Luton Town FC vs Millwall (28th Feb 2023)

Report | Luton Town 2-2 Millwall

The Hatters fought back from two down to earn a deserved and valuable point in the Championship play-off battle with Millwall at a packed Kenilworth Road.

Elijah Adebayo and substitute Luke Berry, with a stunning 87th-minute equaliser, pulled the Town back from conceding early goals in each half from Zian Flemming and Tom Bradshaw in a pulsating match between the fifth and sixth placed teams in the table.

Manager Rob Edwards made one change from Saturday's 1-0 away win against Birmingham City with Reece Burke, who suffered an injury at the weekend, replaced by Tom Lockyer as the Welshman returned from his one-match suspension as skipper.

Morris was also forced off but was good to start alongside Adebayo, just three days after scoring his 13th goal of the season at St Andrew's.

Club captain Sonny Bradley was back amongst the substitutes for the first time since November as Luton Town go in search of a second successive league victory.

The Hatters couldn't have got off to a worse start, as Millwall took the lead with their first attack in the fourth minute, Tom Bradshaw flicking on a long ball forward and Flemming letting fly with a first timer that slipped through Ethan Horvath's grasp and agonisingly crossed the line.

Adebayo headed over from a Doughty corner as Town responded, then referee Geoff Eltringham waved away appeals for a penalty for handball against Flemming, instead awarding Millwall a free-kick for a foul by Osho that caused the Dutchman to fall and handle as he went down.

The Hatters were making all the running, and after Millwall midfielder Ryan Leonard had become the first into the book for a foul from behind on Morris, Clark quickly had two efforts.

The first one the midfielder hit over the bar from the edge of the box after Mpanzu and Adebayo had combined well to set him up, then he saw George Long save a cross-shot at his near post as the midway point of the half approached.

Town were playing some lovely football, Clark and Adebayo instrumental in trying to prise an opening while Mpanzu twice sent in crosses that were an inch too high to put a real chance on a plate for Doughty and then Morris.

Millwall survived another penalty shout on 36 minutes when Clark got to a bouncing ball ahead of Leonard, only to be felled by the Lions midfielder kicking his boot.

Two minutes later Drameh zipping an inviting ball across the Millwall six-yard box, with Mpanzu just missing a connection as he slid in at the near post with Long.

Town were dominating with wave after wave of attacks, but couldn't find the final touch to bring the scores level before the break.

They came close within four minutes of the restart as Doughty's inswinging corner came back off the crossbar with Long grasping at thin air.

Town had come flying out of the traps, but by the 52nd minute the Lions doubled their advantage as Andreas Voglsammer's scuffed shot was helped on by Bradshaw to McNamara, who slid the ball across the six-yard box for Bradshaw to tap in as the Hatters' defence appealed for offside against the right-back.

Town were deservedly back in it in the 58th minute when Bell's cross from the left angle of the box found Cody Drameh, whose first time effort was somehow tipped onto the bar by Long, only for Adebayo to be in the right place at the right time to flick the loose ball home with the outside of his right boot.

Millwall's attacks were few and far between, and after Flemming had hit a 40-yard free-kick high over the bar, Edwards made his sceond sub, bringing Cauley Woodrow on for Mpanzu after introducing ex-Lion Fred Onyedinma for Drameh moments earlier.

Millwall had the ball in the net with 15 minutes to go, but Jake Cooper's finish was ruled out with Flemming - who had been denied by a brilliant Horvath save - flagged offside from the initial free-kick delivery.

Woodrow skimmed a 30-yard shot straight at Long on 78 minutes, then Millwall sub Oliver Burke headed wide five minutes later as the visitors tried to ease the pressure.

They broke in the 87th minute when, after a spell of Town possession, Clark found Berry in the D on the edge of the box and the midfielder span and hit a left footed shot that was perfectly placed into the bottom corner to send the Kenny into raptures.

Goals:

LT - Adebayo 58', Berry 87'

M - Flemming 4', Bradshaw 52

Att: 10,060 (1,032 away)

Reaction | Rob Edwards on Millwall draw

Manager Rob Edwards praised his team's ‘strong character’ as they came from two goals down to earn a point against Millwall at Kenilworth Road this evening.

Substitute Luke Berry scored a dramatic late equaliser as the points were shared in a tense Championship play-off battle.

Assessing the performance during his post-match interview with BBC Three Counties Radio, Edwards said: “I said to the lads because they’re a bit flat in the dressing room, to pick their heads up and say come on, that’s a really good point.

“Give a team like that, who are very well drilled and really well structured a two-goal head start and if someone offered me a 2-2 draw at the end then I would have taken it, we all would have.

I’m really proud of the lads for the way they responded,” he continued. “We’re trying to do the right things against a really good team and I think it’s what we deserve at the very least. I’m pleased with the end result.

“I thought we played really well. There was some really good football up until that final bit, that’s always the hardest bit and that’s what we talk about. There was a few that flashed across and we didn’t quite get on the end of it, we huffed and puffed but I thought the actual building and getting to a point was very, very good.

“The response to the setback was great and you would expect that from our lads. They have strong character and they’ve shown a lot of resilience already this season, so I was pleased with the response.”

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVsNla6WM4A – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8OeOmczly0 – Luke Berry interview

Berry comes off the bench to rescue a point as Luton hit back from 2-0 down against Millwall

Championship: Luton Town 2 Millwall 2

Luton midfielder Luke Berry came off the bench to rescue a point as the Hatters fought back from 2-0 down to earn a valuable 2-2 draw against fellow play-off chasers Millwall this evening.

The Lions had looked to be in control of the result, as despite an impressive first half display from Rob Edwards' side, they trailed at the break and then fell further behind early in the second period.

However, Luton showed tremendous character not to accept defeat, and make sure they didn't lose any ground on one of their rivals for a top six berth this term with a stirring comeback.

With striker Carlton Morris declared fit following his shoulder injury suffered during Saturday's 1-0 win at Birmingham City, Tom Lockyer replaced Reece Burke in the only change made by Edwards.

After such an impressive run of over 650 minutes without conceding in the league from open play, Town's sequence came to an end with just four minutes gone, with a goal that was so, so avoidable.

A deep free kick from the monster boot of keeper George Long was headed back to Zian Flemming who took aim from 18 yards.

Yes, it was a true strike, but it was also straight at keeper Ethan Horvath, who somehow let the ball squirm through his grasp and bounce over the line in what was an awful error.

Luton responded well to the early setback though, winning a number of corners, Adebayo heading one over the top, as Town didn't let the early goal affect them, playing some terrific stuff, just unable to create a clear-cut opportunity.

Jordan Clark tried to take things into his own hands on 21 minutes, lashing over from the edge of the box, before the midfielder then beat his man and went for the near post from a tight angle, Long getting a glove to flick it behind.

With Horvath still looking nervy when the ball was in his vicinity, referee Geoff Eltringham, who appeared clearly out of his depth decided to start taking centre stage, with some truly baffling calls, Clark seeing his claims for a penalty turned down after being clearly clipped when reacting quickest to a loose ball.

Marvelous Nakamba then had shouts as well, but it was clear that Eltringham wasn't going to give much, if anything, Luton's way.

The Hatters were inches away from restoring parity with one of the first actions of the second half, Doughty's corner beating Long but crashing against the bar and away.

Millwall's defence threw themselves in the way of the follow-up shots, as they did when Adebayo picked out Morris for a spinning attempt.

Town's mountain got that bit steeper on 52 minutes when a ball was played out to the right wing, an offside-looking George Honeyman picking out Tom Bradshaw to double the visitors advantage, Luton's players left furious with the assistant for not raising his flag.

If one goal had been hard to get, two looked nigh impossible for Edwards' side, but they gave themselves a huge boost on 58 minutes, Amari'i Bell's dangerous low cross met by Cody Drameh at the far post.

His effort at full stretch was brilliantly tripped on to the bar by Long, but Adebayo was alive to the rebound, audaciously flicking into the net to pull one back.

As Kenilworth Road expected a rousing finale, Luton were then quietened somewhat, Flemming sending two efforts flying wide, the second into orbit almost.

Luton's defensive crisis then hit again with 18 minutes left, Gabe Osho going down off the ball and unable to continue, Berry on, Town switching to a back four with the already introduced Fred Onyedinma at right back and Doughty left.

Woodrow, on for Mpanzu, had a go from 25 yards, Long holding on easily, but you felt the neither the players or crowd fully believed an equaliser was on its way as the clock ticked into 80 minutes, especially as the visitors were well into the play-book of seeing the clock down.

However, Luton opted to keep it around trying to maneuvre their opponents out of position rather than just pump it long where the giant Lions defenders were waiting and it worked a treat.

With three minutes left, Clark found Berry who did what he's done countless times, swivelling on the edge of the box and sending a left-footer into the bottom corner for what was a definitely deserved point.

Luton might have even grabbed all three in stoppage time, Doughty's free kick met by Morris, but the striker couldn't blow the roof off the place, his header landing just over.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, Cody Drameh (Fred Onyedinma 63), Gabe Osho (Luke Berry 72), Tom Lockyer (C), Amari'i Bell, Alfie Doughty, Marvelous Nakamba, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Cauley Woodrow 69), Jordan Clark, Elijah Adebayo, Carlton Morris. Subs not used: James Shea, Sonny Bradley, Allan Campbell, Joe Taylor.

Lions: George Long, Danny McNamara, Murray Wallace, Jake Cooper (C), Tom Bradshaw (George Evans 76), Zian Flemming (Oliver Burke 83), Charlie Cresswell, Jamie Shackleton (Shaun Hutchinson 76), Ryan Leonard, Andreas Voglsammer (Scott Malone 83), George Honeyman. Subs not used: Duncan Watmore, Bartosz Bialkowski, Romain Esse.

Bookings: Doughty 19, Roberts 66.

Referee: David Webb.

Attendance: 10,060 (1,032 Lions).

Edwards happy to take a point against Lions after trailing 2-0

Town hit back with goals from Adebayo and Berry

Hatters boss Rob Edwards admitted he would have taken a point when trailing 2-0 against Millwall this evening, after witnessing his side do just that by hitting back to draw 2-2.

It looked like the victory was destined to leave with the Lions to South London after Ethan Horvath fumbled Zian Flemming’s early shot into the net and then Tom Bradshaw made it 2-0 with 52 minutes gone, although winger George Honeyman was offside in the build-up.

However, Elijah Adebayo’s impudent finish six minutes later gave Town a chance, and Luke Berry’s late equaliser ensured they picked up a well deserved point, as on whether he would have taken the draw, Edwards said: “I think so.

"I said to the lads, they’re a bit flat in the dressing room now, but I’ve said ‘pick your heads up, come on, in the end that’s a really good point.’

“To give a team like that who are very well drilled, really well structured, you give them a two goal head start and if someone had offered me then, let’s be honest, a 2-2 draw at the end, then I would have taken it.

"I think we all would have, in that moment.

“So I’m really proud of the lads the way they responded, kept going, tried to do the right things, against a really good team.

"It’s what we deserved by the way, at the very least, so let me get that bit clear as well, but I’m pleased with the end result.”