Luton Town FC vs Coventry City (27th May 2023)

Play-off final report | Coventry City 1-1 Luton Town (5-6 on penalties)

Luton Town have completed a fairy-tale return to the top-flight of English football after beating Coventry City on penalties in the Championship play-off final.

Roared on by 36,000 Town supporters soaked in the late May sun, Rob Edwards’ team showed their nerve at Wembley as they defeated the Sky Blues 6-5 on spot-kicks.

A decade ago the Hatters had just finished their fourth consecutive season in the Conference Premier in seventh, the club’s lowest ever league position.

Fast forward to now – four promotions and one Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu later – the Hatters can look forward to their first ever campaign in the Premier League, a division they voted to create, but never played in after suffering relegation the season before its launch.

A lot of water has flowed under the bridge in those 31 years since – a special mention for a 30-point deduction – but the weight of history was shrugged off by the Hatters.

Had you’d told Rob Edwards before kick-off that his team would have found the back of the net three times before half-time, he’d have no doubt bitten your hand off, but Town would go in at the break with just a one-goal lead.

The ball was in the Coventry goal after just five minutes when Tom Lockyer met Clark’s corner, nodding it down to Gabe Osho who scrambled it over the line, but the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside. VAR, in use for all three EFL play-offs had a brief look, confirming Osho’s foot was just beyond the last defender.

The brief adulation for the Town supporters immediately turned to concern as skipper Lockyer went down off the ball with just eight minutes on the clock. After four minutes of treatment he was stretchered off and replaced by Reece Burke.

Carlton Morris had his own slice of history to deal with having ruptured his ACL on his last visit to Wembley in Shrewsbury’s League One play-off final defeat to Rotherham in 2019. He had all the confidence of a man who had netted 20 Championship goals this season though, as he acrobatically capitalised on a mix-up between Coventry keeper Ben Wilson and defender Luke McNally, but directed his effort narrowly wide of the bottom right corner.

The striker then brought down Mpanzu’s cross after the Town midfielder pounced on Callum Doyle’s weak clearance, but Morris saw his thumped effort blocked behind for a corner.

Edwards’ side’s dominance was rewarded after 23 minutes. A piece of play that would have had some Championship managers frothing at the mouth saw Alfie Doherty’s ball down the flank controlled by Elijah Adebayo who chopped past Kyle McFadzean before picking out the run of Clark who fired in at Wilson’s near post.

Town had the ball in the back of the Sky Blues’ net again with half-time approaching, but this time Callum Doyle’s goal-line clearance deflected in off Adebayo’s elbow, leaving referee Michael Oliver with little choice but to rule it out.

Coventry’s first chance of the day should have yielded a goal as Jake Bidwell’s cross was met by Gustavo Hamer at the back post on the half volley, but the Brazilian steered it over.

City’s first half performance would have frustrated Mark Robins, but his team’s response in the second was more than admirable as they took control of proceedings for a 25 minute spell.

Ethan Horvath had enjoyed a fairly quiet afternoon for the first hour, but he was picking the ball out of the back of his net with 25 minutes to play. Viktor Gyokeres justified Premier League clubs’ interest in him as he muscled his way down the flank before picking out Hamer on the edge of the box who found the bottom right corner, with a nick off the inside of Osho’s knee just pushing it beyond the reach of Town’s American stopper.

Town grew back into the contest after that, but as the half wore on it was clear that fatigue was playing a role as players from both sides began to feel the effects of cramp, with 90 minutes of football not enough to split the teams.

15 minutes of extra-time came and went, but with penalties looking a certainty, Jonathan Panzo was caught in possession by substitute Joe Taylor who sprinted through on goal and squeezed a low effort past Wilson to send the orange half of Wembley into pandemonium, only for VAR to intervene and rule it out for the ball touching Taylor’s arm as it bounced up off Panzo.

And so it proved, penalties would be the decider. Dan Potts won the coin toss and chose Town’s half to take spot-kicks in front of.

Morris, Taylor, Marvellous Nakamba, Clark, Luke Berry and Potts all converted from the penalty spot, before Fankaty Dabo skied from 12 yards to put Luton into the Premier League.

Dreams come true.

Luton Town: Horvath, Drameh, Osho (Potts 112), Lockyer (Burke 12), Bell, Doughty (Onyedinma 84), Nakamba, Mpanzu (Berry 98), Clark, Morris, Adebayo (Taylor 106).

Substitutes: Shea, Potts, Berry, Burke, Campbell, Onyedinma, Taylor.

Rob Edwards | "I'm so proud"

An emotional Rob Edwards tried to put into words just how he was feeling after he guided Luton Town to the Premier League with a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory against Coventry City!

In an attempt to sum up his feelings up with BBC Three Counties Radio after the match, Edwards said: "It’s incredible, it hasn’t sunk in yet, it just hasn’t but I’m so proud to be part of this club. The players, the staff, the board, the supporters, they deserve it. They have been through a lot but I’m so, so proud."

His immediate focus after the match turned towards captain Tom Lockyer, who had been forced off the field in the first half after collapsing, but he was relieved to find out the defender is doing well and watched on from his hospital bed.

"First and foremost, we lost our captain after 10 minutes, I’ve just seen a tweet that his dad put out that said he’s okay. All I’ve been thinking about since the final whistle was that and for his health which is more important.

"It was emotional, we played really well in the first half, we lost Tom but we recovered really well after that, showed a lot of emotion, strength and character after that. I thought the performance in the first half was excellent, they obviously had the first 20, 25 minutes of the second half and got the goal."

He also revealed the in-depth thinking behind the penalty shoot-out the Hatters subsequently found themselves involved in, and preparation was anything but just asking players to step up and shoot towards goal.

"There is a lot more around it, a lot more to it than just the taking of the penalties. It was the order, taking up the positioning in the centre-circle, where we stood, where the staff were, there was a lot of organisation to it that people might not pick up but it feels important.

"There is a lot of research that has gone into it and we’ve spoken to so many people involved in international shoot-outs, or other play-off shoot-outs, I had to find the best way for us to do it and it was really tight, the penalties were very well executed."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpLzR20qocQ Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQKWm-t3-9E – full time scenes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVQx7c2ygf4 – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfZ8bEC0ovo – Rob Edwards press conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVFLQZ5I3NQ – Jordan Click interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAmiOXBJGEY – Every angle Jordan Clark goal

Luton Town promoted to the Premier League after dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Coventry City!

Championship, play-off final: Luton Town 1 Coventry City1 (Luton win 6-5 on penalties).

Luton Town are in the Premier League!!

Let that sink in a minute.

Let that actually sink in.

Having been relegated out of the Football league back in 2009 after a terrible 30-point penalty from the FA, the Hatters made it to the top flight in just nine years, bouncing back in absolutely glorious fashion with a 6-5 penalty shoot-out win over Coventry City this afternoon, the first team ever to go from non-league to the top table.

After a game which ebbed and flowed both ways through an absorbing and downright nervy 120 minutes, it fell to penalties and Luton showed their mettle.

Scoring all six spotkicks, the Hatters then had their moment in the Wembley sun when City sub Fankaty Dabo skied his attempt, to scenes of utter, utter, utter joy and sheer bedlam among the near 40,000 Luton fans who had made the trip to Wembley Stadium.

Although many probably won’t read on, with heads already sore and glasses being raised, to record matters that happened, Hatters boss Rob Edwards went with an unchanged side for the contest.

Just as they had in the semi-final, Luton won the first corner and had the ball in the net once more as well.

It came after Tom Lockyer met the ball, with Ben Wilson pulling off a stunning save, before being bundled over the line by Gabe Osho, with the goal ruled out.

With eight minutes gone, Luton were hit by a cruel, cruel injury blow as one of their stars of the season, Lockyer worryingly collapsed when trying to turn to chase a long ball.

Immediately the medical teams from both sides were with him, with some serious concern for the talismanic defender, who after a good few minutes of treatment, was stretchered off.

Word came out as the first half progressed that although he had gone to hospital, he was thankfully okay, responsive and talking to his family members who were with him.

Boss Edwards called his players together to refocus minds, with Reece Burke on far earlier than he would have ever expected.

With Town having to gather themselves at the loss of such an popular and hugely influential figure, they almost took the lead with their first attack afterwards, a long ball causing real havoc in a usually rock solid City defence, Carlton Morris hooking his volley narrowly wide with Wilson beaten this time.

Still Luton didn't let the disruption affect them, as Coventry's previously impenetrable back-line didn't look at all comfortable when dealing with the direct ball forward, as their clean sheet record in the league might have suggested they would have been.

Morris smashed over via a deflection and then won another header which saw Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu in space 20 yards from goal, only for his magic moment to evade him, shooting tamely at Wilson.

On 23 minutes, Town made their bright start pay, taking the lead with ball down the flank which Adebayo did magnificently to not just get there ahead of Kyle McFadzean, but then twisting the 36-year-old inside and out to get into the box.

He fed Clark who took a beautiful first touch to get past his man and then arrowed a left footed drive beyond Wilson as Wembley erupted.

They should have led 2-0 on the half hour as well, City appearing unable to cope with the direct ball forward, as Morris was denied by a superb block and then Adebayo's volley skewed wide with just Wilson to beat.

Not content to sit on their lead, Luton looked to put the game to bed, Cody Drameh getting wide and sending over a cross that Adebayo leapt highest to reach, but couldn't divert on target.

As the half ticked by, City could barely get out of their half, their tactic of just trying to find Viktor Gyokeres never coming off, Luton able to handle that threat, and with two upfront they possessed causing far more problems.

The only concern was they didn't have a second, Morris turning Mpanzu's cross at Wilson.

Luton then had the ball in the net again on 41 minutes, Marvelous Nakamba releasing Alfie Doughty on the left, his shot deflecting up and over the despairing grope of Wilson, McFadzean back in the nick of time.

His clearance struck the elbow of Adebayo and rebounded, quickly chalked off by referee Michael Oliver, with the forward not celebrating as he knew the decision was coming.

Coventry then fired their first warning shot on 43 minutes, a good break on the left seeing the cross over the head of Ethan Horvath and Gustavo Hamer at the back post stretching to volley a more than presentable chance over the top.

That was the start of the first real spell of pressure for the Sky Blues, as with eight minutes of stoppage time signalled due to Lockyer's injury, they finally began to enjoy a spell of pressure, winning some of their mini battles and beginning to look dangerous when they got the ball in behind for Gyokeres to run on to.

Luton saw it out until the break though as the second half started with City bringing on Matt Godden to give Gyokeres some much-needed support upfront.

It swiftly became a different game as Town’s dominance evaporated and the Sky Blues players and fans began to believe, although Liam Kelly's 25-yard attempt was never testing Horvath.

Town started to look like they had weathered the early spell of pressure, finally closing ranks and beginning to get a handle on City's threats, as they were happy to see Callum Doyle go for the 30-yard spectacular, which was never coming down.

Just as Town were starting to get a grip once more, they were pegged back on 66 minutes when, from their own corner, Doughty's second cross was cleared away and the Sky Blues set Gyokeres off and running on the left.

Like Adebayo, he did excellently to break away and then deliver the perfect ball for Hamer who sidefooted his finish low and through the legs of Gabe Osho to beat Horvath's despairing dive and level the scores.

With their belief flowing now, City looked by far the more likely to go on and win it, as they should have moved ahead on 73 minutes, Adebayo's ill-advised ball out of defence gobbled up, and Godden being freed in the area to swivel and lash over.

Town brought on Fred Onyedinma, but they still couldn't test Wilson, as in eight minutes of stoppage time, Clark's free kick from an inviting position was disappointingly wayward.

Godden tried to catch Horvath out with an instinctive volley, fortunately not connecting with his attempt properly, as in an end-to-end eight minutes of stoppage time, with both sides dead on their feet, Mpanzu's one-two with Clark saw the midfielder's low curler easily stopped by Wilson.

In extra time, it was City who threatened first, that man Gyokeres escaping on the right, Horvath getting just enough behind his angled attempt and up quickly to smother the rebound.

Luton brought Luke Berry on for Mpanzu as they fashioned a chance when Clark went through and over under what he thought was contact from Wilson.

It looked like a dive though, referee Oliver clearly thinking so, as the midfielder was booked for simulation, although the replay might have shown a slight bit of contact from the City keeper.

With both Morris and Adebayo struggling, Edwards turned to Joe Taylor at half time in extra time and with minutes running out, he thought he was the hero.

Winning the ball off a City defender and scampering away, he beat Wilson to find the net, sending Luton fans into ecstasy, on for a VAR check to signal a handball against Town’s striker, as the Sky Blues supporters roared their approval.

Berry put an even later header over, as penalties were then underway.

Luton scored all six of theirs, Morris, Taylor, Marvelous Nakamba, Clark, Berry and Dan Potts finding the net, before City sub Fankaty Dabo blazed over as the Hatters celebrated wildly.

If you’ve read this far then I salute you.

Now go and enjoy yourself as Luton Town are going up!!

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, Cody Drameh, Gabe Osho (Dan Potts 112), Tom Lockyer (C, Reece Burke 12), Amari'i Bell, Alfie Doughty (Fred Onyedinma 84), Marvelous Nakamba, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luke Berry 98), Jordan Clark, Elijah Adebayo (Joe Taylor 106), Carlton Morris. Subs not used: James Shea, Allan Campbell.

Sky Blues: Ben Wilson, Callum Doyle (C Jonathan Panzo 115), Kyle McFadzean, Liam Kelly (C), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Fankaty Dabo 91), Jamie Allen (Matt Godden 46), Ben Sheaf, Luke McNally, Viktor Gyokeres, Jake Bidwell, Gustavo Hamer (Kasey Palmer 80, Josh Eccles 102). Subs not used: Simon Moore, Josh Wilson-Esbrand.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

Booked: McNally 46, Clark 99.

Attendance: 85,711.

Hatters boss dedicates Luton's play-off victory to Town defender Tom Lockyer

Town chief eager to pay Luton captain a visit in hospital

Luton boss Rob Edwards dedicated the Hatters’ play-off victory over Coventry City this afternoon to Town defender Tom Lockyer.

The Welsh international, who has been without doubt one of the stars of the Hatters’ reaching the Premier League this term, collapsed on the pitc in the opening 10 minutes and was immediately taken to hospital.

His father has since tweeted to show the 28-year-old is okay, but speaking afterwards, Edwards is hoping to go and pay Town’s captain a visit, as he said: “I said to Carlton when we were out on the pitch and he was talking to him on the phone that if we can then we will.

"I don’t want to get in the way and if I’m not allowed I won’t, but If I’m allowed then I would love to go and see him.

"As a group we're so tight, I’m not sure 40-odd people are allowed to go and see somebody in hospital, so we’ll have to check on that.

"I'm just so thankful that he was okay, and that's all that matters.

"That's why I wasn't really able to enjoy any of the celebrations at the end, as all I cared about was Locks.

“I just made sure that Carlton relayed that I was here and if we can we’ll come and see him.

"Carlton and Locks were really, really close, it was important that Carlton knew and had spoken to him, he was quite emotional at the time.”

On what happened and the players’ reaction during half-time, Edwards added: “I've got not too much on it, he collapsed, we’ll be able to say more as and when we know more.

"He’s got really good people around him and having more tests now.

"The staff were really good and made sure that he’s okay and he’ speaking and everything else and we were able to try and calm everyone down.

"I made sure the first thing I said as the same thing and backed that up and then it was a case of business and focus again.

"We’re doing it for Locks, that was the message, it was a case of doing it for him.”

Edwards hails Burke and Hatters' response to 'heartbeat' Lockyer being stretchered off at Wembley

Town recovered to triumph without their influential captain

Luton boss Rob Edwards labelled his players’ response to the worrying on-field collapse of their talismanic defender and ‘heartbeat’ of the side Tom Lockyer during the play-off final with Coventry City yesterday.

With under 10 minutes gone at Wembley, the 28-year-old fell to the floor with no-one around him, as it was immediately clear that something was wrong with the Welsh international, medical staff from both teams instantly by his side.

He was stretchered off and taken to hospital, as after a lengthy stoppage, Reece Burke came off the bench and on in his place.

Although clearly affected by what happened to their hugely popular team-mate, Luton’s players didn’t let the potential severity of the incident get to them in any way, as they went on to win the contest 6-5 on penalties, once the game had finished 1-1 after 120 minutes.

On what he had thought when it was going on, Edwards said: “I didn’t know what happened at the time and I still don’t fully know.

“I just thought I could see him on the floor and not really moving, so I was just really concerned and thought let’s try and get the players away.

“I need to try and refocus them, we got them together and said, ‘right, there’s going to be a change, Locks is coming off, Burkey’s coming on, we need to do this for him.’

“I think I said that after four or five minutes, ‘we do it for him now, focus.’

"I just think I spoke about focus and in that moment, I didn't really know what to think.

"You just do and you just act and it was a case of getting all the lads away and focus on the job in hand.

"Full credit to the players, they did and I was thinking on the side, wow, captain’s had to go off after four or five minutes, it’s not going to be our day.

“So the players, the way they responded was brilliant.”

Edwards had no issue in bringing on Burke either, who could have been starting himself, but for a succession of injuries in recent months.

He continued: “Burkey’s a really good player and it’s been a difficult decision leaving him out.

"But himself and Gabe (Osho) have had one or two injury issues over the last few months and it’s really why he’s been out of the team and the other lads have done great.

"So a lot of confidence in Reece Burke, I had no real worries in doing that.

"It’s just taking the heartbeat, that middle, that leader out of the back three, but Gabe’s done that for us.

"It was a little rejig and off you go and do it, but I’ve got full confidence in Reece Burke, he’s a really good player.”

Despite the early blow, Luton went on to dominate the first half, going ahead through Jordan Clark’s terrific first touch and left-footed drive after magnificent work from Elijah Adebayo.

They could and probably should have gone on to put the game beyond Sky Blues, Adebayo missing a glorious chance, with Carlton Morris and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu unable to make the most of some decent opportunities either.

City made them pay after the break, Gustavo Hamer sidefooting home, but then he had to go off injured too, as eventually it went down to spotkicks, Luton winning once Fankaty Dabo put his effort over.

Edwards added: “After losing our best player after four or five minutes, to recover from that after seeing how Locks went off, I thought the lads showed a lot of mental strength and resilience and character and then went on and performed like that.

"I do think we could have had two or three in that first half, we didn’t and then obviously they’re right in the game.

"I thought they definitely had the first 25 minutes or so of the second half and then got the equaliser and then it was pretty tight.

“But that performance in the first half, on the biggest occasion, really, really pleased me.”

Edwards thrilled to see Hatters fans smiling again after coming through the 'dark times' to reach the Premier League

Town will play top flight football next season

Luton boss Rob Edwards was understandably absolutely elated to put a huge smile back on the faces of Hatters fans after the ‘dark, dark times’ they have endured in recent years by winning promotion to the Premier League yesterday.

It was back in 2009 that Luton were relegated out of the Football League following a ridiculous 30-point deduction from the FA, ending their 89-year stint.

They had to endure five long years in the Conference until being lead back by John Still in 2014, Nathan Jones then taking over to reach League One, and begin another promotion push to the second tier.

Club legend Mick Harford then carried that on, guiding Town into the Championship as just four years later, Edwards was at the helm for one of the best days ever in Luton’s history, a 6-5 penalty shootout victory over Coventry City in the play-off final at Wembley yesterday.

Speaking afterwards, Edwards said: “People have put their heart and soul into the club, our board are fans of the club, it means everything to them.

"They brought this club back from the brink and along with John Still who got promotion out of the National League and Nathan’s work that he did, the promotions.

"Mick Harford, the recruitment teams, there's so many people, too many people to mention now.

"We’ve come in for the last six and it’s almost like, whoosh, this is easy, just keep it going.

"It’s because a lot of the brilliant work that has gone on.

"Gary and the board, the recruitment, the players, just so proud for the lads, for the fans, because they’ve seen some dark, dark times.

"It’s great that we can give them a really big smile.”

Asked how he would enjoy the victory, Edwards added: “Beer!

"I’ll see my family, I saw them a little bit when we got the trophy, which was lovely.

"We’ve got to try to enjoy this moment because it doesn’t happen often.

“I’ve just said it to some of the young lads there, Joe Johnson who’s 17 and part of the squad, he's made a couple of appearances for us at the back end of the season, I said, ‘Joe go and enjoy this, it doesn't happen often.’

"I’m really lucky to have been a part of four promotions now and I’ve been in football for 24 years professionally, so it doesn't happen loads.

"We’ll certainly enjoy it tonight.”

Edwards admits he will have to get used to VAR after celebrating Taylor's disallowed goal like an 'idiot'

Boss was off sprinting down the touch-line in extra-time

Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted he will have to get used to VAR now after celebrating Joe Taylor’s disallowed goal in yesterday’s play-off final victory over Coventry City like an ‘idiot’.

With the young striker on as a half time substitute in extra time, it appeared the January transfer signing from Peterborough United would be the unlikely hero, as with moments left, he robbed Sky Blues’ replacement Jonathan Panzo and went clean through on Ben Wilson.

He kept a cool head to beat the advancing City keeper with a low finish to send the 38,000 Luton fans into raptures behind the goal, and the management team, including Edwards sprinting off down the touch-line.

However, a VAR check swiftly followed, with replays showing the ball had rebounded off Taylor’s hand as he went through, chalked off by referee Michael Oliver to the delight of the massed Coventry ranks.

It didn’t matter in the end, Luton's return to the Premier League merely delayed until penalties, the 20-year-old on target from the spot with Town’s second attempt during the 6-5 shoot-out win.

With VAR used in the top flight, where the Hatters will be plying their trade next term, Edwards said: “VAR, I was off celebrating, what an idiot!

"I thought that was going to come back to haunt me.

"Obviously it hit his arm and it doesn’t get given does it?

"So I’ve got to get used to that now.”

Town had two already seen two more goals disallowed in the fixture, the first early on when Gabe Osho’s strike was ruled out for offside, before Kyle McFadzean's clearance rebounded into the net of Elijah Adebayo’s elbow, also during the first half.

Luton then didn’t get the benefit of the video official during the first period of extra time, Clark going over in the box under a challenge from Wilson, booked by Oliver for diving.

It had looked like the Town midfielder had originally gone to ground too easily, but replays showed there may have been some slight contact.

Asked for his view, Edwards added: “I haven’t seen that back yet, but there was VAR so I take it that no, I take it it was the right decision.

“He was booked for simulation which is unlike Jordan, but I don’t care now as he scored, he scored his penalty and we won.

"So I'll enjoy the moment, but I haven’t, I haven’t seen it back, it’s unlike him if he did, go over easy.”