Luton Town FC vs Crystal Palace (25th Nov 2023)

Report | Brilliant Hatters earn first top-flight home win since 1992

Town 2 Mengi 72, Brown 83

Crystal Palace 1 Olise 74

Hatters fans around Kenilworth Road were on their feet. Some were shouting, some were screaming. There were those who were whistling – howling even – and there were plenty frozen in silence; accepting they could do no more to influence the referee to blow the final whistle.

Eventually, at two minutes past five and after 13-and-a-half minutes of agonising injury time, that the whistle came.

Relief and – for the first time at home this term – celebration. Goals from Teden Mengi and Jacob Brown gave the Hatters that elusive win on home soil after a breathless second half at the Old Girl.

Those baying for the full-time had every reason. Those who waited in silent anticipation were the same. For some they had never seen Luton Town win in the top-flight. Not for 11,537 days had the Hatters won here in Bedfordshire in the top division. When, after what seemed an eternity, that last peep on the referee’s whistle went, the outpouring of emotion on and off the pitch was clear for all to see. This meant something.

It also meant so, so much for a Hatters side who earned, by down-right determination, a vital three points in the scrap to avoid relegation from the Premier League. Whoever was wearing orange will sleep well on Saturday night after a performance of grit and passion and quality throughout.

And what a game. Well, what a second 45 minutes. The first half saw Crystal Palace fashion the best chance, and the Town, again, were indebted to wondrous heroics from Thomas Kaminski to keep the Eagles at bay. 22 minutes elapsed when quick feet enabled Eberechi Eze space to arrow a firm shot from the edge of the box that Belgian pawed away at full stretch. However, it was Kaminski’s reactions to get up quick enough to repel Jeffrey Schlupp’s follow-up that was world class.

The Town had been good value going in at the break at 0-0 even though they rarely threatened Sam Johnstone, the Palace keeper, into any meaningful action despite enjoying their fair share of the football.

Then came the second half. Oh the second half! A tumultuous 45 minutes of football you’re ever going to see. With the floodlights on and a cold breeze in the air, the Hatters set about warming the hearts of their own supporters for the first time since Sunderland were beaten at the backend of last season.

Four minutes after the restart, the Town had a slight helping hand: the imperious Eze limped off and was replaced, giving the Hatters one less world-class player to deal with.

Midway through the second half the Hatters then felt hard done by when Odsonne Edouard tucked past Kaminski to give the visitors the lead against the run of play. There was a sneaky suspicion of handball even though the referee had given the goal. Yet VAR had the final say: the striker did use his hand the goal was correctly chalked off.

You felt had it stood Palace would have strangled the life out of the Town with a goal to the good, but the Town sensed a reprieve and five minutes later, on 72 minutes, Kenilworth Road exploded into life.

Alfie Doughty’s left-wing corner found its way to Mengi at the backpost and he expertly guided home his first senior goal to cue pandemonium in the stands as the Town, gloriously, led.

But two minutes later disaster stuck. The feelgood factor around the place was ruthlessly cut by a moment of magic from Michael Olise. Straight from the restart, the winger flew down the right, cut inside and curled a wonderful shot beyond Kaminski. No keeper in the world was saving it as the Hatters cursed their luck. It had echoes of Burnley all over again.

With their tails up you sensed Palace sensed blood and Kaminski’s agility denied the visitors from turning around the deficit completely to deny Eduoard’s point-blank header.

But to their credit the Hatters reset and went again. On 79 minutes Brown entered the fray in a move that saw Chiedozie Ogbene switch to right wing-back. Four minutes later Brown was in dreamland and he had Ogbene to thank.

Ross Barkley, imperious all afternoon, patiently waited for Ogbene to motor down the right flank. Gliding goalwards, Obgene then delivered an inch-perfect cross into the heart of the Palace six-yard box. The pass caused the ultimate confusion in the Palace defence. They all asked questions: should we leave it? Should we clear it? Should Johnstone claim it? In the end, the indecision cost them and Brown, who made his first start for Scotland last Sunday, capped a week to remember by nipping in and sliding the ball home.

Ahead again, and with time ticking, it was now backs against the wall as the visitors pressed for a point.

Kaminski produced yet another superb save to keep it 2-1 with three minutes of the regulation 90 left, deflecting Joachim Andersen’s goal-bounded effort behind with his right leg.

Then the board of the fourth official went up. 12 added minutes. 720 seconds that felt like a life-time for all those urging their boys in orange in blue.

Palace pushed and pushed. In the 100th minute, hearts in mouths as Olise headed over when well-placed.

The Hatters dropped deeper and deeper. The whistles from the crowd got louder. It was almost unbearable.

The unthinkable almost became reality at the very, very, very end to crush Hatters’ hearts. Olise’s right-wing cross in the 113th minute was perfect and met by the head of Jefferson Lerma but, somehow somehow somehow, his firm effort came back flush off the crossbar. You could hear the collective gasp of shock and then relief a million miles away. There were heads in hands everywhere in the Kenny End. They all thought it was in. They were not the only ones.

The Hatters then broke at speed, as the game seemed to breathlessly continue without any care for anyone’s heart or mind. Substitutes Tahith Chong and Elijah Adebayo combined for the latter to drive a shot goalwards that Johnstone saved brilliantly – even though the striker was offside.

But it mattered not as seconds later the moment that many had waited a lifetime for happened. The full-time whistle and victory at home in the top-flight.

Cue the celebrations, the fist pumps and the appreciation from both players and fans.

A win at the Kenny in the Premier League?

It doesn’t matter how long you wait to be honest. It was worth it.

Enjoy. See you next week at Brentford.

Rob on Palace win

Rob Edwards spoke of his pride in seeing his Luton Town team record a first home Premier League win – but insisted there is still more to come from the ever-improving Hatters.

Teden Mengi and Jacob Brown’s first Premier League goals, either side of Michael Olise’s quickfire equaliser, saw the Town take maximum points at Kenilworth Road for the first time, building on the 1-1 draw with Liverpool last time out on home soil.

“It feels really good,” said Edwards, whose side moved four points above the relegation zone. “It’s nice to see the lads so happy, music on, the crowd are really happy. It’s nice to get the fist pumps out again. We don’t see it as often as Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League, so it’s nice to do that.

“But in all seriousness, it was important today. We all recognised that and I have to stress it, Crystal Palace are a really good team with brilliant players, and I think the longer the game went on the crowd saw that as well.”

Mengi’s opener, his first goal in senior football, came in the 72nd minute with Olise equalising immediately after the VAR check for possible offside was complete.

Brown capped a terrific week personally, in which he made his first Scotland start, with the 83rd-minute winner – with Town remaining resolute to see out what proved to be 14 minutes of added time.

“(It was) a brilliant set piece goal, I’m really pleased for Teden – I thought he was outstanding today, with and without the ball,” said Edwards.

“Obviously lightning strikes twice, just like Burnley with conceding a very similar goal. We all felt flat at that moment.

“But for the players to pick themselves up after that and go and get the second, which I thought was a brilliant counter attacking goal, a fantastically well worked goal, the lads deserve a lot of credit for that.

“And then again, seeing it out under immense pressure, some brilliant blocks, some brilliant saves.

“The running from Eli, Chongy, Browny – his running when he came on, as well as his goal, amazing – and a little bit of luck, which we are probably going to need still to get the three points in games because of the amount of pressure that teams will put on you late on.

“But I’m immensely proud of everyone. We can be better, and we’ve got to keep working hard to improve, but it’s a big three points for us.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcE55ysRKXM – Rob Edwards interview

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8wqxPmYjZQ – Extended highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5nzPx5DYkc – Behind the scenes

Luton finally win at home in the Premier League win after thrilling Crystal Palace victory

Premier League: Luton Town 2 Crystal Palace 1

Luton Town were finally able to celebrate a first home win of the Premier League season at the sixth time of asking, as they came out top of a thrilling encounter against Crystal Palace this afternoon.

Having ticked off an away triumph at Everton back in September, all that was left for the Hatters was to enjoy a victory in front of a baying Kenilworth Road crowd, and they did just that.

A goalless first period didn't give any indication of what was to happen in an exhausting second 45 minutes, Luton taking the lead through Teden Mengi, then pegged back immediately again, before restoring the advantage through Jacob Brown’s close range finish.

Twelve minutes of stoppage time, which was more like 15, was then added, Town digging deep, as Palace threw everything at them, Jefferson Lerma hitting the post at the death as Luton clung on to register what could be a massive first top flight three points of the season in Bedfordshire.

Prior to kick-off, Town made two changes for the contest, defender Amari'i Bell back after missing the last seven games with a hamstring injury to replace the concussed Issa Kabore, Alfie Doughty moving to right wingback, while Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu was included too.

He came in for Marvelous Nakamba, the midfielder also picking up an injury while away with Zimbabwe, although Chiedozie Obgene was fit enough to take his place in attack.

The visitors made a strong start to the game, Michael Olise cutting in from the right and shooting wide, while they then drove straight through the middle, with Odsonne Edouard's shot straight at Thomas Kaminski.

Luton were able to create a threatening moment of their own, visiting keeper Sam Johnstone just about managing to gather Andros Townsend's cross under pressure from Carlton Morris.

Kaminski then showed his growing worth to the Hatters on 23 minutes with a fantastic double save. First he palmed away Eberiche Eze's 20-yard drive before doing even better to get up quickly and superbly parry away Jeffrey Schlupp's follow-up as well.

Town finally started to get going though when Ross Barkley sent a terrific raking pass out the wing and Doughty scampered away to win a corner that got the previously subdued home crowd involved.

As he had done on more than one occasion last term, Bell took aim from fully 40 yards after a corner was cleared out to him, and once more his connection was true, Johnstone having to field low down.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between for the Hatters though, Tom Lockyer's header drifting harmlessly wide from a corner. After the break, the visitors were hit by a double injury blow in the opening stages as both Eze and Cheick Doucoure pulled up and had to go off, the latter on a stretcher, with Jordan Ayew and former Watford midfielder Will Hughes coming on to a chorus of boos.

Luton sensed an opener, Ogbene unable to meet Doughty's right wing cross and then winning a corner that was well defended. Boss Rob Edwards made a double change on the hour, giving Jordan Clark his first home outing in the top flight, with Tahith Chong on as well, Townsend and Mpanzu making way.

Palace thought they had led midway through the half when Town's defence was caught out by a long ball over the top as Edouard got away on the left. He was half stopped by a brilliant sliding block from Lockyer as Kaminski came out, the ball clearly striking the Frenchman's trailing hand to rebound favourably as he tucked home.

Neither official saw it as the goal was initially allowed but thankfully VAR got involved to do its job as referee Jared Gillett disallowed the strike after consultation with the officials.

Luton then managed to get their noses in front on 72 minutes when a corner dropped to Mengi inside the box who took a touch before burying into the bottom corner for his first senior goal.

A quick VAR check for offside against Chong went Town’s way, but just as they thought about a first home win this term, just as happened against Burnley, they conceded within a matter of seconds. It was almost a carbon copy of the Clarets’ strike as well, Olise away on the right and with Bell unable to stop him legally or otherwise, he advanced into the box and curled a beautiful effort beyond Kaminski and into the top corner to immediately quieten Kenilworth Road and an exasperated Edwards.

Kaminski made another terrific close-range stop from Eduoard who was then flagged offside, without the keeper knowing.

Edwards brought on Jacob Brown and Elijah Adebayo, as although their confidence was clearly knocked by the leveller, the hosts hit back to restore their lead on 83 minutes when a wonderful break saw Chong and Barkley retain possession in the middle. With Ogbene now operating as a wingback after Doughty had gone off, he looked up and delivered a searching cross that saw Joachim Andersen criminally leave the ball, with Brown gambling, sliding in at full stretch to score a first Premier League for the Hatters.

Now trying to hold on again, Kaminski ensured Luton kept the lead for more than a matter of seconds by preventing Andersen making amends, sticking out a leg to deflect his drive behind and then bravely collecting when Lerma looked to stab home.

With a massive 12 minutes of stoppage time added, Town's fans feared the worst, especially with memories of Liverpool’s late leveller fresh in their minds, but Town's back-line, in particular Mengi, were outstanding, heading and clearing everything that came their way.

Chong's head injury meant even more time was time added on, and in the last seconds, the majority of the 11,000 crowd had their hearts in their mouths when a cross from the left saw Lerma beat Kaminski to the ball, the net looking destined to ripple, but thankfully on this occasion, Town had the fortune they craved as it crashed against the woodwork and bounced clear.

Moments later and mercifully the final whistle brought an end to the contest as Town's players and supporters could finally celebrate a first top flight three points on home soil since way back in April 25, 1992 when Aston Villa were defeated 2-0.

The result also saw Luton climb four points away from the drop zone, as they can now head to Brentford on Saturday with renewed confidence about their chances of staying up.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Alfie Doughty (Jacob Brown 79), Gabe Osho, Tom Lockyer (C), Teden Mengi, Amari'i Bell, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Jordan Clark 61), Ross Barkley, Andros Townsend (Tahith Chong 61), Chiedozie Ogbene, Carlton Morris (Elijah Adebayo 74).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Ryan Giles, Luke Berry, Zack Nelson, Jayden Luker.

Eagles: Sam Johnstone, Joel Ward (C), Tyrick Mitchell, Marc Guehi, Michael Olise, Jefferson Lerma, Eberechi Eze (Jordan Ayew 50), Jeffrey Schlupp (Naouirou Ahamada 80), Joachim Andersen, Odsonne Edouard (Jean-Philippe Mateta 80), Cheick Doucoure (Will Hughes 53).

Subs not used: Remi Matthews, Rob Holding, Matheus Franca De Oliviera, Nathaniel Clyne, Chris Richards.

Referee: Jarred Gillet.

Booked: Lerma 15, Lockyer 44, Osho 52, Barkley 59, Clark 68, Adebayo 90.

Attendance: 11,029 (1,149 Palace).

Sheer 'relief' for a 'drained' Hatters boss as Town cling on to defeat Eagles

Edwards reacts to Crystal Palace victory

A ‘drained’ Luton boss Rob Edwards was left with a feeling of sheer ‘relief’ after he watched his side finally record an opening Premier League victory of the season at home when beating Crystal Palace 2-1 this afternoon.

The Hatters had gone into the fixture with just two points from their five matches in Bedfordshire so far, draws with Wolves and Liverpool, the Reds cruelly levelling in stoppage time during Town’s last fixture in front of their own supporters.

This time, it was yet another rollercoaster of emotions, Teden Mengi giving the Hatters the lead on 72 minutes, before Luton, as they had done when defeated 2-1 by Burnley, conceding within a minute, Michael Olise brilliant curling into the top corner.

However, Jacob Brown came off the bench to slide home Chiedozie Ogbene’s wonderful right wing cross with seven to go, netting his first top flight goal for the Hatters and seal an absolutely crucial victory.

Asked for his immediate thoughts, Edwards said: “Really good, relief, I feel drained now as that was the longest game I’ve ever been a part of that didn’t go to extra time.

"So relief, but pleased for the supporters, pleased for everyone connected to the club as it’s been a long time coming here at home.

"I think we’ve deserved a bit more than what we’ve got here from some of the games. We were close against Liverpool, close against Wolves, Burnley could have gone another way really, but it’s taken until today, that’s fine. We challenged the players this week and I’m really proud of them, they stepped up well.”

After Brown’s winner, Luton then had to hold during 12 minutes of stoppage time, which was closer to 15 with Tahith Chong requiring treatment for a head injury.

The back three of Gabe Osho, Teden Mengi and Tom Lockyer were sensational in doing just that, as Edwards continued: “The defenders stood up to it, some brilliant blocks towards the end, some brilliant defending.

"We rode our luck a little bit when they’re loading stuff in, being quite direct at the end, a lot of land of the giants, balls coming into the box, trying to find a balance, but we found a way to get over that line.”

With virtually the last kick, Town were almost left on their knees again, Jefferson Lerma’s header looking destined to hit the net, only to rebound off the woodwork and bounce away to safety.

On what stoppage time was like, Edwards added: “Horrible, it was tough, it was long.

"I tried to stay calm but I failed. A few times I was down the line like a maniac trying to get some information across, but trying to stay calm. The players, they are the ones who have got to find a way to get us over the line and they did that.

“They put us under a lot of pressure, and we did get a bit of fortune, but I’ll take it.”