Luton Town FC vs Oxford United (1st Oct 2024)

01/10/2024 LUTON TOWN 2-2 OXFORD UNITED

Hatters let lead slip in home draw

Visitors fight back to earn a point at Kenilworth Road

The Hatters had to settle for a point after letting a two-goal lead slip at home to Oxford.

It took the Hatters seven minutes to create their first chance of the game. Jordan Clark picked up the ball inside the area, shifted the ball onto his right foot, taking the ball away from four defenders, but his shot was hit wide of the post.

At the other end, the visitors nearly took the lead. Oxford worked the ball out to the left-hand side after a well-worked counter, with the ball was played across the face of the goal by Owen Dale but Teden Mengi made a last-ditch challenge to prevent a tap in.

But after 10 minutes, the Town led. Tom Krauß won the ball back inside the Oxford box and the ball fell kindly to Clark in front of goal. The skipper composed himself to finish smartly with his right foot for his first goal of the season.

Thomas Kaminski was called into action for the first time two minutes later. Idris El Mizouni’s shot from the edge of the area deflected off of Mark McGuinness, but Kaminski was equal to it, making a great save. El Mizouni then had a shot on the rebound which was superbly cleared off the line by Mengi.

Kaminski was involved again moments later, tipping a fierce drive from Ruben Rodrigues’ 25-yard effort over the bar as the visitors pressed.

Back came the Town. Doughty found space on the left-hand side, his whipped cross into the box was volleyed goalwards by Clark on his left foot but he was unable to get his effort on target.

However, the Town didn’t need long to score again to double their lead through Krauß. Oxford keeper Jamie Cumming failed to collect Reece Burke’s long ball and Jacob Brown, making his first start since December last year, picked up the ball. He checked his right shoulder to lay the ball off to Krauß who slotted the ball into the bottom right corner for the German’s first goal in Luton colours.

Just before the break, Oxford pulled a goal back. Tyler Goodrham, who had already sent a shot onto the roof of the Kenilworth Road end, made no mistake with this finish, his first-time effort curling beautifully into the top right corner beyond the reach of Thomas Kaminski.

The visitors then equalised 10 minutes after the restart through Rodrigues. Substitute Kyle Edwards sped down the right to cross for the unmarked Rodrigues to fire home.

The Hatters then had heroics from Kaminski to thank for keeping it level as Mark Harris, Goodrham and Edwards all fired consecutive shots at goal only for the Town stopper to make three incredible saves to keep the Hatters in the game.

The Town’s task then became tougher with 13 minutes left on the clock when Liam Walsh was red-carded within a minute of his introduction from the bench after a lunging tackle on Siriki Dembele.

After the red card the Town re-organised and ended the better side with Elijah Adebayo denied a tap-in by Cumming’s save in the closing stages.

In the seventh minute of added time the final action of the game saw Dembele fire over the bar from a free-kick on the edge of the area before the referee called time on a breathless 90 minutes.

The Hatters head to Sheffield United on Saturday. We’ll see you there.

Town: Kaminski; Moses, Doughty, Burke, McGuinness, Mengi; Nakamba (sub Walsh 76), Krauß (sub Mpanzu 51), Clark (sub Woodrow 76); Brown (sub Walters 61) Adebayo.

Subs not used: Shea, Taylor, Holmes, Nelson, Johnson.

Attendance: 11,397 including 1,322 in the away end.

Report by Owen Williams.

Rob's Oxford verdict

The boss left frustrated after 2-2 draw against the U's

Town boss Rob Edwards was left frustrated after seeing his side surrender a two-goal lead in the 2-2 draw with Oxford.

The Hatters led 2-0 thanks to goals from Jordan Clark and Tom Krauß only for the visitors to storm back and earn a point at wet and windy Kenilworth Road.

Liam Walsh was sent off within a minute of his introduction but the Town dug deep to keep the U’s out and might have snuck it in the closing stages.

“It was our own fault, we’re lacking confidence and belief right now and the timing of their first goal [on the stroke of half-time] didn’t help,” Edwards said.

“We had a quick start and we were 2-0 up but we still made one or two errors but it was the middle section of the game where we lost our way.

“It’s frustrating but we have to give them credit but hands up – we’re not in good form, the crowd were edgy and demanding more and rightly so.

“However, what pleased me was the way we played after the red card. We were the better team when we had 10 men. We stayed with it and might have nicked it at the end.

“We didn’t go under, it was just not a great performance due to a lack of confidence and belief.

“The atmosphere was tough so for the lads to come through that was positive and hopefully we can take a bit of confidence from that.

“It wasn’t enjoyable but we took something from the game. It looked like at one stay we were going to lose so we can take heart from the performance after the red card.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UwcMhcGIoM – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KJpbr_gW6M – Match highlights

Fragile Luton throw away a 2-0 lead as they are held by Oxford

Championship: Luton Town 2 Oxford United 2

Luton wasted a glorious chance to earn a confidence-boosting victory as they let a 2-0 lead slip to draw 2-2 against newly-promoted Oxford United at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The Hatters looked to be on the road to only their second home win of the campaign when Jordan Clark and Tom Krauß gave them breathing space with 37 minutes of the contest gone. However, the impressive U's pulled one back on the stroke of half time and then levelled early in the second period, as but for some inspired saves from Thomas Kaminski, the hosts, who also saw Liam Walsh sent off just 36 seconds after coming on, would have suffered a hugely damaging defeat.

Ahead of kick-off, Town boss Rob Edwards made three changes, Jacob Brown in for his first start since December, Victor Moses handed a full debut, with Marvelous Nakamba back, Reuell Walters and Zack Nelson dropping to the bench, Tahith Chong missing out due to concussion. Following an all-day downpour that led to a pitch inspection just before kick-off, Luton made a bright start and simply had to score on seven minutes, Clark picking up a cross that rebounded to him, but having done all the hard work, skimmed his attempt inches wide.

The hosts then should have been behind seconds later, Reece Burke unwisely allowing a long ball to drop over his shoulder thinking it would bounce through to Thomas Kaminski only for the visitors to nip in and square for Mark Harris who looked like he had a tap in until Teden Mengi came out of nowhere to clear the ball away with the goal gaping.

Clark did grab the opener on 10 minutes as after Elijah Adebayo didn't get a penalty when being shoved over, United trying to play out of danger, Krauß nicking the ball from Ruben Rodrigues for Town's captain to go clean through on Jamie Cumming and slot past the keeper. An all-action affair saw play sweep from end to end though, as the U's pressed again, Kaminski with a terrific save from Idris El Mizouni's drive that deflected up and off Mark McGuinness, before Rodrigues' rebound beat the Belgian but not Mengi who had positioned himself perfectly in front of the line.

Still Oxford threatened, Rodrigues having a pop from 25 yards which Kaminski had to tip over, as Brown's intentions were clear, shoot on sight, doing so once more when Krauß did brilliantly to twist away and leave two opponents for dead, firing straight at Cumming. As the rain lashed down, there was no let up to events on the pitch, Clark continuing to find some pockets of space in the box, skewing Doughty's cross well wide, before Mengi's positional play got Luton out of a hole once more, reading the run of the ball perfectly when the visitors looked like they were in.

United should have levelled on 25 minutes as the hosts were completely cut open, ex-Hatter Peter Kioso overlapping to pull his cross back for the completely unmarked Tyler Goodrham who, 10 yards from goal, somehow directed his attempt into the stands and not the net. With the surface water starting to spray up now, United weren't afraid to have a go from distance, Kioso trying his luck, but it never had the accuracy to test Kaminski.

Krauß continued to catch the eye in midfield, winning the ball high up just after the half hour and sliding Elijah Adebayo away on the left who couldn't quite pick out the bottom corner. Luton then doubled their lead on 37 minutes, a long ball by Burke causing confusion as skipper Elliott Moore tried to leave it for keeper Cumming, only to see it bounce away from him as Brown stole in.

He was able to steady himself and pick out Krauß who was motoring into the area and got enough on his sliding left footed attempt to beat the cover on the line and find the corner of the net. Having had so many chances themselves, there was no way United could keep being so profligate and that proved on the stroke of half time, Town allowing the ball to run across the field where Goodrham curled a superb effort beyond the despairing dive of Kaminski.

At the break, Oxford brought on Kyle Edwards and once Doughty's free kick flew just wide, the substitute had a huge impact in the opening few minutes, one cross met a scorpion kick from Rodrigues, as it deflected through to Kaminski. Town then had to unfortunately take off Krauß for Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, but Luton didn't heed the warning as the same move happened again on 54 minutes, although this time it was executed to perfection, Edwards to Rodrigues who sidefooted beyond Kaminski and make it 2-2.

With Luton retreating firmly into their shells, and losing all kind of shape or system, looking a bedraggled unit, the visitors looked capable of scoring with every attack, of which there were plenty, Brown going off for Reuell Walters. Moses tried to bring Luton back in front, twisting and turning his man inside out, his fierce drive taking a nick on its way behind.

The visitors thought they had a penalty after a challenge from Nakamba inside the area, referee James Bell putting the whistle to his mouth, only to opt against blowing it, Rodrigues putting a free header wide. Kaminski ensured Town were in the contest, out quickly to close down Harris, and then make a truly stunning save with his legs when the ball was played out to the U's striker, also pawing away an effort that was going wide.

Half time sub Edwards, who had been causing all kinds of problems since coming on, cut inside Reuell Walters and let fly with a scorcher that would have flown into the top corner, but for Mengi's header. Edwards opted to make two change with 15 minute remaining, Cauley Woodrow and Walsh on, as Walsh steamed into a maddeningly reckless challenge on Siriki Dembele, earning a straight red in what is surely the quickest red card dished out to a Luton player in the club’s history.

Adebayo was then sprung though by Doughty but with the home supporters urging him to pull the trigger, he turned into trouble once more, as to their credit, Luton reacted better to the dismissal, putting the pressure on in the final 10 minutes, Mpanzu forcing a corner which saw Cumming parry Mengi's header before Adebayo could force it over the line with three minutes left.

It looked like Demeble was going to win it for the visitors with the final action, Mpanzu giving a free kick away on the edge of the box, but the winger could only put it over the bar as from a position of real authority, Town were left thankful to escape with a point.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Victor Moses, Reece Burke , Mark McGuinness, Teden Mengi, Alfie Doughty, Tom Krauß (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 51), Marvelous Nakamba (Liam Walsh 76), Jordan Clark (C, Cauley Woodrow 76), Jacob Brown (Reuell Walters 76), Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: James Shea, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Liam Walsh, Cauley Woodrow, Joe Taylor, Zack Nelson, Reuell Walters, Joe Johnson, Tom Holmes.

United: Jamie Cumming, Ciaron Brown, Will Vaulks, Elliott Moore (Sam Long 90), Mark Harris (Dane Scarlett 84), Idris El Mizouni, Ben Nelson, Owen Dale (Kyle Edwards 46), Tyler Goodrham, Ruben Rodrigues (Siriki Dembele 74), Peter Kioso. Subs not used: Matt Ingram, Malcolm Ebiowei, Louie Sibley, Hidde ter Avest, Will Goodwin.

Referee: James Bell.

Booked: Kioso 48, Doughty 55, El Mizouni 68, Burke 90.

Sent off: Walsh 76.

Attendance: 11,397 (1,322 United).

Edwards concedes Luton are not in a 'great moment' after United draw

Town let 2-0 lead slip against Oxford

Luton boss Rob Edwards conceded his side are not in a ‘great moment’ as they frittered away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 against Oxford United at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The Hatters appeared to be on the path to a morale-boosting third win from four games, with Jordan Clark and Tom Krauß both finding the net inside 40 minutes. However, an easy on the eye visiting team then halved the deficit just before the break, Tyler Goodrham curling home a beautiful strike, while Ruben Rodrigues sidefooted beyond Thomas Kaminski early in the second period.

Town were thankful to Kaminski for ensuring they didn’t go under and suffer what would have been a massively damaging defeat, the Belgian making a stunning double save from Mark Harris, before Liam Walsh was sent off just 36 seconds after coming on for a rash challenge, as Edwards knew it was a match they should have won from such a position, saying: “I completely agree and I’m really, really frustrated now sitting here talking to you.

"It’s our own fault, clearly we’re not in a great moment, a lack of confidence and a bit of belief and the timing of their first goal obviously didn’t help. It’s never a great time to concede, but again that’s our doing. We probably just jumped the press at the wrong time, left too many gaps between units on the opposite side, it’s a great finish, but we gave him the opportunity.

"We’re still winning the game at half time. There's no doubt about it, they had the mid-section of the game when they got the equalising goal and they had the momentum in the game and deserved it, I can’t argue with that. They made a couple of tweaks, a bit more double width and made it harder for us to get pressure on the ball with three midfielders, so we had to try and adjust that, and when we did, we went down to 10 men, so a difficult night.”

Asked just why Town were so off it during the second period, as they looked a shadow of the team who ran the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Manchester United so close last term, Edwards added: “It’s obviously frustrating, but it can happen in football. You have to give them credit, but I hold my hands up, we’re not in great form at the moment and it just knocked the lads’ confidence.

"They got a bit of control, the crowd are edgy at the moment and demanding more, and rightly so and it affected us. But what I was pleased with was when we went down to 10 men, we looked the better team, certainly better than we did in that second half with 11. So the lads stayed with it, showed some character and belief and actually could have nicked it with a header cleared off the line and some set-pieces.

"We didn’t go under, it’s just not a great performance in the second half due to a lack of confidence and belief, a couple of changes from them that we had to react to. We had the start of the game, they certainly had the mid-section and we finished well with 10 men.”