Luton Town FC vs Coventry City (26th Apr 2025)

26/04/2025 LUTON TOWN 1-0 COVENTRY CITY

Late Baptiste goal earns Town victory

Luton Town doing Luton Town things again

Are we all ready now?

Then we shall begin.

With 90 minutes on the clock, the Town were looking frustrated. On their feet. The game still goalless having knocked on the door throughout the second half. They’d bossed it. Hit the hit the woodwork twice.

And it looked as though it was going to be one of those days.

But then one last ball was pumped high into the Coventry box by Isaiah Jones. Visiting goalkeeper Bradley Collins came for it and made a mess of the attempted punch. All of a sudden, the loose ball dropped at the feet of Shandon Baptiste 15 yards out with the goal at his mercy. His eyes lit up. The eyes of a man who has suffered this season. A man whose pain has been obvious. A man whose quality has flickered, briefly. A sign that there’s a player there.

His strike wasn’t the best, but still, he ball travelled goalwards. Crucially, the shot was on target. And that was enough. Sky Blues defender Luis Binks made an absolute hash of his clearance and the ball, inexplicably, gloriously, nestled in the bottom corner of the net.

Disbelief, pandemonium. Men, women, young, old – all dressed in eleven thousand shades of orange – embraced the beautiful chaos appearing before their eyes. There’s something about celebrating important goals against Coventry, isn’t there?

As the clock clicked beyond 90 the Town were, finally, thankfully, ahead. Six more minutes were added but the Hatters – knowing what was at stake – kept their nerve.

And then. AND THEN FELLOW HATTERS. It was done.

A three huge points.

Out of the relegation zone for the first time since January.

Fate and Championship survival remains in their own hands at West Bromwich Albion next Saturday. Three points will do it… but let’s not get too carried away.

It was an intoxicating and exhausting 90 minutes. It might be a cliché but Luton Town really don’t do things the easy way.

They had a man advantage for 55 minutes after Jay Dasilva – a Town academy graduate – was shown a straight red card for clipping Millenic Alli as he raced through on goal.

Shots, corners and crosses rained in on the Coventry goal during that 55-minute spell as the Town dominated.

Their best chances came in the second half. They struck the woodwork twice in a five-minute spell. Firstly, Liam Walsh’s effort crashed against the bar on 54 minutes before Alli’s low shot came back off the post. Lamine Fanne also went close with a shot from close range blocked by the legs of Collins.

You felt an opportunity was there for the Town. But then, this is the Championship, and the dynamic of the game changed with 22 minutes remaining when Walsh was shown a red card for an altercation with Binks.

At 10 v 10, Coventry sensed a route back into a fixture that they had been totally out of.

However, in truth, as time ticked down, the Hatters held firm despite that wobble. Thomas Kaminski – in from the start and playing despite the death of his father, Jacek, this week, remained untroubled. Supporters from both sides had paid tribute in the 65th minute.

Still the Town pushed. Their corner count rose every minute. 18 come the full-time whistle. EIGHTEEN!

Then, just when it seemed all the world this would finish nil nil, it happened.

This team have produced late moments in recent weeks and it was joy unconfined when Baptiste had the final say in front of a sea of orange at the Kenilworth Road end to win it.

There won’t be many moments like this with Power Court on the horizon. It really was time to drink it in.

So to West Brom we go next week.

See you then.

UTFT.

Town: Kaminski; Jones, Bell (sub Baptiste 78), McGuinness, Makosso (sub Naismith 46), Mengi (sub Burke 87); Lamine Fanne (sub Clark 57), Walsh, Aasgaard; Alli (sub Chong 87), Morris.

Subs: Krul, Naismith, Nakamba, Chong, Burke, Clark, Baptiste, Nelson, Nordås.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1EUX-OTcJg – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbHphtXV3N0 – Matt Bloomfield interview

Pandemonium at Kenilworth Road as Baptiste wins it for Luton in the 90th minute

Championship: Luton Town 1 Coventry City 0

Wherever he goes from now on, then if Town stay up on the final game of the season, midfielder Shandon Baptiste won’t ever have to buy a drink in Bedfordshire again.

Neither will Sky Blues defender Luis Binks for that matter, who became the 2024-25 version of Fankaty Dabo for his efforts in ensuring the Hatters’ climbed out of the bottom three this afternoon. With both sides having gone down to 10 men, Coventry on 12 minutes and Town midway through the second period, and the clock about to tick into 90, it looked like Town would be heading to West Bromwich Albion next weekend with their future out of their hands once more.

However, and I pity those who don’t like football, that all changed in the blink of an eye. A long ball was pumped into the box, Sky Blues keeper Bradley Collins, who, bar his timewasting antics, had been excellent, came charging off his line, Stuart Moore style. He only managed in colliding with his own defender Liam Kitching, who went down looking for a foul, as the ball dropped to Baptiste some 30 yards from goal.

The midfielder, who has endured a season blighted by injury, managed to get his shot on target, only for Binks to have taken up a position to clear the danger and leave Baptiste with his head in his hands. However, while Dabo crashed over the bar at Wembley in the penalty shoot-out as Town reached the top flight, Binks managed to somehow only divert the ball into his own net, then careering into the post for good measure, as the roof lifted off Kenilworth Road.

Able to see out the six minutes of stoppage time, the victory meant Luton climbed out of the bottom three, and now know another victory at West Bromwich Albion next weekend will see them definitely playing second tier football again next term. Earlier, Luton boss Matt Bloomfield went with an unchanged side for the contest, as although Jordan Clark and Kal Naismith were available, the duo only made the bench.

The visitors were hit with just 12 minutes gone, a brilliantly bended ball over the top by Thelo Aasgaard saw Milli Alli through on the right and he had his heels clipped by Luton born Jay Dasilva, which saw referee Oliver Langford show a straight red card, meaning the visitors had to play 77 minutes with 10 men.

Luton, who struggled to break down Blackburn Rovers in a similar situation recently, almost did with just five minutes gone this time, Aasgaard pulling the strings once more, sending Amari'i Bell away, the wingback delivering an excellent cross that saw an under pressure Morris glance wide from inside the six yard box. Walsh was once more getting on the ball with some delightful passes out to Bell, and after a spell of pressure in which Town couldn’t quite manufacture a chance inside the area, Aasgaard’s crack on 27 minutes was easily saved by Collins.

The stopper was also called into action on the half hour, as following Mark McGuinness’s close range prod blocked away by Matt Grimes, Town worked an opening for Aasgaard, whose fierce drive was tipped over. The one concern was that despite having the extra man, the Hatters looked short of ideas when having the ball around the area, Alli with a frustrated attempt that he dragged tamely wide.

With City already delaying the game as much as possible, their only attempt was Jack Rudoni’s off target drive, as Aasgaard continued to look the most likely for Luton, seeing another attempt skip up off the turf for Collins to gather, and then taken age to clear, something that he was doing without even as much as ticking off from the officials.

Having dominated the ball, Luton brought on Naismith at the break in a bid to help the hosts make more of the possession they were having, Walsh sliding the ball through to Izzy Jones who got it on his left, shooting straight at Collins. He was almost beaten moments later, a poor touch by Jake Bidwell seized upon by Aasgaard, but his attempt deflected narrowly wide.

The visiting stopper then made a truly stunning save on 53 minutes when Walsh let fly from range, getting a vital fingertip to flick his 25-yarder on to the bar and over. Now having all the play and finally creating chances, a slick move saw Morris find Lamine Fanne who was denied by the onrushing Collins before the midfielder instantly made way for Clark

The substitute was involved straight away, as he slipped in Alli whose shot deflected off a defender and hit the post. Jones then got the ball and was brought down just outside the box, but in the aftermath, Walsh, who had just been booked, shoved Binks. It was nothing more than a slight push, but with the Coventry defender theatrically hurling himself to the floor, Langford opted to even the numbers up, showing a straight red, which was the midfielder’s third of the season, walking off almost tears.

It appeared that Town’s chances of winning had gone with Walsh, who was magnificent during his time on the field, as Coventry started to wrest some control back, Haji Wright heading off target. Crucially, Bloomfield made the call to bring on Baptiste for the final 12 minutes, as the ex-Brentford player went on to be the hero, as Luton are now the masters of their own destiny at the Hawthorns a week today.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Christ Makosso (Kal Naismith 46), Mark McGuinness, Teden Mengi (Reece Burke 87), Izzy Jones, Liam Walsh, Jordan Clark, Lamine Fanne (Jordan Clark 57), Thelo Aasgaard, Amari’i Bell (Shandon Baptiste 78), Milli Alli (Tahith Chong 87), Carlton Morris (C).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Marvelous Nakamba, Zack Nelson, Lasse Nordas.

Sky Blues: Bradley Collins, Luis Binks (Brandon Thomas-Asante 90), Jay Dasilva, Jack Rudoni, Matt Grimes, Tatsuhiro Sakamoto (Jake Bidwell 15), Ellis Simms (Josh Beccles 63), Haji Wright, Ben Sheaf ©, Liam Kitching, Joel Latibeaudiere. Subs not used: Ben Wilson, Jamie Allen, Jamie Paterson, Raphael Borges Rodrigues, Jack Burroughs, Isaac Moore.

Referee: Oliver Langford.

Booked: Binks 45, Collins 57, Walsh 66, Morris 69, Sheaf 69, Grimes 84.

Sent off: Dasilva 13, Walsh 68.

Attendance: 11,965.

Hatters boss expects club to appeal Walsh's sending off after insisting dismissal was 'never a red'

Midfielder dismissed during the second half of 1-0 win over Coventry

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield is expecting the club to appeal Liam Walsh’s sending off against Coventry City this afternoon stating it was ‘never a red’ card.

With 68 minutes on the clock, and Town having a man advantage due to Sky Blues’ defender Jay Dasilva being sent off inside the opening 15 minutes, wingback Izzy Jones was fouled just outside the area, and then inside the box, referee Oliver Langford opting to award a free kick for the first incident. In the aftermath of the decision, Luis Binks and Mark McGuinness were involved in mini-skirmish which saw Walsh, who had just been booked moments earlier, go over and push the City defender on the arm, who having also bumped into Carlton Morris, threw himself to the floor holding his head.

The official, who was already having a fairly mixed game, opted to brandish a straight red, showing the Hatters; midfielder his third red card of the season, meaning he will face a lengthy ban. A distraught Walsh had no option but to trudge off down the tunnel, but the fact it wasn’t his second booking, instead a straight red, means there is a chance it could be overturned and he will be able to face West Bromwich Albion in the Championship-decider next weekend.

Walsh had starred in the contest, almost breaking the deadlock with a magnificent 25-yard effort that was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by keeper Bradley Collins, as asked if he had seen it back, Bloomfield made his feelings quite clear, saying: “I have, and no chance (it’s a red), no chance. Unfortunately for the referee I think he’s been, yeah, it’s not a red, it’s not a red. I think so (an appeal will be launched) and from my point of view we will be, absolutely. It’s not a red card, he’s barely put any hands on him. The lad’s gone down making a meal of it holding his face, it’s disappointing to see things like that.”

Bloomfield did accept that having already seen a yellow card, Walsh should have stayed away from the incident, as he continued: “Absolutely, he’d been booked, we’d won a free kick, but I need to see it back as I think Macca’s getting a little bit of grief and the lad obviously knows what he’s doing. He’s trying to get someone involved to then throw himself down, so I’m disappointed. He had been top, I thought he was the best player on the pitch on Monday (against Bristol City) and for however many minutes, I don't know what minute he got sent off, he was one of the best on the pitch.

"Obviously he was allowed to show his vast array of passing range because he was free in the middle of the pitch, so it’s frustrating, but I guess it’s easier to take by the fact that we were able to find a winner. We’ll certainly be discussing it with Walshy. I do feel for him as it was never a red and he cares very deeply, so we’ve got to be careful with him. He’s gone to try and help one of his team-mates, he’s not done anything that should have resulted in a red card.”

It was the second time that Langford had reached for his top pocket, having sent off Dasilva in the 13th minute after he clipped Milli Alli’s heel when the attacker was in pursuit of Thelo Aasgaard’s excellent ball over the top and bearing down on goal. On that call, Bloomfield added: “We felt that was an opportunity for us to get Milli down the sides and we’d spoken a lot about that before the game, with our wingbacks against a back four, the detachment between centre back and full back.

"We were able to get Milli down the side and it was actually the full back that was covering, but it was the gameplan that we’d spoken about. It was a great ball from Thelo and Milli’s obviously a real threat when he’s at the top of the pitch like that. We started the game really well and then once it goes down to 10, it’s a completely different contest. It’s tough when the game changes so early, it’s a completely different game to the one we expected at that point.

“We have to stay patient, understand that it might not all fall into place right away. We have to keep probing and keep working. Maybe in the first half it wasn't quite what we wanted it to be, but when we came out second half, I felt like we were really patient and tried to get in some good areas. As far as I know (it was a red), I’ve not studied it, my instinct from the side was that it’s a red, and I guess it’s going to be.”

Hatters boss glad Kaminski was able to 'feel the love' from the Luton fans

Town stopper starts in goal for Luton despite the loss of his father in midweek

Town boss Matt Bloomfield was happy that goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski was able to ‘feel the love’ from the Luton fans after taking to the pitch just a few days after the death of his father Jacek in midweek.

The 32-year-old had flown back to Belgium to be with his family after hearing the sudden and tragic news, but soon made himself available to play against Coventry City on Saturday, with the contest a massive one in the club’s bid to stay up, Bloomfield himself heading to Brussels just to travel back with the shot-stopper, in what was a wonderful gesture by Luton’s manager.

Having donned the gloves once more at Kenilworth Road, Kaminski was barely called upon during the match, Town securing all three points thanks to Shandon Baptiste’s 90th minute winner, as he took advantage of an error from visiting stopper Bradley Collins to find the net via a comical deflection from Sky Blues defender Luis Binks.

Before, during and after the game, the Hatters fans were united in their support of the popular goalkeeper, who has now played 84 times since joining from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2023, constantly chanting his name, also giving him a standing ovation in the 65th minute, which the keeper himself applauded once it had died down.

Following the final whistle, Kaminski was warmly embraced by Bloomfield, Town’s coaching staff and his team-mates, as on the reception he received from the home crowd, the boss said: “It was lovely and I’m glad Thomas allowed us to speak publicly about it, because I wanted him to feel the love of the Luton Town supporters. I knew our supporters would get right behind him which was lovely to see.

"It’s obviously been an incredibly tough moment for him, but the way our fans reacted to him and supported the team all afternoon, the way the boys got around Thomas, the way that he showed incredible strength, to come and play a game when we needed him, off the back of the week he’s had, just shows incredible strength. I'm so incredibly proud of him and I know more so his dad would be so incredibly proud of him. To come out and perform the way he did, in such a tough moment, is incredible from him.”

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, forward Carlton Morris was full of pride in the way the Hatters’ team spirit shone through, admitting the whole week had left him feeling increasingly emotional for Town’s Belgian international, as he continued: “I just want to shout out Kaminski as well. It’s getting me a bit teary-eyed thinking about what’s happened to him midweek and to come back from Belgium and put on that display, it says a lot about what this club is about.”

Writing on Instagram after the game, Kaminski himself said: “An emotional day and a win I’ll never forget. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love and support during these difficult days. This one was for you, Papa. Forever with me. Next week, we need all of you again to reach our goal @lutontown.”

Meanwhile, paying their tributes to the goalkeeper on the Luton News’ Facebook page, Dirk Annemans said: “Thomas is a fantastic guy! He’s a friend of my son. We deeply share in his sorrow, as well as that of his brother, his mother, and the entire family. His father meant the world to him. What a loss. Please give Thomas plenty of support and friendship. He deserves it…"

Kieran Hards: “I lost my father unexpectedly in October. A Hatter for 60 years. He sat in the same seat for 39 seasons. Yesterday was the end of an era of him owning that seat and I had a tear at the end of the game. Football has a funny way of bringing out all the emotions. Thomas - if you're reading this, the whole club was very proud of you yesterday and we send our love to you and your family. And well done Mr Bloomfield. Loyalty cultivates loyalty. Top man.”

Luke Boyss: “This man has pretty much saved us from being solid bottom throughout the season. Made vital saves. Some absolute banging saves. Lost his dad and comes back to play and gets a clean sheet in a almost dominated match.” Diana Hazlewood: “Thank you Thomas. A very special game and your Dad would have been so proud.”

Paul Smith: “The supporters are genuine and honest and love the club players and the football. Thomas was so brave playing yesterday despite his pain. A very brave young man. The supporters care and gave you a show of genuine love. Congratulations to everyone in the club. Grant Strong: ”A monumental show of strength and courage Thomas. You moved aside the hardest feelings and still put in a performance. Very well done. Massive thankyou. We're with you all the way.”