Luton Town FC vs Manchester City (10th Dec 2023)

Report | Defeated Town run champions close

Town 1 Adebayo 45+2

Manchester City 2 Bernando Silva 62, Grealish 64

For the second time in a week the Hatters came oh-so close to earning a point against one of the best teams in the land.

As Arsenal found out on Tuesday coming to Kenilworth Road isn’t easy. Here, it was the same for Manchester City – the reigning champions and last season’s treble winners.

For long spells Pep Guardiola’s stars found it difficult to get to grips with the hard work and endeavour of the 11 men in orange facing them and the measurements of a compact pitch.

However, just as the Gunners did in the week, City found a way and the Town were left to reflect on what might have been and, ultimately at the end of the game, had no points to show for their gallant efforts.

City had plenty of the ball throughout – and plenty of decent chances too – and the Hatters can take heart from running a team close that swept all before them last season, even if they were missing leading goalscorer Erling Haaland through injury.

A lack of the Norwegian’s cutting edge in attack frustrated the visitors as the Town clung onto their coattails as the first half continued.

The Hatters had Thomas Kaminski, fresh from winning the save of the month for November, to thank for a series of good stops to deny City. After 80 seconds the Belgian needed to be alert to deny Bernando Silva and then flung himself out to his right to keep out a top-corner-bound effort from Rodri on 19 minutes.

Eight minutes later, as City continued to hunt the opener, Kaminski did it again, a superb strong arm keeping out Phil Foden’s fierce low drive.

As the visitors toiled, the Town sensed an opportunity and, as half-time approached, the old ground was rocking when they took the lead. Alfie Doughty and Andros Townend flew down the right, the latter then composing himself to dig out a wonderfully deep cross that had City in trouble. It was another ball into the box of real quality and Elijah Adebayo profited, leaping the tallest to nod the ball past Ederson to shake every corner of the ground. The striker’s second goal this week and fourth of the season.

Ahead at half-time against the champions. A sentence nobody saw coming - but it was deserved.

After the restart City kept coming as the Hatters tried to keep Guardiola’s men at bay. Ruben Dias saw a shot cannon back off the crossbar shortly before the hour. And then, on 62 minutes, they were level when Bernando Silva swept home a beautiful curling shot beyond the outstretched arm of Kaminski. Sometimes you have to hold your hands up. It was a great goal.

Two minutes later the turnaround was complete as it was 2-1 to the visitors. The Hatters appealed in vain for a handball on the half-way line as City attacked, but the whistle would not come. Julian Alvarez raced down the right and put a pass on a plate for Jack Grealish to slot past Kaminski.

The Hatters were aggrieved, as were half of the crowd, but replays showed the ball did not strike the hand – but the damage was done and the Town were behind with a mountain climb.

Trailing, the Town attempted to rally, yet City kept the ball and their composure to see the game out – and that was that, the life strangled out of Rob Edwards’ men after that two-goal burst.

Close but not close enough.

Despite the defeat, there was plenty of encouragement to take at the end of a week which saw the best two teams in the Premier League last season run incredibly close.

The way those two sides celebrated at the end told its own story. You’ve got to be at your best to get something from the Kenny.

Next up, a trip to Bournemouth. And we’ll see you there.

Rob Edwards on Manchester City defeat

Manager Rob Edwards praised his side for taking the game to reigning champions Manchester City at Kenilworth Road this afternoon, then challenged them to maintain their standards set this week for the rest of the season.

The Hatters went down by a single-goal margin for the second time in five days, following Tuesday night’s last-gasp 4-3 defeat against then-Premier League leaders Arsenal.

This time Town took the lead on the stroke of half-time, through Elijah Adebayo’s far-post header, before goals from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish turned the game in the European champions’ favour.

Edwards said: “We were aggressive and on the front foot against probably the best possession-based team there is in the world, and we took it to them. That’s what we wanted to do, and then when we had the ball and had opportunities, we were brave again and showed the best of ourselves.

“I thought we were excellent, I really did. I loved so much of what our team was about today, and we are all really disappointed that we didn’t get something from it and get that reward.

“But I think we can all recognise the size of the challenge, this whole week, so I think we can all be very, very proud of these players and what they are giving to this football club.”

He added: “Our challenge now is to obviously maintain these high standards going into every single game, and the points will come.”

On Adebayo’s goal, his second in as many matches and fourth of the season, Edwards said: “Elijah has deserved his opportunity, he’s working very hard. He’s difficult to play against when he’s like that, when he’s on it, as he has been.

“He is that goal threat and it’s great, because the good thing is we look a threat from however it is.

“If we have a little bit of possession as we did today, if it’s from a set piece, if it’s a counter attack, we’ve got the players to score and maintain a threat in the games, and that should give us a lot of confidence against top teams as well.

“I’m pleased with the whole group and how hard they’ve worked, but I know Eli will get some of the headlines because of his goal. It was a fantastic header.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auSi-nFIp-w – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6a0llUswBs - Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlVQoDmA27w – extended highlights

Silva and Grealish on target as second half fightback sees Luton defeated by Manchester City

Premier League: Luton Town 1 Manchester City 2

Two quickfire second half goals from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish dashed Luton's hopes of recording one of the most famous wins in their history, as title-chasers Manchester City bounced back to defeat the Hatters 2-1 at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Town dared to dream with 45 minutes completed, doggedly keeping the Premier League champions at bay, and going on to stun Pep Guardiola's visitors by taking the lead through Elijah Adebayo's towering header on the stroke of half time.

However, City proved just too good after the break, as their quality eventually shone through, Silva whipping an effort into the bottom corner to draw the visitors level on 62 minutes and then Grealish taking advantage of some poor defending to win it shortly afterwards.

The hosts made three changes for the clash, skipper Tom Lockyer having recovered from his back injury to start, with Marvelous Nakamba also fit enough to be included, Ryan Giles beginning a first top flight match since the 2-1 defeat to West Ham.

City looked good, really good in the opening stages, Phil Foden eased through on the left, his fierce drive parried by Thomas Kaminski, Bernardo Silva thankfully scuffing the rebound wide.

Having had barely any possession in the opening stages, Luton then did start to get a foothold in proceedings, stubbornly keeping their opponents at arm's length, Adebayo ensuring the visiting back-line were honest, as they began to get to grips with the challenge ahead of them.

Town were going to need Kaminski in order to take something from the game, and the Belgian ensured it was goalless on 18 minutes, flipping away Rodri's shot from just outside the box, City effortlessly re-finding their groove.

He did even better on 26 minutes, Foden creating a slither of space and hammering low, as the keeper stuck out a strong left hand to repel his shot, the ball thankfully bouncing up into his gloves as City's attackers converged on him.

The visitors kept prodding, Grealish threading a clever pass through to Julian Alvarez, the World Cup winner flicking off target, as Kaminski was out bravely to gather at the feet of the increasingly influential Foden.

Having cheered a rash clearance for a throw with real gusto, Luton's fans could then enjoy a shot on target with 33 minutes gone, Andros Townsend's swerving effort straight at Ederson.

Luton were doing their all to stay in the contest, Lockyer blocking from Grealish and then Mateo Kovacic hopefully over the top, Kyle Walker showing the first signs of frustration creeping in by thrashing an ambitious attempt into the stands.

Having weathered the pressure, Town then went up the other end to land a huge blow with a wonderful goal on the stroke of half time, Ross Barkley doing brilliantly to roll away from two and finally shrug off Rodri's attentions.

He found Doughty who fed Townsend, the winger’s wonderful cross begging to be headed in, Adebayo doing just that, rising superbly at the back post to put his header out of Ederson's reach into the net, Kenilworth Road exploding in a cacophony of noise.

Undeterred though, City carried on with their dominance of possession and territory in the second period, but Luton stuck to their task well, Kaminski and the bar keeping out Rodri.

Nakamba saw a yellow card which rules him out of the Bournemouth trip next weekend, before City were level when Rodri burst into the box, running into Lockyer, the ball breaking to Silva who gave Kaminski no chance.

In the flash of an eye, the champions were ahead too, with a poor goal from Luton's point of view, Amari'i Bell's giving the ball away to Foden, the hosts appealing in vain for handball, with Alvarez's cross missed badly by Teden Mengi, Grealish arriving to tuck home.

Barkley almost drew Luton level, spinning away from Foden and ghosting past another before firing inches wide with Ederson at full stretch. Luton boss Rob Edwards brought on Carlton Morris and Albert Sambi Lokonga for the final 20 minutes although Alvarez tried to put the result beyond doubt, arrowing inches over from distance.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added, but this time there was to be no repeat of Tuesday night's late, late goal, as despite Kaminski going up for a corner, the Hatters suffered a third successive defeat, although once again could leave with their heads held high.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Alfie Doughty, Teden Mengi, Tom Lockyer (C Jordan Clark 90), Amari'i Bell, Ryan Giles (Tahith Chong 83), Marvelous Nakamba (Albert Sambi Lokonga, 71), Ross Barkley, Andros Townsend (Carlton Morris 71), Jacob Brown, Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Mads Andersen, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Joe Johnson, Luke Berry.

City: Ederson, Kyle Walker (C), Ruben Dias, Nathan Ake, Mateo Kovacic (Matheus Nunes 83), Jack Grealish, Rodri, Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Josko Gvardiol (John Stones 69), Phil Foden (Manuel Akanji 90).

Subs not used: Stefan Ortega, Scott Carson, Kalvin Phillips, Sergio Gomez, Oscar Bobb, Rico Lewis.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Booked: Nama 58, Rodri 73, Doughty 77.

Attendance: 11,047 (City 1,151).

Edwards left disappointed as he felt it could have been Luton's day against Premier League champions

Town go down to a 2-1 defeat at Kenilworth Road

Luton boss Rob Edwards was left frustrated by Town’s 2-1 defeat against Premier League champions Manchester City this afternoon after admitting feeling that it could have been his side’s day.

The Hatters and their fans looked to have got over their manner of their cruel 4-3 defeat to Arsenal in midweek as they started positively against Pep Guardiola’s side, a wonderful noise echoing round Kenilworth Road, the hosts keeping out their high-class opponents in the first period, Thomas Kaminski making a terrific save from Phil Foden.

Luton then managed to take the lead on the stroke of half time, Elijah Adebayo scoring a fine towering header at the back post from Andros Townsend’s pinpoint cross, meaning they were just 45 minutes away from a shock victory.

They managed to negotiate a third of them, but Bernardo Silva’s excellent finish into the bottom corner restored parity on 62 minutes, as Jack Grealish took advantage of a mistake by Teden Mengi to put the visitors in front moments afterwards.

Luton pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages, but weren’t able to break through a solid City defence, as summing up his feelings, Edwards said: “Proud of them but I am disappointed as well today. I felt like it was there for us today, I had a really good feeling going into the game.

"Complete respect for Manchester City and what they are and who they are, credit to them for winning the game, but I just felt it, and the time of the goal just before half time, felt this could be our day. We’re disappointed with the goals we conceded, but we look at that and we’ve got to keep working on that and improving.

"I thought we were so brave, without the ball being as aggressive as we were against a top team like that. There were a lot of problems for them to solve, which they’re capable of doing, but then with the ball again, really brave and showed a lot of quality as well.

“The goal was a really good example of that, we tried to take the ball when we could, as we knew we couldn’t just give the ball back to Manchester City otherwise you die a slow death. Everything about my team today, I really, really liked.”

Luton’s chances were boosted ahead of kick-off with City without both Erling Haaland and Jeremyu Doku, the pair both ruled out with injuries.

Whether that altered his gameplan, Edwards added: “I think he’s clearly one of the best strikers in the world isn’t he, so it probably makes them a little bit of a different team, a different challenge. But again, world class players that are coming on his place, so they were still pretty good weren’t they?”