Luton Town FC vs Fulham (11th Dec 2021)

Report | Luton Town 1-1 Fulham

Elijah Adebayo scored his tenth goal of the season as Luton Town held league leaders Fulham to a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road.

Aleksandar Mitrovic opened the scoring for the Cottagers in the first half, tapping in from close range after a header from Tosin Adarabioyo was cleared off the line.

In the second half, Town stepped up a gear and took the game to Fulham. Their equaliser came just after the hour mark, with Adebayo heading in from James Bree’s free-kick.

Nathan Jones made two changes to the Hatters side that were 3-0 winners away at Blackpool last weekend.

After impressing off the bench at Bloomfield Road, Admiral Muskwe came into the starting line-up for his fourth league start of the season, with Carlos Mendes Gomes dropping out. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu also returned, starting ahead of Henri Lansbury.

James Shea kept his place in goal for Town, with Simon Sluga named on the bench after missing last weekend’s game due to illness.

The game’s first effort on goal came from the visitors after seven minutes. Tom Cairney found Joe Bryan, whose effort flashed wide of Shea’s post.

Fulham would go ahead just before the 20-minute mark. Harry Wilson’s free-kick was met by the head of Tosin Adarabioyo, who saw his effort cleared off the line by Sonny Bradley, but Mitrovic reacted quickest to tap in from close range.

As the first half went on, Town seemed to grow into the game but just lacked the final pass. Bree’s ball into the box was good, but no Luton player could get on the end of it.

Muskwe then came close for the Hatters. Breaking into the Fulham area and cutting inside of Tim Ream, his venomous effort went just wide of Marek Rodak’s near-post.

Jones’ side started off the second half on the front foot, with Muskwe involved again. Twisting and turning inside the 18-yard box, his effort didn’t trouble the Fulham goalkeeper, firing wide.

The Hatters threatened the Fulham goal once more early on in the second half. Both Elijah Adebayo and Jordan Clark saw their efforts blocked, before Reece Burke’s cross was headed clear at the back-post.

And Town would have a deserved equaliser just after the hour mark. James Bree delivered a brilliant free-kick into the Fulham area, and Adebayo headed beyond Rodak for his 10th goal of the season.

Fulham came close to regaining the lead in fortuitous circumstances. Town didn’t clear their lines from a corner, as Muskwe’s wayward header forced Shea into a smart stop.

Jones made a double switch with just under 15 minutes remaining. Fred Onyedinma and Gabe Osho were introduced for Muskwe and Allan Campbell.

Bree had a chance to put the Hatters ahead in the last few minutes of the game. Kal Naismith went on a surging run, beating a number of Fulham defenders, before finding Bree, who couldn’t find the far corner with his effort.

In front of a sold attendance of 9,992, but with fewer than 9,000 actually inside the ground, the old place rocked with the league leaders on the ropes at times during the second half.

It would end with a score draw at the Kenny, after Luton’s second-half performance put Fulham to the sword.

Goals:

Town: Adebayo 62

Fulham: Mitrovic 19

Att: 9,992 (1,029 away)

Nathan Jones' reaction to Fulham draw

Manager Nathan Jones was delighted his side were able to match league leaders Fulham and earn a well-deserved point at Kenilworth Road.

In the pouring rain, the home fans backed the Hatters to the very last after a second half goal from Elijah Adebayo, cancelling out Aleksandar Mitrovic's early strike.

Reflecting on proceedings post-match, the gaffer said: "We were passive for the first 15 minutes and we conceded from a set-play but apart from that I thought we were excellent.

"I thought we were absolutely outstanding I really did. Their goal is offside and we should have had a penalty in the last minute because it is absolutely clear.

"It’s not even a decision, a few other decisions went against us as well but the intensity, the pressing, the work rat, we looked a threat from the time we just tweaked the shape slightly, we looked a real threat against the best side in the league.

"They can murder teams, they are the highest scorers but I thought we were absolutely outstanding, I’m really proud of my team, our club and the fans were magnificent. I think we gave them a real performance to get behind."

After a host of half-chances up until the goal, defender James Bree produced the vital delivery for Adebayo's tenth goal of the season, and the right-back was supported by the manager when speaking to the press.

"This kid is an excellent player, if we get behind him and develop him I’m telling you now we will be lucky to keep hold of him, he will be another Jack Stacey. He’s quality everyday and he is Premier League quality in terms of what he does.

"He doesn’t hold back with anything he does, he’s dangerous and at times he can end up crossing one into the Oak Road but just get behind him because he’s brave, he gets on it and he backs himself."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8s0p4gKz4o – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XrmBs3o9KI – Nanthan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTwt5NkIEgE – Reece Burke interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9DOahny94A – Elijah Adebayo equaliser

Adebayo on target against former side Fulham to earn Luton a deserved point

Championship: Luton Town 1 Fulham 1

Ex-Fulham striker Elijah Adebayo was on target against his former side to earn Luton a richly deserved share of the spoils against the league leaders at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

The striker, who began his career at Craven Cottage, executed a wonderful diving header from James Bree's cross just after the hour mark, gaining just reward for what was a spirited second half in front of an engrossed and vociferous Kenilworth Road crowd.

Although Fulham turned up with an expensively assembled side, including Serbian international Aleksander Mitrovic and £12m addition from Liverpool Harry Wilson, once Town had got to grips from the challenge from midway through the first period, they went toe-to-toe with their Premier League opponents, never giving an inch and might have won it during an absorbing final period.

Boss Nathan Jones made two changes for the clash, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Admiral Muskwe coming in for Henri Lansbury and Carlos Mendes Gomes who dropped to the bench.

Goalkeeper James Shea stayed in the side following his excellent display at Blackpool last weekend, with Simon Sluga fit again, named among the substitutes.

The stopper was flying to his left early on, Joe Bryan's daisycutter screaming inches wide of his far post, as Town looked to press when possible, Muskwe almost taking advantage when the hosts capitalised on a misplaced pass in defence.

Shea came off on his line positively to punch clear, before Town fell behind on 19 minutes with a goal that was disappointingly of real ease for the table-toppers.

Bryan's deep free kick was met by the completely unmarked Tosin Adarabioyo at the far post, his downward header cleared off the line by Sonny Bradley, only for the division's stand-out striker Mitrovic to escape the hosts' attentions and tap in for goal number 22 of the campaign.

With 71 per cent possession, the visitors began to suck the life out of Town's players and crowd, Luton left feeding on scraps, the odd moment of pressure all they could really muster, before Marco Silva's side regained the ball once more.

Midway through the half, something clicked though and the hosts began to mount a sustained spell of pressure, stepping on to their opponents and looking like they could knock the Cottagers out of their stride, just their final ball frustratingly letting them down.

Muskwe took matters into his own hands, cutting in from the right and shooting with his left, the ball flicking the side-netting on its way behind.

After the break it was imperative that Luton maintained the head of steam they were building, and they did just that, Muskwe advancing into the box but then slicing well wide when a cross would have been the wiser option.

Adebayao went for goal when others were better placed, before Reece Burke overlapped to whip in an excellent cross, the visitors defence back to clear the danger.

As Luton committed men forward, the visitors looked to counter with their many attacking talents, Wilson, who has found he net from range before when at former side Cardiff, blasted way over, Neeskens Kebano's effort easy for Shea.

With 62 minutes gone, Luton got the just rewards for their persistence, Bree the architect.

The full back, who had been getting stick once more from some home supporters for his set-pieces and crosses, unleashed a glorious free kick from deep that was perfect for Adebayo to meet at full stretch and bury his diving header beyond Mark Rodak.

Bree swiftly turned to the home fan who had been on his case ahead of the delivery, to celebrate his part in the equaliser, as Kenilworth Road erupted.

As expected, Fulham came back strong, a corner leading to some pinball, Mpanzu clearing off the line, Tim Ream's follow up header deflecting off Muskwe, Shea doing superbly to dive to his left and claw away.

He then showed excellent handling in increasingly slippery conditions to keep out Wilson's bouncing effort from 25 yards at his near post, as although the Cottagers tried to dominate, they were met by a wall of orange as Town put their bodies on the line and stood up to the challenge with a real determination.

Jones' side weren't without their opportunities either, Mpanzu sliding into rob his opponent, Adebayo unable to get his effort of before Rodak intervened.

Kal Naismith then almost brought the house down, as he stepped out of defence, going on a mazy run to beat no less than four defenders in a truly wonderful display of dribbling, teeing up Bree who drilled wide.

Fulham sub Rodrigo Muniz might have done better after finding space, but opted to shoot from distance, straight at Shea, while at the death, Luton thought they had a penalty.

Fred Onyedinma raced into the box to try and catch a ball over the top, only to be sent sprawling by Bryan, referee Thomas Bramall waving the appeals away, as the Hatters had to make do with a hard-fought and battling point.

Hatters: James Shea, James Bree, Reece Burke, Sonny Bradley, Kal Naismith, Amari'i Bell, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Allan Campbell (Gabe Osho 78), Jordan Clark, Admiral Muskwe (Fred Onyedinma 78), Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Simon Sluga, Danny Hylton, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Henri Lansbury, Cameron Jerome.

Cottagers: Marek Rodak, Kenny Tete, Neeskens Kebano (Fabio Carvalho 76), Harry Wilson (Rodrigo Muniz 87), Aleksander Mitrovic, Tom Cairney (C Josh Onomah 76). Tim Ream, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Tosin Adarabioyo, Joe Bryan, Jean Michael Seri.

Subs not used: Michael Hector, Denis Odoi, Paul Gazzaniga, Antonee Robinson.

Booked: Campbell 42.

Referee: Thomas Bramall.

Attendance: 9,992 (1,029 Fulham).

Hatters boss felt Town should have had a late penalty against Cottagers

Luton chief frustrated that Fulham's opener was allowed to stand too

Luton boss Nathan Jones felt his side were denied a clear-cut penalty in the closing stages of their 1-1 draw against Championship leaders Fulham yesterday.

After Elijah Adebayo’s 10th of the season on the hour had cancelled out Aleksander Mitrovic’s first half strike, with time running out, Town substitute Fred Onyedinma attempted to latch on to a ball over the top inside the area.

He tangled with Cottagers full back Joe Bryan, with the Kenilworth Road crowd and home players baying for a spotkick, only to see official Thomas Bramall wave the appeals away.

It was the second frustrating decision of the afternoon for Jones, who said: “Their goal is offside and we should have had a penalty, it’s absolutely nailed on, on the video.

“I can understand why they haven’t given it, as I might not want to give a pen against the league leaders at little old Kenilworth Road in that time, but it’s a pen, it's an absolute pen.

"But that takes away from the level of performance we showed today.

“We were a bit passive in the first 15 minutes, but then after that, I thought we were excellent, front-footed, pressed, worked hard, didn't sit in, went after them, and caused them real problems.

“I’m really proud of the group today as everything I ask them to do I do, and that for a manager is utopia.”

Although Fulham dominated possession at times, especially in the first half, when they had 71 per cent of the ball, dropping down to 66 by the full time whistle, Jones was rightfully quick to praise the manner in which his side hit back for a point against a team destined for the Premier League once more

He added: “They have slightly more quality than us because they’re probably 100 million a year budget, so they probably have a little bit more composure and a little bit more quality.

“If we have had just a bit more of that we would have won the game today, but to go up against, and they are the best side in the league, let's be honest, they’re top of the league for a reason, because they are the best side in the league.

“So for us to get toe-to-toe with them just shows the great place we’re in because we don't sit back, we show respect but no fear and that’s what I’m proud of today.”