. It is the hardest thing in football.

“We were brave, aggressive, we didn’t allow them the control, which is what they want. But ultimately we’ve come away with nothing and that hurts.

“We did have big chances, some great opportunities – if we weren’t doing that then I would be more worried. There’s lots to be positive about but we’re going in the right direction.”

On Burnley’s winner that came immediately after the restart, Edwards added: “We haven’t touched the ball after the goal.

“I was swept away with emotion as I felt we could win the game.

“There’s a few things we could have done better and it’s something we can learn from but it’s gutting at that moment.”

Heartbreak for Hatters as they suffer home defeat to Burnley

Premier League: Luton Town 1 Burnley 2

Luton suffered a bitterly cruel defeat to Burnley this evening as their hunt for a first home win in the Premier League continues.

It had looked like the Hatters had done enough to grab a point, or even push for all three, as a barnstorming second half display saw Elijah Adebayo equalise Lyle Foster's goal on the stroke of half time with six minutes to go.

However, just 65 seconds later and they were behind once more, Clarets sub Jacob Bruun Larsen curling a stunning strike into the top corner to immediately suck the life out of what was an almost fever-pitch Kenilworth Road crowd.

With the players having given their all to get back on level terms, they were unable to rouse themselves for one last push, as Town's two game unbeaten league run was ended in gut-wrenching fashion.

Boss Rob Edwards made one change from the team who beat Everton 2-1 at the weekend, Teden Mengi in for his full Premier League debut with Reece Burke dropping to the bench.

Town almost made a dream start from the kick-off, as the Clarets went back to keeper James Trafford who was way outside of his box and immediately converged on by the onrushing Chiedozie Ogbene and Carlton Morris, who blocked his clearance which fortunately for the England U21 international flew wide.

A game of few chances in the opening 15 minutes saw both sides try to change that from range, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and the visitors' top scorer Lyle Foster both wide.

For the second game running, Town were forced into a defensive reshuffle early on when the ever-present Amari'i Bell went down with an injury and had to be replaced by Burke.

Luton stopper Thomas Kaminkski was called into a fine reaction stop from Zeki Amdouni's close range header, tipping it over the bar, as the second set-piece was volleyed waywardly over by Josh Cullen.

The Clarets then started to dominate proceedings, skipper Josh Brownhill taking aim from 25 yards, his drive whistling over the top, before Zeki Amdouni nutmegged Mengi to set up a shooting opportunity, only to snatch at it.

Town began to wake up after the half hour, Issa Kabore's cross met by Chiedozie Ogbene who couldn't direct his header the right side of the post, while neither could Jacob Brown moments later from Alfie Doughty's penetrating delivery.

Still the Clarets tried from distance, Luca Koleosho's spectacular attempt never likely to come back in time.

Vincent Kompany's side were beginning to get some real joy with their incisive passing out by keeper Trafford though, as they picked through Town's press and started to get into some dangerous pockets of space.

From one such move they took the lead in injury time at the end of the half, Sander Berge having the freedom of the pitch to slide through Foster, who having got the better of Lockyer, classily found the bottom corner.

After the break, Kaminski, who was quick to get some stick from the visiting fans due to his Blackburn history, saved low down from Koleosho.

Town did start to try and knock their opponents out of their stride as Doughty's fearsome corner was headed narrowly over by Morris, another Kabore delivery seeing Ogbene get underneath his effort at the far post.

With Adebayo replacing the erratic Kabore, Luton started to believe they could get something, Mengi's airkick falling to Mpanzu who dinked over a cross that saw Brown head goalwards, Cullen back to clear from just ahead of the line.

With the crowd now fully engaged it was a different game, the Hatters finally winning the ball back up high and stopping Burnley from conducting affairs.

Tahith Chong also came on, as Luton hemmed their opponents in, Morris going over in the area after being clipped by Jordan Beyer, nothing doing, with replays showing referee Peter Bankes might well have been sent over to the VAR screens to check it.

Luton's corners were causing havoc as Town frantically searched for a leveller, Morris should have done better than heading behind when meeting a Doughty delivery with 20 minutes left.

Adebayo couldn't quite meet Mpanzu's wonderful left wing cross before an opposing defender, as Luton set up what was expected to be grandstand finish when Chong's dink into the area was met by Burke's downward header, Adebayo turning clinically to slot into the bottom corner.

With Kenilworth Road still yet to settle from their outpouring of joy, Town were hit by a sucker punch pretty much from the restart, and it was some sucker punch Bruun Larsen cutting in from the right and curling a peach of a strike beyond Kaminski to put the Clarets in front once more.

Although Luton had seven minutes of stoppage time, gifted to them by the Clarets' long-running timewasting tactics, their mojo had gone, and when Lockyer's header dropped behind, it was game over.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Issa Kabore (Elijah Adebayo 62), Teden Mengi, Tom Lockyer (C), Amari’i Bell (Reece Burke 21), Alfie Doughty, Marvelous Nakamba, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Jacob Brown (Tahith Chong 69), Chiedozie Ogbene, Carlton Morris.

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Mads Andersen, Luke Berry, Cauley Woodrow, Ryan Giles, Joe Johnson.

Clarets: James Trafford, Charlie Taylor, Jordan Beyer, Josh Brownhill (C), Connor Roberts. Sander Berge, Lyle Foster (Jay Rodriguez 80), Josh Cullen, Zeki Amdouni (Aaron Ramsy 74, Hannes Delcroix 90), Ameen Al Dakhil, Luca Koleosho (Jacob Bruun Larsen 75).

Subs not used: Arijanet Muric, Jack Cork, Vitinho, Mike Ndayishimiye, Wilson Odobert.

Referee: Peter Bankes.

Booked: Brown 36, Burke 59, Roberts 70, Morris 90 [it was Chong], Nakamba 90, Taylor 90.

Edwards admits he and his Luton players are hurting after Town are stunned by Clarets

Burnley net winning goal just 65 seconds following Luton’s equaliser

Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted both he and his players were hurting from this evening’s 2-1 defeat against Burnley this evening.

After falling behind in the first half to Lyle Foster’s goal, Town restored parity when Elijah Adebayo netted his first of the season, turning home Reece Burke’s knockdown after Tahith Chong’s cross.

However, within 65 seconds the Clarets had gone in front once more, Jacob Bruun Larsen curling a wonderful strike beyond Thomas Kaminski to stun Kenilworth Road and leave the hosts empty-handed.

Summing up his feelings afterwards, Edwards said: “I’m really disappointed with the result as we would be.

"We’re down in there, pretty flat and hurting because of the manner of it at the time.

"I’m trying to remove my emotion of losing a game and in that way, from it, there was lots there and loads that was good.

"I do think that they shaded the first half.

"I thought it was fairly tight but they shaded it, and probably got through us a couple of times too easily. but they can do that, they’re expansive, they’ve got a good way about them.

"We adjusted one or two things second half, I thought we then pretty much completely dominated the second half.

"We’ve had 15 shots inside the box and then only scored the one, and that’s proving the most difficult thing for us at the moment.

"We’ve pushed, we’ve had set-pieces, we’ve gone forward in numbers, we were brave, we were aggressive.

"We didn’t allow them any control which is what they want but ultimately we’ve come away with nothing and that hurts.”

Luton chief conceded Town got 'swept away' with the emotion of equaliser in Burnley loss

Clarets strike just 65 seconds after the Hatters drew level

Hatters boss Rob Edwards felt both and the players might have got swept away with the emotion of their equaliser against Burnley last night following the Clarets scoring what turned out to be the winner just 65 seconds later.

With Luton trailing 1-0 to Lyle Foster’s goal just before the break, they spent virtually the entire second period camped in the Clarets half, creating a host of opportunities for the likes of Carlton Morris, Jacob Brown and Chiedozie Ogbene.

It took them until six minutes of time to finally make one of them count, the leveller coming through substitute Elijah Adebayo’s opportunistic finish, the forward spinning to convert from close range after Reece Burke had knocked down Tahith Chong’s deep cross.

However, as Kenilworth Road erupted and an animated Edwards celebrated the goal wildly on the touchline, they were brought back down to earth with a nasty bump just over a minute later, Jacob Bruuun Larsen instantly curling home from 20 yards to make it 2-1.

Asked if there had been a loss of focus following the leveller, Edwards said: “Potentially, I've looked at it back and we haven't touched the ball after the goal.

"I got swept away as well with emotion at the time.

"I really felt in that moment as we had momentum and we were on top, I felt like we could go on and win the game, I’m sure the players felt that and the supporters felt that as well.

"But they've gone back and across, we’ve tried to press, they've gone long, they picked it up, made a couple of passes and switched it.

"We probably sagged off a little bit too much thinking the cross was going to come in and then he’s checked inside, bent it in the top corner.

"Maybe if we stayed higher he’s coming inside to bodies, so there’s a few things that we can be better at there, without me being too technical and going into too much detail.

"Certainly it’s something that we can learn from, but it was pretty gutting that moment at that time.

“We wanted to pick them up and they tried to muster something, but then rightly so they’re going to manage the game.

"It was difficult to find that real momentum and that spark, we had one or two bits, a set-piece or two, but we just couldn’t find it.”

Although Town ultimately left empty-handed as they let a wonderful opportunity to move further clear of the relegation zone slip through their grasp, Edwards felt they could still take plenty of positives, particularly for their efforts after the break.

He continued: “I think it ebbed and flowed in the first half, I do think they shaded it, they’re a good team, but I thought we pretty much dominated the second half and deservedly found a way back into it.

"There was lots there to be pleased with.

"Burnley were the best team in our league last year by a mile and they have improved the squad, spent good money, it was always going to be a difficult game this.

"What Vincent (Kompany) has done with his team, they’re difficult to play against.

"They’re very expansive, they’re open and they can cause you problems if you just get the press a little bit wrong, if that’s what you’re choosing to do.

“We did that a couple of times in the first half, when we adjusted second half I thought we were excellent and dominated.

"That’s why there’s mixed feelings right now.

"I’m really, really, really disappointed that we haven’t taken something from the game, but as a performance I think everyone would agree it was a good one.”

Despite the defeat meaning Luton have taken just one point from their three home matches so far, they were still afforded a fine ovation from the home fans inside the ground at the full time whistle.

Edwards knows they now have to get over the result quickly with Spurs heading to town on Saturday afternoon, adding: “I’ve said to the lads, you’ve given everything, that’s why the supporters are standing, clapping at the end.

"If they’re doing that this year then we’re doing the right thing.

"Everyone in the ground will be disappointed as we should have taken something from the game, so we’re all down, we’re all allowed to be down right now.

"The name of the game is to try and pick up points and try and win football matches.

"We’ve given everything to try and do that and no-one can really disagree with that, if you see the way the game went and the momentum that we had.

"But we haven’t taken anything and that’s why we’re down at the final whistle.

"But we’ve got another huge game here on Saturday, so we can only feel down for so long, we’ve got to pick ourselves up and go again.”