Luton Town FC vs Newcastle United (23rd Dec 2023)

Report | Courageous Town secure big three points

Town 1 Townsend 25

Newcastle United 0

“4 Locks” read the shirt the Town players sported in the warm-up to this game and come the final whistle the captain’s shirt was paraded around Kenilworth Road by his jubilant teammates who strained every sinew, chased every ball and battled and blocked their way to one of the most powerful and poignant 1-0 wins Kenilworth Road has ever seen.

Seven days ago Rob Edwards cut a tearful figure as he applauded the crowd off at Bournemouth and the Town boss, having masterminded this gutsy victory over Newcastle United, was close to welling up once more as he took in the admiration from the Hatters faithful at the end of an emotionally draining week. “It’s been the biggest challenge of my professional career,” the manager would say afterwards.

Doing it for Tom Lockyer would have been one of the messages the manager said since Tuesday and how his players responded with a courageous performance; one that Locks himself would be proud of, and one which brings a welcome three points to breathe extra optimism in the Town’s fight to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

From the off the Town were at it even before the fourth minute applause for the captain. Elijah Adebayo and Jacob Brown giving the Magpies defence an early indication of the battling qualities the Hatters would keep up for the remainer of the contest.

Newcastle, fresh from penalty shootout heartache in the week at Chelsea, gradually felt their way in the game but they needed a helping hand for them to do so when Alfie Doughty gifted the ball to Sean Longstaff. His pass teed up 17-year-old Lewis Miley but with a shot at goal in the offing, Issa Kaboré blocked bravely.

While the Town were still on the front-foot, Newcastle sensed that one moment of quality could unlock the Hatters defence. On 20 minutes the Hatters had Thomas Kaminski to thank for a wonderful reflex stop to deny Callum Wilson’s close-range header with the goal at the striker’s mercy.

Undeterred by the Magpies’ attacking threat, the Town remained focused and on 25 minutes the Kenny was bouncing when Andros Townsend put Edwards’ side ahead. Doughty’s left-wing corner was flicked on by Ross Barkley and Townsend ghosted in at the back-post to guide a measured header home for his first goal in Luton colours. The noise was deafening and the players celebrated by holding aloft Locks’ shirt in tribute.

Ahead, the Hatters wasted no time in trying to put daylight between themselves and their visitors, and on 33 minutes, Kenilworth Road gasped in awe as Barkley thundered a shot from distance off the crossbar.

It would have been a goal to bring the house down but the Hatters did not relent and moments later Adebayo came mighty close to adding to his increasing Premier League tally. Barkley danced up field and slid the ball into the striker only for Martin Dubravka, the visiting keeper, to stick out a crucial leg to deny the Town what would have been a deserved second.

After that let off, and having struggled to get to grips with the Town, Howe made a double change seven minutes before half-time in a bid to up the Magpies’ attacking threat and the Hatters were relieved when Miguel Almiron blazed high and wide after being left unmarked on the edge of the penalty area.

In front of the break, the Town knew a second was vital in order to keep the visitors at bay, and Brown was inches away from doubling the lead only for his left foot shot hammer against Dubravka’s crossbar.

Having hit the woodwork twice you could have been forgiven for thinking this might not be the Town’s day. However, one thing we all know is the Town have character by the bucketload and as Newcastle pressed and pushed, the spirit of this squad – tested to the max this week – rose to the challenge.

The Hatters survived a barrage of Magpies attacks and a VAR check just after the hour rightfully chalked off an Alexander Isak strike as Howe’s side hunted the elusive leveller.

As more on the more the Town dug in as the visitors pressed, louder chants of “Oh Tommy, Tommy” grew around the old ground as time ticked down.

It was helter-skelter stuff at time in the closing stages. Blocks on the line, headers away from corners all contrived to frustrate the Magpies as seven minutes of time were added. Gabe Osho blocked brilliantly at one end before Barkley flashed a shot wide at the other.

But we’d been here before. Liverpool. Arsenal. Games against the big boys where last-gasp sucker-puncher had left us hurting.

Not today.

Not on a day like this.

This was for Locks.

However, this was for everyone connected with the club.

The final whistle was cue for an outpouring of emotion on the pitch and in the stands. Relief in so many ways. To get through the past seven days has asked a lot of this group and those behind the scenes and they delivered in the best way possible.

That was for you, Locks, mate.

And that was for you all. The thank you messages and tweets, the flags, the Toon army’s banner. It all means the world.

So next up and onwards to Sheffield for a big one on Boxing Day.

We’ll see you then.

Enjoy your Christmas.

COME ON LUTON.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré (sub Giles 46), Doughty, Osho, Mengi, Bell (sub Andersen 76); Lokonga (sub Mpanzu 80), Barkley; Townsend (sub Ogbene 81), Adebayo (sub Morris 80), Brown.

Subs not used Krul, Woodrow, Chong, Clark.

Attendance: 11,042, including 1,145 shouting for the Toon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUn82_7hsfk – Rob Edwards interview

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMEaehwUGIQ – Behind the scenes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07WfDevI2CM – extended match highlights

Luton celebrate Lockyer's recovery in style as Townsend scores to beat Magpies

Premier League: Luton Town 1 Newcastle United 0

Luton celebrated the recovery of skipper Tom Lockyer in the perfect manner possible as Andros Townsend's first goal for the club saw Town pick up a second home win of the season by beating Newcastle United this afternoon.

Following one of the toughest weeks in the club's history, after the Hatters skipper suffered a cardiac arrest at AFC Bournemouth last weekend, thankfully released from hospital on Thursday, boss Rob Edwards called on supporters to use the fixture to acknowledge the popular Welsh international being well enough to return home in the week.

He also wanted a performance from his side as well, and he got both on an emotionally charged 90 minutes in Bedfordshire, Town taking one of their biggest scalps of the campaign in the process.

The Hatters made one change for the contest, Gabe Osho coming in for Lockyer, as Luton made an impressive start to the contest, Ross Barkley and Albert Sambi Lokonga knocking the ball around confidently, Townsend's cross deflecting behind off a stretching defender.

Jacob Brown then surged forward and fired straight at Martin Dubravka from 20 yards, as the ground rose as one on four minutes in support of Town defender Lockyer, who was hopefully watching on at home. Having had well over 60 percent possession in the early stages, the hosts couldn't quite make the most of it and were indebted to a stunning block from Issa Kabore to keep them on level terms, Lokonga following up with another that team-mate Lockyer would have been proud of.

With Newcastle beginning to get to grips with the early pressure, the visitors were denied by another brave Osho intervention from Bruno Guimaraes' powerful strike, before they appeared destined to take the lead with 19 minutes gone, Anthony Gordon's wonderful cross bamboozling the home defence where the completely unmarked Wilson was odds on to score.

He headed straight at Kaminski from four yards out, the keeper parrying, with skipper for the day Amari'i Bell fortunate to see the rebound hit him and somehow end up bouncing over the bar.

At the other end, Townsend showed the England striker how it should be done on 25 minutes, Alfie Doughty winning a corner and swinging it over for Barkley to glance on, the former Magpies winger stooping to nod home from a few yards out, going straight over to the dug-out and collect Lockyer's number four shirt to display to all sides of the ground.

One almost became two as Barkley picked up the ball a good 30 yards from goal and simply hammered it towards the top corner, desperately unfortunate to see his effort cannon against the underside of the bar and hit the prostrate Dubravka, only to bounce away from the goal. Buoyed by that, Barkley then picked up a clearance from Kaminski and just ran at the defence, picking out Adebayo who only had Dubravka to beat, but on this occasion, the Slovakian knew what he was doing, sticking out a leg to repel the first time attempt.

Newcastle's well documented injury problems hit again on 37 minutes, as skipper Jamaal Lascelles pulled up and had to go off, Sven Botman coming on, while boss Eddie Howe also chose to withdraw teenage midfielder Lewis Miley, striker Alexander Isak taking his place.

Not affected by the break in play, Luton then produced a marvellous team move, started by the increasingly influential Lokonga which ended in Townsend spinning to send in a low shot that Dubravka gathered low to his right. Any thoughts that the Magpies wouldn't still retain a threat though showed as with Luton switching off for a moment, a ball into the area found Miguel Almiron left unattended and he turned to curl into the stands.

Town brought on Ryan Giles at the start of the second half for Issa Kabore, who picked up a slight knock after a terrific opening 45 minutes, as he went over to the left wingback role, Doughty switching to the right. Luton almost doubled their advantage on 49 minutes too, Adebayo doing brilliantly to find Brown who sidestepped Kieran Trippier and whistled a drive that beat Dubravka only to slam against the crossbar.

United responded well though, a short corner routine leaving Guimaraes completely isolated on the edge of the box with all the time in the world to pick his spot, but thankfully for Luton fans, that was the advertising hoardings. Trippier then broke away on the right, his ball toe-poked into the side-netting as the Magpies started to look a real danger.

Town dug in though and were able to throw some jabs of their own, Teden Mengi trying to take the visiting defence on by himself only to slice well wide. With an hour gone, Newcastle thought they had levelled, Almiron sliding a pass through the legs of Bell to find Isak and his shot nestled in the corner. A referee's assistant flag cut short the visitors' joy, with VAR checking whether the attacker had gone too early, the officials at Stockley Park ruling he had, and to the relief of the home crowd, it was disallowed.

Town looked to hit back themselves and get a nerve-calming second, Brown's intricate flick for Giles to get away on the left, his shot parried by Dubravka, with Ross Barkley lining up another drive that was deflected. After Barkley's earlier yellow, Dan Bun somehow escaped punishment for a worse incident, as that saw United start a move that ended with Guimaraes' low shot kicked away by Kaminski.

With 15 to go, Bell went off with what was hopefully just a touch of cramp, as Mads Andersen returned for the first time since the 1-0 defeat to Spurs back in October. As legs clearly tired, Luton made a triple change, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Chiedozie Ogbene and Carlton Morris for Lokonga, Adebayo and Townsend, as the visitors began to look increasingly like they would score yet another late goal at Kenilworth Road.

Osho heroically blocked one such attack, but with Barkley in the side, anything remained possible, the midfielder picking up a ball on the edge of the box, finding space and missing narrowly.

Seven minutes of stoppage time added, but unlike the matches against Liverpool and Arsenal, this time Luton were able to keep their opponents at arm’s length and not let the points slip away, as they secured a third victory of the season and a first clean sheet as well, to a huge outpouring of emotion from the stands.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Issa Kabore (Ryan Giles 46), Teden Mengi, Gabe Osho, Amari'i Bell (C Mads Andersen 76), Alfie Doughty, Albert Sambi Lokonga (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 80), Ross Barkley, Andros Townsend (Chiedozie Ogbene 80), Jacob Brown, Elijah Adebayo (Carlton Morris 80).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Jordan Clark, Tahith Chong, Cauley Woodrow.

Magpies: Martin Dubravka, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles (C Sven Botman 38), Callum Wilson, Anthony Gordon, Miguel Almiron (Tino Livramento 81), Dan Burn (Lewis Hall 85), Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley (Alexander Isak 38).

Subs not used: Lorius Karius, Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Emil Krafth, Alex Murphy.

Referee: Darren England.

Booked: Barkley 55, Mengi 88, Hall 90.

Attendance: 11,042 (Magpies 1,145).

Emotional Edwards lauds his Luton players for an 'incredible' display at the end of challenging week

Town pick up third Premier League win by beating Newcastle United

Luton boss Rob Edwards reserved huge praise for his players for being able to end what has been a hugely challenging week for all those at Kenilworth Road with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United this afternoon.

The Town squad had to witness team-mate Tom Lockyer receive life-saving treatment on the pitch at AFC Bournemouth last weekend, after suffering a cardiac arrest, finally getting the news he was able to return home on Thursday.

Despite that, and the emotion that would have surrounded the training ground at Brache since then, they still managed to execute their gameplan magnificently against the Magpies, Andros Townsend scoring the only goal of the game on 25 minutes to seal a third top flight victory of the campaign.

Speaking afterwards, Edwards said: “I’m an emotional wreck at the moment aren’t I, my kids are going to be hammering me for crying again, I’ve got to stop, but I’m just immensely proud of everyone.

“This has been a really challenging week for everyone and they don’t teach you this on the coaching courses, how you deal with stuff like this. I’ve needed my team around me, I’ve needed my staff, Gary (Sweet), the CEO, the board, the players, they’ve been amazing, really brave and we’ve rallied around each other.

“I’ve got to be honest, it’s been hard to concentrate on a game of football this week with everyone that’s gone on and my focus has been on Tom and his family. Then there’s been a job to do, an important Premier League game, but we’ve all helped each other and the performance today I thought was incredible.”

Edwards had called on his players to mirror their captain’s desire and will to win on the afternoon and he felt that was exactly what occurred throughout the 90 minutes.

After Townsend found the net, Luton could have had a second and even a third, Ross Barkley denied a stunning goal by the underside of the crossbar, Elijah Adebayo having an effort saved by Martin Dubravka and Jacob Brown also hitting the woodwork.

The Town chief continued: “I think the performance was the most complete performance that we’ve had so far this season. We’ve been playing really, really well and so I don’t think it’s because of what’s happened that we’ve won the game today and kept a clean sheet.

“We did talk about it, we wanted to do it for Tom, but I don’t think there was any extra motivation there. We’ve always wanted it, we wanted to win, we wanted to fight, but I thought today we really embodied everything that Tom Lockyer is as every single individual that went out there, even the ones that didn’t, supported each other, fought for each other, they were brave, so brave.

“You see how aggressive we were against them out of possession, you see where some of our defenders are going to go and press and then I thought we took the ball really well, especially in the first half.

“I thought we showed really good moments of control, very good football, we deserved to win the game today, we were the better team, in my opinion.

“We were unlucky, Ross’s magical moment, a really good move and Browny was unlucky, he hit the woodwork as well. Eli had a one-on-one, there were chances there for us today. If we could have been a bit slicker and quicker in the final third at times, there could have been more there for us, but luckily we only needed the one today.

"We had good chances and I thought the performance was incredible considering everything that the players had been through emotionally as well. But it doesn't surprise me at all as I think that’s the way we’ve been building recently.”