Luton Town FC vs Hull City (8th May 2023)

Report | Luton Town 0-0 Hull City

The Hatters stretched their unbeaten run to 14 matches as a much-changed side drew 0-0 with Hull City on an afternoon of celebration at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

With away fans in fancy dress as the Tigers were relaxed with their mid-table finish, and the Hatters supporters running through their repertoire of songs before showing their appreciation for the squad, staff and their families on a lap of appreciation after the final whistle, the more serious action of the day was taking place elsewhere.

Eventually, having started with Millwall in sixth place, then West Brom and Coventry at various stages of the afternoon, we found out that Sunderland would be our play-off semi-final opponents, with the Hatters' third place already assured.

In order to keep his squad fit and fresh for the play-offs, manager Rob Edwards made eight changes to the side that drew at Blackburn last Monday.

Forward Joe Taylor made his first start for the club, leading the line in place of Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo.

Defenders Gabe Osho, Dan Potts and Fred Onyedinma started their first game since injury, while James Shea and Luke Freeman start for the first time under Edwards - the former having recovered fully from the serious knee injury picked up over a year ago at Cardiff.

The other changes since the draw at Ewood Park were in midfield as Allan Campbell and Louie Watson replaced Marvelous Nakamba and Luke Berry.

Captain Sonny Bradley, Alfie Doughty and Jordan Clark retain their place from the stalemate in Lancashire, while on the bench, defender Reece Burke returned from injury, while goalkeeper Jack Walton was named among the substitutes for the first time since Deadline Day back in January.

In a cagey opening ten minutes, Hull - who had made four changes themselves - had most of the possession and a couple of shots that were deflected wide for corners, both from Adama Traore, before Allahyar Sayyadmanesh hit the woodwork with Bradley's last-ditch slide diverting his shot against a post.

Freeman had the Hatters' first effort on 19 minutes, his 20-yard shot deflected into the hands of Hull keeper Matt Ingram, one of six men used between the sticks by the Town last season when the Tigers allowed him to come on emergency loan for the play-offs.

Watson's quick-thinking from a free-kick looked to have got Taylor in on 26 minutes, but the Wales Under-21 international's cross-shot found its way to Clark, whose effort was blocked.

Town moved the ball well with Taylor's pace, along with Fred Onyedinma down the right and Alfie Doughty flying down the left, causing Hull concern with creating any clear-cut chances until four minutes before half-time.

A patient build-up down the left saw Campbell and Clark combine to play Doughty in, and he picked out Taylor with his whipped cross, only for Ingram to produce a superb one-handed save to deny the January signing from Peterborough his first Town goal.

Shea was called into action for the first time to push a Traore free-kick away two minutes before the break, and Edwards made his first change during the interval, bringing on Reece Burke to face his former club in place of Osho.

Potts headed Clark's 54th-minute cross down into the ground and over, with the midfielder's delivery his last action before being replaced by Henri Lansbury, with Onyedinma also making way for Elliot Thorpe.

Within two minutes of coming on, Lansbury was attempting to repeat his goalscoring feat from up at Hull earlier in the season, rasping a 20-yarder inches over the bar, before picking up his trademark yellow card for a foul on Traore seconds later.

Edwards introduced 17-year-old Joe Johnson for his second senior appearance on the hour. He went on the left, but it was down the right that fellow sub Thorpe surged seconds later, intercepting on the edge of his own box and racing towards the byline at the opposite end to whip in a cross that just eluded Taylor's head.

Luke Berry was soon on for Taylor, who had put in a tireless shift, and the midfielder almost brought the house down with a 45-yard attempted chip that would have beaten Ingram had it been a foot lower.

Town kept the ball and moved Hull around, with Thorpe sending in a couple of dangerous crosses from the right and Freeman blazing over from the edge of the box with five minutes left.

But the main objective of the day was complete. Every player got through the 90 minutes without injury, valuable minutes were into legs who hadn't played for a while, and 9,000-plus Hatters sent their heroes into the play-offs with a cracking send-off to Sunderland.

Stadium of Light. Next Saturday. 5.30pm. Here we go!

TOWN: Shea, Onyedinma (Thorpe 54'), Osho (Burke 46'), Bradley, Potts, Doughty (Johnson 60'), Clark (Lansbury 55'), Campbell, Watson, Freeman, Taylor (Berry 70').

Subs: Walton, Mpanzu.

TIGERS: Ingram, Coyle, Greaves, Jones, Tufan (Longman 63'), Docherty, Sayyadmanesh (Jones 84'), Vaughan (Jarvis 87'), McLoughlin, Traore (Wood 84'), Simons (Seri 63').

Subs: Darlow, Taylor.

Att: 10,061 (1,010 away)

Reaction | Rob Edwards on Hull City draw!

Hatters boss Rob Edwards explained that he was not keeping track of results elsewhere as Luton Town drew with Hull City on the final day of the regular season.

Edwards’ side had already claimed third place in the Championship last week and admitted that this game was important to give other players game-time.

“Today was about resting key players”, said Edwards. “It was about making sure we don’t risk anyone unnecessarily and it was about giving some players some game-time because over the next couple of games, if they are needed, we need people up to speed. Overall, it was a successful day.”

Two players that came back from injury to play one half each was Gabe Osho and Reece Burke. Edwards explained: “Gabe and Burkey have put themselves right in the mix (for selection). The plan was for 45 minutes each, they’ve worked extremely hard. I want to big-up the staff and everyone involved in their rehab process, well done to those guys because the turnaround time on both their injuries was fantastic. Big well done to the players and the staff on that because they have done great.”

Fred Onyedinma was voted Man of the Match after playing 55 minutes on his return from injury, and the boss was pleased with the wing-back’s contribution.

“I thought there were some good moments from Fred, there were good moments from all the lads who’ve not been in much recently. Fred has some outstanding attributes, the one thing that I’m going to keep pushing him to keep showing that even more, but it was good for him to get some much-needed game-time.”

Edwards confessed that he did not have one eye on which team we could potentially face in our play-off semi-final during the game.

“Sounds like it was quite exciting. We weren’t keeping track of it, when the final whistle blows then we’d find out. We stuck to what our plan was and were just tried to get the minutes right for people. I thought Joe Johnson did great, the young player coming through the academy, it’s his second game now and I thought his 30 minutes was really impressive so well done to him. There were some good things out there today.

“I think whoever it was going to be, we know is going to be difficult. Big stadium, big football club. Tony Mowbray has done really well there, lots of good individual players and we experienced that not that long ago up there.

“It helps that we recently played each other. We’d have both taken a look at each other then so we’ll definitely be able to look back on that game as well as some of their recent ones. They’re good at going forward, they are risk-free and will go for it looking to attack. We’re going to have to make sure that we defend really well, do the basics well, and then we’re going to have to take the most of any chances that we can. We want to make sure that we’re well in the tie coming back home on Tuesday night.”

Much-changed Hatters are held by Hull City ahead of play-off clash

Championship: Luton Town 0 Hull City 0

A much-changed Luton side finished their regular season with a goalless draw against Hull City this afternoon.

With nothing on the game for the Hatters, long since assured of their play-off place and third spot in the Championship, boss Rob Edwards rang the changes, eight in total, including giving goalkeeper James Shea a first league start since suffering his horrific knee injury at Cardiff on April 18, 2022.

In also come the fit-again Gabe Osho and deadline day signing striker Joe Taylor for his maiden start, with Dan Potts, Louie Watson, Fred Onyedinma, Luke Freeman and Allan Campbell all included as well.

First-teamers Tom Lockyer, Carlton Morris, Ethan Horvath, Elijah Adebayo and Marvelous Nakamba were all rested completely, with Elliot Thorpe and Joe Johnson included on the bench.

The early stages saw Hull content to just knock the ball around at the back as Town, operating well below full capacity, were happy to let them have it rather than risk an unnecessary injury.

It meant City had the better of the early chances, Adama Traore with two attempts deflect behind, before an error from Sonny Bradley saw his weak back header seized upon by Allahyar Sayyadmanesh.

He went through on goal only for Luton's skipper to get back in the nick of time, pulling off a last-ditch sliding challenge which deflected the attempt on the post.

Finally starting to get themselves going, Hatters, who had as little as 16 percent possession in the opening 15 minutes, began to enjoy a spell of territory, Freeman's shot deflecting for the back-pedalling Matt Ingram, who was between the posts for the Hatters at this stage last term, to comfortably gather.

That was pretty much it for the next portion of the game, bar one Onyedinma run that won a corner, the only moment of excitement for the home fans in what was a strange and naturally subdued atmosphere.

With four minutes of the half to go, the game suddenly came to life for a second though, Luton fashioning their best chance, with Clark playing a wonderful reverse pass out to the left.

It was crossed first time by Doughty, his delivery met by Taylor's bullet close range header, Ingram pulling off a terrific reaction save.

Action then switched to the other end, as Traore's free kick was arrowing into the bottom corner, Shea getting down well to push it aside, the shot taking a nasty bounce just in front of him.

The half time interval saw Edwards make what looked like a pre-planned change, Reece Burke on for Osho, as the visitors once again had the first opportunity, Lewis Coyle's ambitious half volley flying off target.

Luton had a half chance when Clark's right wing cross was headed into the ground and over the bar by Potts, Clark's last action of the game, off for Henri Lansbury, with Thorpe on for Onyedinma.

Lansbury, possibly playing his last ever game for Town, got involved straight away, lashing over from distance and then picking up a booking for barging over Traore.

Sayyadmanesh sliced off target when the ball dropped invitingly to him, before Edwards brought on academy graduate Johnson for his second and longest run-out in a Town shirt, replacing Doughty on the hour mark.

Edwards also introduced Luke Berry, the midfielder ending up playing as a striker, nearly scoring the goal of the season as bursting on to a headed clearance, he spied Ingram out of his goal, and from just inside the Hull half went for goal, missing by a matter of inches.

Freeman also blazed into the stands as all the action was coming away from Kenilworth Road, with four out five teams enjoying a brief spell in that sixth spot.

In the end it was Sunderland who ended up there, courtesy of their 3-0 victory at Preston North End, meaning Millwall, who had led 3-1 against Blackburn, somehow missed out on a play-off place due to goal difference.

Hatters: James Shea, Fred Onyedinma (Elliot Thorpe 54), Gabe Osho (Reece Burke 46), Sonny Bradley (C), Dan Potts, Alfie Doughty (Joe Johnson 60), Louie Watson, Allan Campbell, Luke Freeman, Jordan Clark (Henri Lansbury 54), Joe Taylor (Luke Berry 70).

Subs not used: Jack Walton, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

Tigers: Matt Ingram, Lewis Coyle (C), Jacob Greaves, Alfie Jones, Ozan Tufan (Ryan Longman 63), Greg Docherty, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (Callum Jones 84), Harry Vaughan (Will Jarvis 87), Sean McLoughlin, Adam Traore (Harry Wood 84), Xavier Simons (Jen Michael Serri 63).

Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Alfie Taylor.

Referee: James Linington.

Booked: Lansbury 58.

Attendance: 10,061 (1,010 Tigers).

Edwards labels stalemate a 'successful day' after opting to rest Hatters' first-teamers

Edwards labels Luton's stalemate with Hull a 'successful day' after opting to rest Town's first-teamers

Luton boss Rob Edwards labelled this afternoon’s goalless draw for his much-changed side against Hull City as a ‘successful day’.

In the week building up to the contest, Edwards had remained tight-lipped about just what kind of side he would pick with nothing riding on it for the hosts, and the play-off semi-final first leg against an unknown side taking place on the Saturday, that being confirmed as Sunderland.

With that in mind, the Town chief opted to make eight alterations, completely resting Ethan Horvath, Cody Drameh, Tom Lockyer, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Marvelous Nakamba, Amari’i Bell, Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo, while James Shea and Joe Taylor made rare starts.

Although the lack of continuity meant Luton naturally struggled for any real cohesion, they made sure their 14 game unbeaten run was continued in the play-offs with a stalemate that did little to raise pulses of the home fans, saving those heart-stopping moments for just over a week’s time.

Speaking afterwards, Edwards said: “Today was about resting key players, let’s be honest.

“It was about making sure we didn’t risk anyone unnecessarily and it was about giving some players some game time as over the next couple of games if they’re needed, we want people up to speed.

"So I think it was twofold and overall then it was a successful day.

“I want to say well done to Liam Rosenior (Hull manager) and what they’ve done this season as well because he’s building a good style there and they're difficult to go and press at times.

“The use of the goalkeeper in the build up and then they wait and entice you.

"We didn't get it right all the time, but you have to be on your toes and sometimes do two jobs out of possession.

“For some of the lads who haven't played that much, to do a lot of double runs and a lot of pressing was good.

"Also when we had the ball, especially in the first half, after that first 15 minutes or so, I thought we showed some good control, and took the ball and were brave with it.

“We did create one or two decent chances and moments but the game fizzled out a little bit towards the end.”

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRX2uq4_0vE – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4iVutDsHkQ – Dan Potts interview