Luton Town FC vs Sheffield United (26th Aug 2022)

Report | Luton Town 1-1 Sheffield United

Carlton Morris scored as Luton Town held league leaders Sheffield United to a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road on Friday night.

Town went in front after only ten minutes, as Morris made it two goals in as many games with his headed effort.

Oli McBurnie levelled in the second half for the Blades, as both sides had to settle for a point each.

Nathan Jones made one change from last weekend’s win away at Swansea City, with Morris partnering Elijah Adebayo in attack. Fred Onyedinma returns to the Hatters’ matchday squad for the first time this season, having missed out through injury.

Under the lights and the Sky Sports cameras, the game’s first chance fell to the Hatters. Allan Campbell made a surging run and found Morris with his cut-back, but the striker’s finish was over the crossbar.

And Morris would give Luton the lead after ten minutes. Amari’I Bell’s cross was perfect for the 26-year-old to head beyond Wes Foderingham.

The Blades began to threaten, as had their best chance of the opening stages through James McAtee, who saw his effort deflected wide.

Adebayo then came close to a second for Luton, rising highest from James Bree’s cross, but he couldn’t keep his header down.

Luke Freeman combined well with Adebayo, with the former Sheffield United man finding a pocket of space in the area. His shot was tame, however, and claimed by Foderingham.

Town were a whisker away from the game’s second goal, as Bree’s tempting cross just evaded Adebayo, who couldn’t quite get on the end of it.

Adebayo would have another effort on goal minutes later, improvising a quick volley goalward from a Bree cross which went over the bar.

The Blades made the better start in the second half, as they went in search of an equaliser. Iliman Ndiaye came close to a leveller, but for a Reece Burke block.

And they would find their equaliser from the resulting corner. McBurnie was left unmarked as the ball fell to the striker, and he fired beyond Ethan Horvath.

Morris came close to his and Luton’s second of the evening on the 70-minute mark. The striker headed a Bree cross into Allan Campbell’s path, who saw his shot deflected back to Morris, with his effort palmed away by the Sheffield United goalkeeper.

Adebayo continued to threaten for the Hatters, and came close with another effort on goal, as he saw his floating header drift just over the bar.

Cameron Jerome was brought on for Town’s first switch of the game, as the 36-year-old replaced Morris. Luke Berry was brought on for Town’s second switch later in the half, replacing Luke Freeman.

Town continued to threaten as the game went into its dying embers, with Bell seeing a shot blocked by a Sheffield United defender.

Late on, Jerome came close to snatching all three points for the Hatters. The 36-year-old was found well by Adebayo, and saw his effort clawed wide.

Goals:

Town: Morris (10’)

Blades: McBurnie (53’)

Att: 9,882 (1,032 away)

Nathan Jones pleased with Sheffield United draw

Manager Nathan Jones was full of praise for his players after they earned a hard-fought point against league leaders Sheffield United.

In a battling performance all the way through the 90 minutes, the Hatters recorded a third draw of the season and arguably could have had more on a lively Friday night at Kenilworth Road.

“I thought it was a real good Championship game,” Jones admitted after the game. “They’re a top side with really good players, for the level they’re outstanding. I’m not talking about budget or anything but the players they have, the squad they have. I thought we were brilliant, we went toe-to-toe, we go aggressive against them and first half we were outstanding, but for a seven-minute period after half time.

"I thought we deserved to win the game and even then, when we were rocked and had our disappointment we came back, put balls in the box and they had to defend for their lives not to concede a second.

“I’m proud of my team for that, we’re really disappointed with the goal because there is an offside in the build-up which is poor, really poor but that is what happens."

Forward Elijah Adebayo is yet to get off the mark but after another tireless performance from the 24-year-old, the gaffer is sure his fortune will change sooner rather than later.

“I thought our front two were superb tonight, that is a good back three. They had a tough time tonight and they had to defend properly because they were excellent.

“I’m not worried about that because his performance levels are good now. Tonight, he was excellent. He had a fantastic season last season, people are marking him now plus we have another three or four that can share the burden so I have no worries. In terms of an all-round performance, I thought we were excellent and they are a very good side.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMISippA7pI – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pv-nRz8d9g – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-AkP-uGJwE – Jordan Clark interview

Morris on target once more as Town go close to claiming victory over Championship leaders Sheffield United

Championship: Luton Town 1 Sheffield United 1

Luton Town held leaders Sheffield United to a 1-1 draw in an absorbing and highly entertaining clash at Kenilworth Road this evening.

In a performance that had echoes of the Hatters' play-off reaching efforts from last term, Nathan Jones' side once more went toe-to-toe with one of the best sides in the division, giving them a real fright, and had Elijah Adebayo's finishing been on point, the hosts might even have secured all three points.

Prior to the game, Jones made one change to the side that beat Swansea City 2-0, as goalscorer Carlton Morris came in for Admiral Muskwe, Fred Onyedinma fit enough to return to the bench.

Town might have led inside three minute, Allan Campbell doing superbly on the right to skip a sliding challenge and deliver a low cross that Morris took off the toes of the onrushing Luke Freeman, before spinning to shoot over the top.

The forward did give Luton the advantage on just nine minutes though, as Amari'i Bell's throw in was cleared back to him, the defender taking a touch and then fizzing in a daisycutter of a cross that Morris rose highest to expertly glance his header across Wes Foderingham and into the corner.

It saw Luton's goal drought at Kenilworth Road ended, the Hatters netting an opening second tier strike in front of their own fans, although the Blades reacted well to the set-back with a concerted spell of pressure, James McAtee's low shot deflected away, as was Oli Norwood's magnificent curving 25-yard volley after being picked out from a corner

With a front two of Morris and Adebayo, the hosts caused a number of problems aerially, Adebayo unable to keep his header down after meeting James Bree's right-wing delivery.

The Blades remained eager to restore parity, Oli McBurnie meeting George Baldock's swinging cross but couldn't divert on target, Max Lowe slicing another snapshot hopefully over on 36 minutes.

Luton were looking for a second though, Freeman receiving the ball and playing a smart one-two with Adebayo, going on to test Foderingham low down, the visiting stopper gathering comfortably.

Town almost had a second with five minutes of the first half to go, Adebayo unable to reach Bree's cross with Foderingham struggling.

The same combination had another go in the final seconds, Adebayo opting to volley this time, his attempt wayward.

After the break, the Hatters had to defend with a degree of desperation early on, as the Blades threw everything at them, Reece Burke making a wonderful block on Iliman Ndiaye's goalbound drive.

However, Jones' men couldn't hold on, the Blades level on 53 minutes, when following some sustained pressure, McBurnie was left unmarked at the back post to volley into the corner when sub Tommy Doyle's header was flicked on by John Egan.

You got the feeling it wasn't going to be Adebyao's night as, with Bree sending in another marvellous ball from the right, he got across his defender, but once again, couldn't make any kind of contact.

The wing-back was sending over a high level of delivery throughout the contest, yet another met by Bell at the back post, his cross-shot trickling behind.

With the game on a more even keel once more, Luton almost retook the lead on 70 minutes, Bree's hanging cross drawing a towering downward header from Morris, with Campbell racing on to it, denied by a mass of bodies, Morris's follow up batted behind by a flying Foderingham.

Norwood then couldn't keep his effort down when the ball dropped invitingly for him 20 yards out, while a familiar theme continued as Bree once more dug out a terrific cross that Adebayo did well to meet, not testing the United keeper though.

With 12 minutes left, the Blades were dealt a blow as Foderingham had to make way for Jordan Amissah, but it was the visitors who went close to making it 2-1, Doyle's swerving attempt claimed convincingly by Horvath.

Chances were then exchanged at both ends, Bell's drive cannoning to safety and Rhian Brewster's skidding shot well handled by a diving Horvath.

In stoppage time, replacement Cameron Jerome almost brought the house down when his fierce blast was tipped over by Amissah, as the Hatters climbed up to 17th ahead of the weekend's round of fixtures.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, James Bree, Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer, Dan Potts (C), Amari'i Bell, Allan Campbell, Luke Freeman (Luke Berry 86), Jordan Clark, Carlton Morris (Cameron Jerome 76), Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Matt Macey, Cauley Woodrow, Admiral Muskwe, Fred Onyedinma, Gabe Osho.

Blades: Wes Foderingham (Jordan Amissah 78), George Baldock, Chris Basham, Oliver McBurnie, John Egan, Max Lowe, Oli Norwood, James McAtee (Tommy Doyle 46), Iliman Ndiaye (Rhian Brewster 83), Rhys Norrington-Davies (Anel Ahmedhodzic 83).

Subs not used: Oli Arblaster, Will Osula, Daniel Jebbison.

Referee: David Webb.

Booked: Baldock 15, McAtee 23, Ndiaye 73.

Attendance: 9,882 (1,032 Blades).

Jones felt 'brilliant' Hatters deserved to beat table-topping Blades

Hatters manager reacts to 1-1 draw

Luton boss Nathan Jones hailed his side as ‘brilliant’ and felt they deserved to beat Championship leaders Sheffield United in front of the Sky cameras at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The Hatters had led after just five minutes of the contest, Carlton Morris flicking a superb header from Amari’i Bell’s cross beyond Wes Foderingham and into the net.

However, the Blades hit back early in the second half through Oli McBurnie’s close range volley, as although both sides had chances to net a winner, Morris denied by Foderingham, Elijah Adebayo off target and Cameron Jerome denied by sub stopper Jordan Amissah, Town had to make do with a share of the spoils.

Speaking afterwards, Jones said: “I thought it was a really good Championship game.

“They're a top side, have really good players for the level, they’re outstanding, I’m not talking about budgets or anything, I’m talking about players they’ve got.

“But I thought we were brilliant, I really did.

“We go toe-to-toe, we were aggressive against them.

"I thought first half we were outstanding, but for a seven minute period after half time, I thought we deserved to win the game.

“Even then when we were rocked, and had that disappointment, we came back, put balls in their box, and they had to defend for the lives tonight not to concede a second.

“I’m proud of my team for that.

"We’re really disappointed with the goal as there’s an offside in the build-up, which is poor, really, really poor, but that’s what happens.

“Our front two were superb tonight.

"That’s a good back three, Rhys Norrington-Davies who thought he was bigger than our club and wanted to go back, and John (Egan) who’s a fantastic player.

"(Chris) Basham has been a top player at this level and they had a tough time tonight, they had to defend properly as ours I thought were excellent.”

Hatters boss reveals Luton broke their transfer record to sign Barnsley striker Morris as forward nets again during United draw

Town paid over seven figures to bring in Tykes striker

Luton boss Nathan Jones has revealed that the Hatters paid over a million pounds for only the second time in their history when breaking their transfer record to bring in striker Carlton Morris from Barnsley over the summer.

The only other occasion Town had done so previously was when, with Graeme Jones in charge, they signed keeper Simon Sluga from HNK Rijeka back in July 2019 for a fee of £1.3m, smashing the former record of £850,000 shelled out to Danish side Odense for Lars Elstrup in 1989.

After coming through the ranks at Norwich and having a number of loan spells away from Carrow Road, Morris was snapped up by Barnsley in January 2021, scoring 16 goals in 18 months for the Tykes, before the Hatters made their move, acquiring his services for an undisclosed fee, which Jones confirmed last night was a seven figure sum.

The forward, off the mark with his first goal in the 2-0 win at Swansea City last weekend, made it two in two when leaping highest to meet Amari’i Bell’s cross and guide his header beyond Wes Foderingham to open his new side’s home account in the Championship last night.

The Blades went on to level after the break, but speaking about his summer purchase afterwards, Jones said: “He’s a good player, we haven’t broken our transfer record just for a novice.

“We’ve had to pay a bit of money for him and considering the one before him was Sluga, then I think we’ve just edged that.

“He’s fantastic, we know that and what a great kid as well.

“They’re a tough nut to play against those two (Morris and Elijah Adebayo) and we’re bringing Cameron Jerome on as well, we’re bringing Luke Berry on, we really went after the game and I’m really pleased for that.

“I’m pleased that Carlton scored and a lot will be talked about Elijah, but you look at (John) Egan and (Chris) Basham, they’re top two for the level and they’ve had a tough night tonight, so excellent.”

Midfielder Jordan Clark, another who excelled on the night, praised the forward for the impact he has had since moving to Kenilworth Road, adding: “He told me he was getting three in two, so he’s a bit disappointed with that, but he’s a great lad and he’s a great player.

“He works really hard, him and Elijah worked their socks off and it’s fallen to Carlton at the minute and not fallen to Elijah.

“His goals will come as well, but Carlton’s done really well since he’s come in and I’m sure he’ll keep scoring goals,

“I’ll try to keep feeding him as much as I can, but he’s been really good so far.”