Luton Town FC vs Derby County (20th Dec 2024)

20/12/2024 LUTON TOWN 2-1 DERBY COUNTY

Last-gasp Hatters earn dramatic victory

Under the lights at the Kenny the Town secured a late win over Derby

Two goals in the game’s final manic moments from Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu – or Tom Holmes, you decide – and Carlton Morris earned the Town a dramatic comeback victory over Derby at Kenilworth Road.

Just when it seemed the Hatters were about to lose for only the second time in 10 home matches, up stepped two Hatters heroes.

Trailing to Kayden Jackson’s 58th-minute header, the Town needed a wonderful stop from Thomas Kaminski on 74 minutes to prevent the Rams doubling their lead.

But with time almost up, Mpanzu’s volley from the edge of the area deflected off Holmes’ back to bring the Town level with a minute of normal time remaining.

Kenilworth Road then erupted when the Hatters won it in the second minute of stoppage time when Morris’ shot deflected into the top corner to secure all three points in the Town’s final home game before Christmas.

The late drama might not have been necessary had the Hatters led in the sixth minute when Morris’ fine header flew just wide.

But the Town began playing some decent football. Morris was just crowded out on 18 minutes and from the loose ball Jacob Widell Zetterstrom in the Derby goal pawed away Tahith Chong’s drive.

Jacob Brown was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Callum Elder with the goal mercy on 34 minutes and Chong wasn’t a million miles away with a curling cross that bent just the wrong side of the post two minutes later as the Hatters pressed.

Kaminski was called into action for the first time of the night seven minutes after the restart when saving Jackson’s low effort but, on 54 minutes, the Hatters came close to breaking the deadlock when Elijah Adebayo’s towering header from Krauß’s fine cross just missed the target.

But Derby went in front shortly before the hour when Kane Wilson’s deep right-wing cross was met by Jackson who guided a back-post header into the far corner of the net.

The Town responded well to going behind and, on 62 minutes, Zetterstrom produced an incredible save to deny Morris’ superb header following Jordan Clark’s corner.

Two minutes later the Hatters had Kaminski to thank for a stunning save to somehow keep out a low first-time drive from Kenzo Goudmijn. It was prove to be a crucial moment.

Rob Edwards made a triple change with 20 minutes left on the clock with Mpanzu, Cauley Woodrow and Zack Nelson introduced.

But try as the might it looked as though the Town had run out of ideas as Derby’s defence protected the lead.

However, Mpanzu and Holmes had other ideas. A corner was half-cleared to Mpanzu on the edge of the box and he sent the ball back goalwards with intent. The ball took a decisive touch off Holmes before nestling into the back of the net. 1-1.

Level, the decibel level grew. And two minutes into stoppage time the Hatters won it. Derby failed to clear their lines once more with the ball falling at the feet of Adebayo. His shot was pawed away by a fine save from Zetterstrom but only into the path of Morris. He composed himself before taking a touch and fired a shot that took a deflection and flew, unbelievably, into the top corner.

Pandemonium ensued and once the remaining minutes were seen out the Hatters could celebrate a last-gasp victory to maintain their solid home form at Kenilworth Road.

With three points in the bag for Christmas, attention turns to finding points on the road when we head to Bristol City on Boxing Day.

We’ll see you then. Happy Christmas. UTT.

Town: Kaminski, Moses (sub Nelson 69), Chong, Andersen (sub Johnson 86), McGuinness, Holmes, Krauß (sub Mpanzu 69), Clark (sub Taylor 86), Brown (sub Woodrow 69), Morris, Adebayo.

Subs not used: Krul, Nakamba, Pieters, Chigozie.

Attendance: 11,667, including 1,335 in the away end

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OmY7_1goig – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-oGBqxvk7w – Rob Edwards post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L04vJkOhRSw – Game day unmasked

Grandstand finish sees Luton score twice to complete bonkers comeback win over Derby

Championship: Luton Town 2 Derby County 1

A quite bonkers and downright mental last few minutes saw Luton somehow manage to emerge as 2-1 winners over Derby County at Kenilworth Road this evening.

With 89 minutes on the clock, the Hatters were trailing 1-0, manager Rob Edwards having made all five of his changes, with the atmosphere starting to verge on toxic, as home supporters prepared to give their players and manager both barrels at the full time whistle for a stodgy second half display. However, one of Edwards' replacements, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, saw his volley from outside the box flick off team-mate Tom Holmes and fly past the excellent Jacob Widell Zetterstrom to make it 1-1.

Then, with six minutes of injury time added, Town, whose belief had instantly been renewed after that equaliser, won a free kick out by the corner flag, sent into the area by another substitute Cauley Woodrow. Derby's attempts to get the ball away saw a Rams defender’s clearance rebound off his own player, falling into the path of an Elijah Adebayo, who would have been offside had it been a pass from a Luton player.

Town’s striker was denied by Zetterstrom, but Carlton Morris was lurking, the Town skipper steadying himself to shoot, his attempt also taking a vital deflection, hitting the hand of Curtis Nelson to fly into the top corner as Kenilworth Road exploded, able to celebrate the hosts picking up a quite incredible and what had appeared an unlikely three points just a few minutes earlier.

With Luton's much talked about woeful away record seeing them go pointless in their last seven matches, then it puts even more pressure on their home form, and with trips to Bristol City and Swansea City coming up, then they had to get something from this contest against a Rams side who had won just once away all campaign.

In their efforts to do that, Town handed defender Mads Andersen his first league start for well over a year as the centre half, who last began against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on October 7, was the hosts' only change. New signing Erik Pieters was named on the bench, alongside youngster Christian Chigozie, as Derby recalled former Luton skipper Sonny Bradley to their starting line-up, ex-Hatters striker James Collins on the bench

The hosts’ really should have led with five minutes on the clock, Adebayo winning a free kick on the left that was swung in by Jordan Clark for a stooping Carlton Morris to put his free header narrowly wide. Although there was precious little to write about in the opening 20 minutes, the most notable aspect for Luton was Tom Krauß's ability to win the ball back in midfield, as from another such tackle, he found Morris.

The forward opted to go alone, well challenged inside the area as Tahith Chong's cross-shot was parried away by the Rams stopper. Town went close again on 22 minutes, as from another set-piece, Clark swung over a corner and Mark McGuinness hooked his volley over the bar, the centre half left frustrated he hadn't done better.

Jacob Brown thought he was destined to open the scoring on 33 minutes when the ball broke to him only for Callum Elder to appear from nowhere and made a terrific block. Having played on the right, Chong continued to cut in on his left foot at every opportunity, sending over one cross that was missed by everyone, bouncing narrowly wide of the far corner.

The otherwise quiet Rams were inches away from grabbing the lead on the stroke of half time, a dinked cross seeing McGuinness just getting an important nick on the ball to prevent Ebou Adams from connecting with a flying header. Derby, who hadn't looked like scoring at all in the first period, made a better start after the break, finally working Thomas Kaminski, the Luton stopper rather ungainly using his knees to deflect Kayden Jackson's blast away, Adams trying his luck from further out, blazing rashly over.

Town still looked to get forward too, as with 52 minutes gone, Morris and Chong combining for Krauß to swing over a cross that saw Adebayo hold off Nat Phillips, only to put his header the wrong side of the post. As the game finally started to open up a tad, Victor Moses was required to make an important block when a cross ran through to Elder, Holmes doing enough to mop up the danger.

However, Luton continued to give the ball away in a sloppy passage of play, a misplaced pass from Krauß moved to the right wing where a deep cross saw Chong do nowhere near enough to get in front of Jackson, who was able to direct his header into the far corner of the net on 58 minutes, boos instantly ringing out around a frustrated Kenilworth Road.

Bradley was then taken off to a fine ovation, as Town should have levelled five minutes later, Clark's corner met by the towering Morris, whose header drew a stunning reaction save from Zetterstrom, the Swedish international somehow able to palm away. Edwards, who was coming under increasing pressure from certain sections of the home support, went to his bench to try and find a much-needed way back into the contest, Mpanzu, Zack Nelson and Woodrow on for Moses, Brown and Krauß.

Kaminski ensured the Hatters were still in with a shout of being able to produce their grandstand finale, reacting well to prevent Kenzo Goudmijn from finding the net, as Edwards then threw on Joe Taylor and Joe Johnson. The changes had the required effect as Town were able to score not once, but twice, to secure that early Christmas miracle.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Victor Moses (Zack Nelson 69), Mads Andersen (Joe Johnson 85), Mark McGuinness, Tom Holmes, Tahith Chong, Tom Krauß (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 69), Jordan Clark (Joe Taylor 85), Jacob Brown (Cauley Woodrow 69), Carlton Morris, Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Marvelous Nakamba, Christian Chigozie.

Rams: Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Kane Wilson, Sonny Bradley (C, Craig Forsyth 62), Ben Osborn, Jerry Yates (Nathaniel Mendez-Laing 79), Nat Phillips, Kenzo Goudmijn (Marcus Harness 84), Kayden Jackson (James Collins 78), Callum Elder, Ebou Adams, Curtis Nelson. Subs not used: Josh Vickers, Tom Barkhuizen, Joe Ward, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Dajaune Brown.

Referee: Andrew Kitchen.

Booked: Andersen 36, Phillips 40, Elder 67, Nelson 89.

Attendance: 11,667 (1,335 Rams).

Edwards 'full of relief' as Luton leave it late to beat Rams in stoppage time

Town defeat Derby County at Kenilworth Road

Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted he was left feeling ‘full of relief’ after seeing his side somehow come from behind to beat Derby County 2-1 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The Hatters had trailed to Kayden Jackson’s header early in the second half, as with 89 minutes on the clock, they appeared destined for a first defeat on home soil since October 23. However, substitute Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu let fly with a volley from just outside the box that flicked off team-mate Tom Holmes to find the net to level.

During stoppage time, when the Rams failed to clear, Elijah Adebayo saw his shot saved by Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Carlton Morris picking up the rebound to see his effort also take a vital deflection to wrongfoot the Rams keeper once more and win it, Kenilworth Road exploding with noise. Afterwards, an exhausted Edwards said: “I’m full of relief, proud of the lads to find a way to win. It was really difficult. I feel for Paul Warne (Derby manager) as well, I know what he’s feeling and going through. A lot of emotions, but relief and just proud of the lads for keeping going and finding a way somehow.

"The pitch is difficult at the moment, we’re up against a team that is organised and physical and lots of free kicks. It’s in the air, hard to get the ball down, no real rhythm, horrible to watch, it was horrible to watch, but a good spirit, subs made an impact. At that stage (last few minutes) I didn't know what to think. I just thought we’d played all our cards and hoped. We know especially here, we can always get a chance. Whether it's a set-piece or whether we can get it out to one of the wide players and get a decent cross in, but you hope.”

Edwards praises Luton players for handling 'difficult' Kenilworth Road atmosphere

Town hit back twice late on to defeat Derby County

Luton boss Rob Edwards praised his players for the manner in which they handled the ‘difficult atmosphere’ inside Kenilworth Road last night to earn a vital three points as two dramatic last-gasp goals saw off Derby County 2-1.

With Town struggling to really click into gear during a mundane first period, the Hatters were then breached just before the hour mark when Kayden Jackson got the better of makeshift wingback Tahith Chong to direct a header into the far corner. It led to boos immediately ringing out from the home supporters, who were starting to feat the worst having gone behind to a side that had been promoted from League One last term, and had won just once away all season.

Those jeers carried on during the remainder of the match, as the displeasure amongst those in the home stands was becoming more and more evident, as every misplaced pass or delayed throw-in was met with further exasperation from those supporting the home side. It felt like things were going to become toxic at the final whistle, but that all changed when substitute Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, let fly with a volley from outside the box that took a nick off defender Tom Holmes to fly into the net to restore parity, with the goal eventually going down to the centre half.

Then, midway through six minutes of stoppage time, another free kick was swung into the box by Cauley Woodrow and when a Derby player cleared it against his own team-mate, it dropped invitingly for Elijah Adebayo. The striker’s shot was parried by Rams stopper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, but the Swedish international was powerless to prevent Carlton Morris’s follow-up from going in, the Town skipper’s attempt also taking a crucial deflection off the had of Curtis Nelson to find its way into the net.

That led to an explosion of noise from the home support, and some far, far happier post match scenes, the Hatters players, in particularly Mpanzu, roared down the tunnel. With Luton’s performance once more not at the standard of what is expected from them, although they have now won more games than the three teams above them in Norwich, Bristol City and Millwall, Edwards could understand the audible frustration, saying: “It’s going to be, we’re not where we want to be, it’s expected.

"We’re not exactly playing how we want to, it’s not exactly how we want it to look, it was horrible to watch, horrible to watch, I felt it as well, so I can understand why there would be a difficult atmosphere, but we found a way. They did (handle it well) and I was pleased with that as it could be difficult. This place, I'd love everyone to just keep believing all the time and hopefully they will with the last couple of results now, keep believing and keep backing the lads, but we need to win games and then people will be happy.

"For the lads to handle that and look, it didn’t turn, as good as it can be when you’re on top and flying and doing well and it’s going well, this place can be really difficult for opposition teams, but it can be like that for us if it’s not going right and maybe it’s like that. But in the end everyone enjoys the last few minutes, the mood was good and the fans were great.”

Although Town’s away form is the main reason why they have been hovering around the relegation zone this season, on home soil at least, the Hatter are giving their fans some memorable moments, beating sworn enemies Watford 3-0 and then securing late victories against Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City, last time out, and now Derby.

Edwards added: “It’s a nice feeling for them (supporters), you remember these sort of moments, you do. It’s mad isn’t it, we should have just played five minutes, maybe everyone could have gone home a couple of hours earlier as well and not got back so late, just gone, there you go, just have a tear-up for five minutes and see who wins as that’s what the game comes down to in the end. You play all that 90 minutes and it just comes down to a couple of crazy moments, a couple of deflections and look how it makes everyone feel. It’s a crazy game.”

Luton chief left 'flipping mad' at times during Town's 'horrible' display against Derby

Hatters manager on 2-1 win over Rams

Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted he had been left ‘flipping mad’ with certain things that he witnessed during last night’s 2-1 victory over Derby County at Kenilworth Road, also going as far to label the contest as a ‘horrible’ one for him to watch.

Although the Hatters had the better of the opening 45 minutes in terms of chances, Carlton Morris putting a stooping header wide, Mark McGuinness volleying over and Tahith Chong seeing his cross-shot saved. Jacob Brown was denied by a fine last-ditch challenge, as another Chong delivery bounced narrowly wide of the post, but there wasn’t much to get the pulses racing for the over 11,667 supporters inside the ground.

The mood then dropped significantly after the break, among the home fans anyway, when Kayden Jackson was able to escape the attentions of Chong to head Kane Wilson’s cross into the bottom corner, before thankfully, spirits were lifted by an unbelievable late, late show that saw Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu’s volley deflect into the net off team-mate Tom Holmes to make it 1-1 with 89 minutes on the clock.

Skipper Morris then won it in stoppage time with another deflected strike, but looking back at the contest as a whole, a far from happy Edwards said: “It was a horrible first half, second half was even worse, I don’t know, it wasn’t nice. We probably just shaded it (first half), but didn’t do enough to score. I can understand it, they’ve got that back five, it’s hard, you’re always up against someone. We had moments of quality, Chongy, a couple of half moments, a couple of crosses and we thought we’re getting on top here.

"One or two set-pieces, but we didn’t quite do enough. We wanted a bit more intensity, a bit more movement, could have switched it more if we had got it down, but we couldn’t really get it down to attack the spaces where they were. They get very narrow, it’s really obvious where the spaces are, we struggled to get it out there, so really frustrated. In the end, that scoreline is the only thing that matters. It helps the feel of the place, but there’s no doubt we’ve got work to do as there were still things out there tonight, missed clearances, things we’re better at that’s driving me flipping mad.”

With Luton having two away matches coming up next, as they head to Bristol City and then Swansea City over the Christmas period, with the Hatters currently on a seven game losing run on their travels, then until they rectify their woeful form, it ramps up the pressure at Kenilworth Road, where Town now actually have the sixth best record in the entire division.

Edwards’ side are back at home on New Year’s Day to Norwich, before venturing outside of Bedfordshire once more in early January, as they head to QPR, which made the outcome of last night even more crucial for the Hatters, who moved eight points away from the relegation zone and now sit nine adrift of the top six.

It was something that Edwards acknowledged too, the Luton manager saying: “It was much-needed. Because of the away results, it puts pressure on these home games, so one-nil down on 88, 89 minutes, whatever it was, thinking this is going to make the next couple of games even tougher. It helps us with a little bit of momentum, but we said that after the Stoke game as well.

"I need the lads to really step up and show the character they’re showing here, but we want to show that away from home and we want to limit the mistakes that we’re making. But the squad, they’re sticking with it, you can see at the moment. There’s one or two out of position, Mads (Andersen) coming in for his first start for god knows how long, they’re trying, they’re really trying. They’re fighting at the moment, it’s not exactly how we want it to look, but three points tonight.”