Luton Town FC vs Sheffield Wednesday (21st Sep 2024)

21/09/2024 LUTON 2 – 1 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Morris double earns first home win

Two late goals from Carlton Morris earn the Town their first home victory at Kenilworth Road

A brace by Carlton Morris earned the Hatters their first win at Kenilworth Road this season.

Sheffield Wednesday got us under way whilst the sun was beaming over the Kenny, as we looked to get out first home win of the season. The Hatters immediately pressed right from the start, Elijah Adebayo and Alfie Doughty both causing Wednesday problems.

However, this constant press also led to gaps opening in Luton’s defence, with Wednesday looking to exploit these spaces. Just over 10 minutes in, Yan Valery drove down the wing and dinked a tricky cross, which Thomas Kaminski tipped over, the ball falling then to Barry Bannan who volleyed it high and wide.

Kaminski then pulled off a couple excellent saves as Bannan played through Michael Smith at the right side of the six-yard box, saving to his right, and then also from Josh Windass from point blank range. True heroics from Luton’s number 1.

Towards the end of the first half, the Town began to look livelier, with Mark McGuinness getting up and winning headers from Luton set pieces, but nothing quite came from it.

Right before the break, Doughty, Marvelous Nakamba and Tahith Chong exchanged a selection of intricate passes, with Reuell Walters then crossing it towards Adebayo. However, former Town academy graduate Akin Famewo stepped in to make a valuable clearance.

At half-time, there was not too much to separate the sides, with neither having too many clear-cut chances. Rob Edwards and the crowd were demanding more for the second period.

The Owls then started the second half the more threatening team, which then resulted in an opening on 52 minutes. Valery drove down the right-wing, and then proceeded to cross it to the edge of the area, where Bannan, occupied completely unmarked, confidently volleyed into the bottom right corner of the net.

Edwards then acted soon after, bringing on three substitutions, including Tom Krauß for his debut, who immediately brought a new spark to the Town.

Shortly after, Doughty played in an in swinging free-kick from the right side of the box, and after a couple shots and goal line clearances, Bernard handled McGuinness’ goal-bound header off the line and was consequently sent off, with Luton being awarded a penalty.

Up stepped Morris who cooly rolled the ball down the middle of the goal, after sending the keeper the wrong way, with his trademark run-up.

Victor Moses was then brought on for his Town debut, another impact substitution who helped the Hatters continue to build the momentum and lift the spirit. With two minutes left Doughty played in another quality cross from the right that Wednesday failed to clear, and after a bit of pinball, it fell to Morris who smashed it into the net.

Right as Luton believed they had won it, Svante Ingelsson did well to get a clean and hard strike in from the edge of the box, but once again Kaminski pulled off another great save.

After some keep ball in the corner by Morris, the referee finally blew the whistle for full-time, securing Luton our first home win of the season.

Next up, is a trip to Plymouth Argyle on Friday night. Safe travels to those making the trip.

Town: Kaminski; Walters (sub Nelson 60), Doughty, McGuinness, Mengi, Burke; Nakamba (sub Krauß 59), Clark, Chong (sub Taylor 83), Walsh (sub Morris 60); Adebayo (sub Moses 83).

Subs not used: Shea, Woodrow, Mpanzu, Holmes.

Attendance: 11,805, including 1,326 from Sheffield Wednesday

Report by George Dunn

Rob reacts to late Town victory

Boss reflects on 2-1 win thanks to late Carlton Morris double

Town boss Rob Edwards had mixed emotions after seeing his side come from behind to earn their first home win of the season against Sheffield Wednesday.

The Hatters trailed with 13 minutes remaining but two goals from substitute Carlton Morris were enough to see off the Owls at Kenilworth Road.

“It was far from the performance we wanted in the last two games but we’ve won both,” said Edwards afterwards. “We need to build momentum and confidence as it’s been a difficult start.

“We didn’t start with the intensity we wanted, and when you don’t get that it gives the opposition a lift and our crowd are then thinking ‘come on’.

“But we shot ourselves in the foot for their goal and it was hard to try and wrestle back momentum.

“We got back in it, somehow, and that, along with the red card and the impact from the substitutes, was great.

“It’s been hard leaving people out but when you get reactions like that, it’s amazing.

“We’ve ticked off a few boxes now, we got the first win and first away win last week and now we’ve got the first home win and hopefully that can kick us on.

“But if you don’t play with that intensity then we’re going to make it difficult for ourselves. We know we can’t be perfect all the time – we’ve just got to try and find that right recipe.

“It’s good to win when you’re not quite at your best, especially as I think there’s more to come from this group.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO6_oL1P-Bw – Rob Edwards post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4j_2mhMI6Y – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpeeaCkdf4o – game day unmasked

Morris at the double as Luton hit back late on to stun Sheffield Wednesday

Championship: Luton Town 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1

Luton skipper Carlton Morris came off the bench to score twice in the final 15 minutes and inspire a much-needed first home win of the season for the Hatters, as they defeated Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

Not a lot had gone right for the hosts, who it must be said were pretty terrible up until the hour mark, falling behind to Barry Bannan's excellent volley, until boss Rob Edwards brought on Morris, the excellent Tom Krauß for his Luton debut, and youngster Zack Nelson. With Victor Moses and Joe Taylor soon following, Town finally got the upper hand, with Morris stroking home from the penalty spot on 77 minutes and then winning it from close range in the 88th as Luton celebrated back-to-back wins for the first time since December.

The Hatters made one change for the contest, Reuell Walters replacing the injured Amari'i Bell, with Jordan Clark taking the captain's armband, while Krauß was named on the bench, Mads Andersen missing out. Town could just not get going in the opening 15 minutes, not helped by an iffy call from a quite disgraceful refereeing display from Gavin Ward when Elijah Adebayo appeared to be away, Bannan and Josh Windass both sending hopeful shots over, while Michael Smith forced Thomas Kaminski into a low stop.

The Belgian then made a crucial stop with 20 minutes on the clock, as the Owls opened Town all too easily once more, Bannan's cross met by Windass, Kaminski's outstretched leg ensuring the scores remained goalless. The game then turned into something of a farce by Ward, who gave a number of absolutely baffling decisions against the Hatters, including one when Tahith Chong clearly got the ball ahead of his Wednesday opponent.

It means when Town did eventually get a decision in their favour, the enraged home supporters greeted the call with a 30-second standing ovation. With the officials doing their best to get a response from the Luton fans, on the pitch, the Hatters couldn't create anything, keeper James Beadle, who had been on England U21 duty at the stadium earlier this month, fumbled Mark McGuinness's header over.

Liam Walsh sent an ambitious snapshot tamely wide of the target, as Town almost paid the price for some slack defending, Teden Mengi trying to let the ball run out, Smith nipping in, with Windass's cross sent wide by Kobacki. Even after the interval, the hosts couldn't get going at all, some brilliant defending from Mengi preventing the Owls from opening the scoring, as sub Djeidi Gassama broke away on the left from McGuinness’s poor header, his cross destined to be tapped in by Windass, the centre half sliding in to cleverly turn it behind.

Town weren't able to prevent the opener on 52 minutes though as they gave the ball away on the left hand side this time and Valery was allowed to motor away before sending over a deep cross that saw not one Luton player bother to mark Bannan who was allowed to enter the box completely unmarked and batter his volley beyond Kaminski.

A second almost followed as Town's supporters were starting to get restless, before Edwards responded by ringing the changes with an hour gone, Morris, Nelson and Krauß on for Walsh, Marvelous Nakamba and Walters, but still they hosts couldn't do anything, McGuinness heading Doughty's free kick wide.

Another set-piece from Doughty did lead to Luton’s leveller on 77 minutes as his ball in was cleared to Mengi, whose snapshot was repelled by the midriff of Bernard, the Owls defender then using his arm to deflect McGuinness' point blank header away. Ward finally did something in Luton’s favour, pointing to the spot, and also dishing out a red card to Bernard, who took an absolute age to drag himself off the Kenilworth Road pitch.

That upped the pressure on Morris, but he showed no signs of nerves, stuttering his run up to send Beadle the wrong way and open his account for the season. Buoyed by the leveller, Luton went for broke, Victor Moses and Joe Taylor, as the crowd were now finally up for it, Town winning a number of corners with Moses causing havoc on the right flank, Doughty curling one attempt miles over.

Another foray on the right saw Town grab the winner though, Doughty’s ball in flapped at by Beadle and when Clark’s half volley hit the horizontal McGuinness, Morris was on hand to tap into the net and send Kenilworth Road into bedlam. With 10 minutes of stoppage time, the Owls almost levelled, Windass shooting straight at Kaminski, who then parried Svante Ingelsson’s fierce drive, before Luton were able to wind the clock down in the corner to seal a welcome three points.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Reuell Walters (Carlton Morris 60), Reece Burke, Mark McGuinness, Teden Mengi, Alfie Doughty, Marvelous Nakamba (Tom Krauß 60), Liam Walsh (Zack Nelson 60), Jordan Clark (C), Tahith Chong (Victor Moses 83), Elijah Adebayo (Joe Taylor 83). Subs not used: James Shea, Cauley Woodrow, Tom Holmes, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

Owls: James Beadle, Liam Palmer (Anthony Musaba 90), Di'Shon Bernard, Barry Bannan (C Ike Ugbo 63), Josh Windass, Marvin Johnson, Olaf Kobacki (Djeidi Gassam 46, Michael Ihiekwe 78), Akin Famewo, Michael Smith (Svante Inglesson 63), Yan Valery, Shea Charles. Subs not used: Pierce Charles, Max Lowe, Jamal Lowe, Pol Valentin.

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Booked: Bernard 67, Burke 80, Bannan 90.

Sent off: Bernard 74.

Attendance: 11,805 (1,326 Owls).

Edwards hails the 'amazing' reactions from his substitutes during Owls victory

Hatters hit back to defeat Wednesday

Luton boss Rob Edwards hailed the ‘amazing’ impact of Town’s substitutes after this afternoon’s late 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

It had looked like the Hatters were going to face yet another disappointment on home soil, as they trailed 1-0 to Barry Bannan’s clinical volley early in the second period, with the home supporters getting increasingly frustrated with what had been a tough watch, the Hatters creating nothing of note and never once looking like they were capable of a comeback.

That all changed when Carlton Morris, Tom Krauß and Zack Nelson came on with an hour gone though, as Morris drew the visitors level on 77 minutes, coolly converting his first goal of the campaign from the penalty spot after Owls defender Di’Shon Bernard had been sent off for handling Mark McGuinness’s header on the line. Going for broke, Edwards then introduced Victor Moses and Joe Taylor with seven minutes left, Moses a constant threat on the right, while Taylor occupied the Wednesday defence alongside Morris in the latter stages.

It led to a winner with two minutes of normal time remaining, Alfie Doughty’s cross palmed away by James Beadle and when Jordan Clark’s effort hit the airborne McGuinness, Morris was on hand to tuck home his second of the afternoon to seal a much-needed three points. Speaking afterwards, Edwards preferred to concentrate on the closing stages of the contest than what had gone before, saying: “I'd rather focus now on the fact that we won the game, turned it around, had a will to win.

"You're going to turn me into someone really negative if I start focusing (on the first hour). I know there's areas we can be better in, sometimes I like to give credit to the opposition as well. They were very well organised, Danny’s (Rohl) a very good coach, they press well at the right times, they get good numbers on the last line, so it was hard to get behind.

"It was difficult for us, there's no doubt about that, I know that, it was a far from perfect performance. The last two haven't been, but we’ve won and we really needed that at this stage, just to build some momentum and belief and confidence again because it’s been a tough period.”

Asked for a bit more detail on why he thought Luton had been so below par up until the introduction of Morris and co, with loan addition Krauß in particular outstanding, he added: “It was a typical game, at any level of football, really tough. I thought the best section of the game was the last 15 minutes of the first half, where I thought we got the pressing and intensity right.

“We were pushing, had set-pieces and we had a couple of good moves that we almost got in with, but it was difficult to get behind them and yes it was tough, really tough. We didn't start with the intensity that we wanted and if we don't have that then it probably gives them a lift, our crowd are then thinking, ‘come on,’ and the first 20 minutes was difficult.

“We didn’t have the intensity and press that I really wanted, one chance Thomas (Kaminski) made a really good save, we didn’t quite close and get the covering distances right. Once we got those sorted, we were okay, we were in the game, but nothing more than that. We shot ourselves in the foot with the goal that we conceded and then it's hard, something's gone against us again and we need to try and wrestle back some momentum again.

"There’s no doubt then we were pushing, we were trying, forced a way somehow, the header was going in from Macca before he stuck his arm out, so that’s a goal, we're back in the game and then with the red card too. I thought the impact that the subs made was great and that's what we want. We've got a squad for a reason. It's difficult to leave certain people out, but then when you get reactions like that, it's amazing.”