Luton Town FC vs Portsmouth (1st Mar 2025)

01/03/2025 LUTON TOWN 1-0 PORTSMOUTH

Clark goal earns crucial victory

Hatters end run of 12 Championship games without victory with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth

Jordan Clark’s first-half goal against Portsmouth helped breathe new life into the Town’s survival hopes as Matt Bloomfield secured his first win in charge against Portsmouth.

Having gone 12 games in the Championship without a victory and eight under the new boss, the midfielder’s close-range strike was the difference on an afternoon of high tension and anxiety at Kenilworth Road.

It was a priceless victory, as the Town lifted themselves off the bottom of the table and to within two points of safety in the Championship.

A feisty game from the off – an early booking for Andre Dozzell for a late challenge on Liam Walsh set the tone. It would be one of three yellow cards shown to the visitors in the first period.

While the Town enjoyed the majority of the ball but chances in both boxes were few and far between with the nearest the Hatters came to threatening came on 20 minutes when Regan Poole’s back-pass rolled past goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid.

However, five minutes later, the Town had the lead. Clark came away with the ball as a Pompey free-kick failed to breach the Hatters penalty area and the midfielder carried the ball 70 yards before laying off to Jacob Brown. His cross into the box was diverted onto the post by Marlon Pack but Clark was on hand to smash home the rebound.

Ahead the Hatters came close to doubling their lead on 32 minutes when Alfie Doughty’s low shot was cleared off the line by Poole before Clark, searching a second, curled into the arms of Schmid just before the break.

After the restart Portsmouth came out the brighter of the two sides but despite their dominance they failed to seriously test Thomas Kaminski.

The Town were holding firm defensively with Christ Makosso impressing on his full Luton debut and the defender headed clear brilliantly on 64 minutes to deny Colby Bishop from close range.

Clark shot wide after a flowing Hatters move at the other end on 69 minutes as the Hatters sought a second to put the game to bed.

However, as time ticked down the Town desperately held onto their lead as Pompey pushed for a leveller.

And hearts were in mouths with four minutes left when Connor Oglevie headed over from six yards with the goal at his mercy. It was a huge let-off.

Back came the Town – Clark was denied what he felt should have been a penalty with two minutes left after going down under pressure from Pack.

Portsmouth then had their own claims waved away after Kal Naismith appeared to handle in the box in the second minute of added time.

That would prove to be the final dramatic moment with the relief of a welcome three points palpable around Kenilworth Road at the final whistle.

After 12 games with a win in the league, the Town have a win to celebrate.

Onto the next at Burnley.

We’ll see you then.

Town: Kaminski, Bell, Naismith, Makosso, Jones, Doughty (sub McGuinness 69) Clark, Walsh (sub Nelson 69), Aasgaard, Brown (sub Alli 57), Morris (sub Adebayo 90+3).

Subs not used: Krul, Andersen, Fanne, Nordås, Bowler.

Attendance: 11,616, including 1,323 from Portsmouth.

Clark grabs the only goal as Luton end 12-game winless run by beating Portsmouth

Championship: Luton Town 1 Portsmouth 0

The wait is finally over for Luton manager Matt Bloomfield as he finally got to celebrate a long-awaited first victory at the ninth attempt when defeating Portsmouth 1-0 at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Having seen his previous eight matches garner just three points from three draws, a 25th minute goal from recalled midfielder Jordan Clark meant he could enjoy that winning feeling that has been sorely missing for the Hatters, on a terrible run of 12 games without a success that saw them slump to the bottom of the table.

Making four changes to his side from the 2-0 defeat at Watford, Clark joining Kal Naismith, Jacob Brown and Christ Makosso in starting, the latter getting his full debut after impressing in the second period against Watford last weekend, it was the visitors who went close early on, Colby Bishop's prod goalwards rebounding off the covering Amari'i Bell and going over.

Town had little in the way of forward threats themselves, the odd set-piece causing problems, Alfie Doughty seeing two shots blocked away. In fact, Luton's best chance came from Pompey's own doing in the 20th minute. Defender Regan Poole's backpass had too much on it for Nicolas Schmid, who had a strange tendency to take up some odd positions, the Austrian stopper just able to get back in the nick of time and clear away from his line.

Town then had the lead on 25 minutes thanks to Clark who started and ended the move after a Pompey free-kick into the box was cleared, the recalled midfielder picking possession just inside his own D. Speeding forward, he found the overlapping Brown to his left whose low cross was slid against the post by the back-tracking Marlon Pack, allowing Clark, who hadn't stopped running, to gobble up the rebound.

Doughty looked to double the lead on the half hour, taking Liam Walsh's quick free kick and having a pop, a late deflection from Poole turning it behind on this occasion. Walsh was then cleaned out for the second time on the afternoon, this time by Josh Murphy, as Luton were thankful to Doughty for a crucial intervention when the visitors attacked and Town were caught short at the back, referee Sam Allison, who had a suspect game, getting in the way of Bell's chances to recover.

Walsh shook off the challenge to set up Jones whose effort was blocked, the ball dropping to Clark, his curler too close to Schmid. After the break, it was the visitors who began with a spring in their step, as winning corner after corner, a decidedly edgy Luton defending as if it was the final five minutes, dropping deep and inviting pressure.

Half time substitute Kaide Gordon curled over, as Luton brought on Millenic Alli for Brown, although it was defensively where it looked like the reinforcements were needed. The Hatters did finally alleviate the pressure by winning a corner of their own that was sent into the box by Doughty and after a scramble, Jones blazed over the top from the edge of the box.

A fine block from Makosso saw him get to the ball just ahead of Bishop at the far post as the youngster continued to impress just when Luton needed it the most. With 68 gone, Town gave themselves a chance of avoiding a nervy finale, but Walsh's drive was blocked, Clark also dragging a decent opening wide on his left foot. That was Walsh's last action, he and Doughty making way for Mark McGuinness and Zack Nelson, McGuinness appearing to injure his ankle once more early on, hobbling badly at one stage, only to dig in and come through the final stages of the game.

Pompey should have nicked a leveller with five minutes left though, Christian Saydee getting away on the right and sending over a wonderful cross for the completely unmarked Conor Ogilvie to somehow head over the top from just a few yards out as Kenilworth Road drew a massive sigh of relief, allowing themselves to believe this might be their day.

Clark looked like he had won a penalty when going to ground after receiving contact from Pack, only for Allison, who was himself floored by the clearance hammering into him, to wave away those appeals. During six minutes of stoppage time, Luton came under severe pressure again, Naismith fortunate to not concede a penalty for handball, but the final whistle drew great relief as Town could celebrate a first three points since December 20, as they moved off the bottom of the table and are now two points away from safety.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Christ Makosso, Kal Naismith, Amari’i Bell, Izzy Jones, Liam Walsh (Zack Nelson 70), Jordan Clark, Thelo Aasgaard, Alfie Doughty (Mark McGuinness 69) Jacob Brown (Millenic Alli 57), Carlton Morris (C Elijah Adebayo 90).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Mads Andersen, Lamine Fanne, Lasse Nordas, Josh Bowler.

Pompey: Nicolas Schmid, Connor Ogilvie, Regan Poole, Marlon Pack (C), Colby Bishop, Adil Aouchiche (Christian Saydee 73), Andre Dozzell, Zak Swanson (Cohen Bramall 73), Josh Murphy (Kusini Yengi 63), Matt Ritchie (Kaide Gordon 46), Isaac Hayden (Terry Devlin 81).

Subs not used: Jordan Archer, Ryler Tower, Freddie Potts, Mark O’Mahoney.

Referee: Sam Allison.

Booked: Dozzell 4, Ritchie 16, Murphy, Brown 55, Kaminski 90.

Attendance: 11.616 (1,323 Pompey).

Huge 'relief' for Bloomfield to finally celebrate his first victory as Luton manager

Town pick up welcome three points against Portsmouth

Hatters boss Matt Bloomfield labelled picking up his first win at the ninth attempt of asking as a huge ‘relief’ following this afternoon’s crucial 1-0 victory over Portsmouth.

Town went into the game sitting five points adrift at the foot of the table and on a 12-game losing run themselves, seeing fixtures starting to run out, just 12 remaining before they did battle with the south coast opponents. However, Jordan Clark’s only goal of the contest on 25 minutes, the recalled midfielder starting the move inside his own D and then blasting home once visiting midfielder Marlon Pack had diverted Jacob Brown’s cross on to the post, breathed some much-needed life into the hosts’ battle to stay up.

It also allowed Bloomfield to finally enjoy a triumph, having gone well over a month since replacing Rob Edwards at the helm, as speaking afterwards, he said: “Relief is probably the biggest emotion right now, it's been a long time coming, too long. I wanted to come in and have an immediate impact and that hasn’t been the case and you guys know the emotion that carries but it's a fantastic feeling to get that one over the line today. It was emotional, relief, it's been a tough week. I've lived it this week, but the boys have been great, worked, we’ve been honest and they know how much we needed a win today.

"There were some anxious moments, it wasn't a perfect performance by any stretch. We’ve probably played more fluently and better in other games, absolutely, but to show that character and desire to get it over the line is what this club stands for and it was lovely to see that today. It's crucial as it shows it's (fighting spirit) still there. It's not been there often enough this season and this doesn't dissipate the disappointment of last Sunday (2-0 loss to local rivals Watford) and where we are. We understand where we are and it's not all fixed in one day.

"We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves, but to see some smiles around the ground at the end and see the boys celebrate together and have those moments, it's what we do this job for. It’s why we’re involved in sport, to win together, to go through hard times together and come out the other side, but it’s only one day and it’s only win. We absolutely believe in what we’re trying to do and we have to use this as a springboard to move forward.”

Bloomfield chasing the addictive feeling of euphoria after landing his first Luton victory

Hatters chief revels in his maiden success

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield is chasing that addictive feeling of utter euphoria that comes with securing victory for the Hatters on a regular basis after securing his first win as Town manager when beating Portsmouth 1-0 at Kenilworth Road yesterday.

Having replaced Rob Edwards at the helm back on January 14, Bloomfield was closing on two months without a success ahead of Saturday’s contest, with his first eight games in the dug-out seeing him pick up just a measly three points. However, Jordan Clark's third goal of the season on 25 minutes, followed by a second half showing that was full of endeavour ensured Town finally broke that winless streak, allowing Bloomfield to celebrate with the home crowd as Luton lifted themselves off the bottom of the table.

It led to scenes of great joy for the manager at the full time whistle with the 10,000 or so Hatters supporters inside Kenilworth Road applauding him and his players off, going through their full repertoire of chants while doing so having witnessed a first home victory since December 20. Speaking afterwards, a clearly elated Bloomfield said: “It’s the addiction, that euphoric feeling you get in football. It’s addictive and you chase it. I’ve been chasing it for a number of years and I’ll keep chasing it.

"It was incredible, I’m really proud to be here. I’m really proud and honoured to have been given this job and to not share that moment with our supporters until now has been tough, really tough. But to walk round at the end and see the smiles, see the belief in everyone’s faces, the songs that were being sung and the moment the players had, they’ve been working incredibly hard, so it was a lovely moment. Seeing my family up in the crowd, they’ve been to every game and they feel it, so to see the guys there was touching and I hope our supporters enjoyed that today.”

Although a number of fans had felt prior to kick-off that the Hatters’ chances of remaining in the Championship this season were slim, given their 12-match winless run and picking up just seven victories all campaign, there was plenty of renewed optimism that Town could still be plying their trade in the second tier after the narrow success.

It wasn’t lost on Bloomfield either, who continued: “As long as they were singing at the end, and the noise they were making, I think they do believe. I absolutely do believe in our supporters. I’ve really understood their frustrations in the last few weeks. I get it, I understand it. They are passionate, they’re very knowledgeable and they spend a lot of money and time following their football club. We’ve not given them enough to cheer about and celebrate, but it really felt like a big moment at the end and we have to use that.

"We haven't cracked everything in one day and we’re not getting carried away with ourselves. There’s a lot of hard work ahead of us for the rest of the season, but today was a lovely moment and I hope it gives everyone a springboard to really enjoy the week ahead. We can look forward to three tough games coming up next week before the international break, we want to get more points on the board before that break to give us something to attack in April."

Asked if the clean sheet and battling nature of the 1-0 victory following last Sunday’s timid 2-0 defeat at local rivals Watford could have gone any better, Bloomfield continued: “Yes, two or three and relax a little bit would be lovely! But to keep a clean sheet at home, I think that’s three goals in five games at home now. We’ve not been conceding too many at home, but we just haven’t found those moments to get the points on the board in our favour.

"It does come down to those moments. It was emotional at the end, it was a relief, it was pride. Seeing the boys defend and the togetherness of the group, being able to enjoy that moment with our supporters. I was driving in this morning, again I was convinced today was our day, absolutely and utterly convinced our day was today and I'm pleased that it was.”

Looking forward to heading back into the Brache tomorrow morning, Bloomfield knew just how significant a result it was, especially with Luton travelling to title-chasing Burnley next weekend, adding: “It’s the parallels. If we had lost, how tough was that game going to be? And how tough was that week going to be? It’s still going to be a tough week but we’re going to have a spring in our step. We’ll have a spring in our step Monday morning and come into work, we can work hard again, there’s loads to do, but hopefully there’ll be more smiles.

"I want our supporters to enjoy their weekend and really look to attack that week. Burnley away, Cardiff away, before we welcome Middlesbrough back here. It’s going to be a tough week but we want to get some points on the board. We believe we can, we’ve got some very very good footballers and winning’s a habit. We want to get back into the habit and we want to get back to the belief and hopefully today can be a big day for us.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg9SJ5w-9Nc – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUVTNZe6Uhk – Matt Bloomfield interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPrHQ79Yl_g – game day unmasked