Luton Town FC vs Swansea City (18th Sep 2021)

Report | Luton Town 3-3 Swansea City

Hatters throw away a three-goal lead to draw for the fourth match running

The Hatters drew for a fourth game in a row this afternoon as Swansea City came back from 3-0 down at half-time to grab a point in injury-time.

It was the third Town match in a row that has ended all-square with a goal in added time, but this time the boot was on the other foot after the Hatters had fought back from behind to take a point in their previous two.

Manager Nathan Jones made two changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Bristol City on Wednesday night, with Gabe Osho coming into the side after he was an unused substitute in midweek, replacing Amari’i Bell, and Adebayo partnering with Harry Cornick up-front after impressing from the bench at Ashton Gate.

There was a late change to the teamsheet for the third game in a row, midweek goal hero Danny Hylton pulling up in the warm-up and being replaced by youth team player of the year Aidan Francis-Clarke, the 17-year-old defender being included in the senior squad for the first time.

Town started on the front foot, Harry Cornick and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu making inroads to the Swansea defence, before Kal Naismith set the former away with a beautiful ball over the top with the outside of his left foot.

Cornick's cross was turned behind for the Town's second corner of the opening four minutes, but the Hatters had begun in a real positive manner - and that was underlined in the seventh minute when Cornick launched a long throw from the right, Swansea headed half clear and Berry was there to send a scissor-kick volley flying past Ben Hamer in the City net.

Adebayo had a glorious chance to double the lead, firing over the bar left footed after Town's high press had won the ball for Henri Lansbury to find the striker.

By the 15th minute he had done exactly that, this time from the penalty spot after Cornick had once again pressed Kyle Naughton high up the pitch, pinched the pall off the central defender before being tripped just inside the area. Adebayo stepped up and dispatched the ball into the top corner for his second goal of the season.

He soon had his third, rounding off a great move that started with Naismith pinging a diagonal ball from left to right to find Bree, who took it in his stride and slid a cross right along the face of goal for Adebayo to force home at the far post.

Swansea had seen a free-kick from Liam Walsh fly high and wide in between Adebayo's pair, but the Hatters were well in control and winning the ball back almost every time the Welshmen tried to play out.

There was a yellow card apiece for Lansbury and Swansea left-back Ryan Manning, who kicked the ball away as the Town midfielder went to take a free-kick, but ended up being on the receiving end of a Lansbury's swing.

Adebayo spurned a glorious chance for his hat-trick in the 34th minute when he raced onto Gabe Osho's ball over the top, but saw his chip over the advancing Hamer go agonisingly wide of the far post, just ahead of strike partner Cornick.

The visitors had a chance to reduce the arrears in first half injury-time, but Jamie Paterson's effort from Ethan Laird's right-wing cut-back was well wide and the Hatters went into the interval with a three-goal cushion.

Swansea boss Russell Martin made all three changes at the break, replacing and they came out on the front foot, Michael Obafemi firing just over and Paterson rattling the crossbar in the opening three minutes.

But Town were soon in the ascendency once more, Osho crossing from the left and opposite wing-back Bree racing in to volley narrowly wide of the far post.

It should have been four in the 58th minute when Mpanzu did wonderfully well on the left to win the ball and beat two players, then feed Adebayo inside. The two-goal striker unselfishly played Cornick in to his right, but he was denied a third goal of the season by the post, with Hamer gratefully in the right place to gather Bree's overhead kick from the rebound.

Jones introduced Clark in place of Berry, who left the field to a standing ovation just after the hour, but it was the Swans who halved the deficit in the 63rd minute, Paterson's 20-yard half-volley taking two deflections off Burke and Naismith to wong-foot Sluga, who did well to get a hand to the ball, but couldn't get back in time to prevent it going over the line.

Piroe steered a near post volley over the bar, then fired high and wide from the left angle of the area with 15 minutes to go as City looked to get further back into things.

Jones, meanwhile, withdrew Cornick and threw on the experience of Cameron Jerome in a bid to see out the last quarter of an hour.

That task was made more difficult with five minutes left, however, when Ntcham hit a bullet of a shot from 25 yards that flew past Sluga into the top corner, via another wicked deflection off Mpanzu.

Two minutes into injury-time the visitors were level, the ball being worked across the edge of the box to Piroe, who curled a left-footer into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Goals:

Hatters - Berry 7, Adebayo 15 (pen), 23

City - Paterson 63, Ntcham 85, Piroe 90+2

Attendance: 9,721 (831 away)

Nathan Jones' reaction to Swansea draw

Manager Nathan Jones admitted his side ‘couldn’t maintain’ their first-half performance after suffering late heartbreak against Swansea City this afternoon.

After an electric start to the match thanks to goals from Luke Berry and Elijah Adebayo, the away side hit back in the second period with three goals of their own, condemning Jones’ side to a fourth draw in a row.

“That is the way the Championship is. We’re absolutely cruising at three-nil, Elijah should have made it four, Harry should have made it four and we didn’t. Couldn’t fathom the end of the game, they were gambling and pushing forward, and we couldn’t get a grip on the game.

"We changed and put some fresh legs on but then they scored three from outside the box and it is disappointing because at three-nil up, you should win the game.”

It was an extremely dominant first-half performance from the Hatters, who found themselves three-goals ahead by the half-hour mark, but weren’t able to sustain that same level of performance in following 45.

“We just couldn’t maintain it. Third game in a week, weren’t really able to freshen anything up, same players had to go through the same things all over again because we have so many injuries.

"Kal Naismith is playing with an injury, Gabe Osho played his first game ever at left-back, so they’re doing wonderful things but I can’t fathom what is going on at the moment in terms of our injuries because that has curtailed us today, we look dead on our feet.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qq_IXtzoXT0 – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY5UGB-K8Gs – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wh_OyrSJWc – Elijah Adebayo interview

Hatters let a three-goal lead slip as Swansea net stoppage time equaliser

Championship: Luton Town 3 Swansea City 3

For the third game running, Luton were involved in a game with a stoppage time equaliser, although this time it wasn't the Hatters celebrating as Swansea City hit back from 3-0 down at half time to earn a point at Kenilworth Road.

After a first period in which the Hatters simply bossed proceedings, scoring three times, they looked to have the points in the bag on the hour mark when Harry Cornick was played clean through by Elijah Adebayo.

Faced with just Ben Hamer to beat and add a fourth that would have surely killed off the Swans, Cornick could only sidefoot against the inside of the post, City making them pay wit three goals in the final 25 minutes to secure what had looked an unlikely share of the spoils.

Boss Nathan Jones made two changes for the contest, Adebayo and Gabe Osho coming into the side for Cameron Jerome, who dropped to the bench and Amari'i Bell, who dropped out completely.

For the third game running though, Luton were forced into a change prior to kick-off, although this time it was among the substitutes, Danny Hylton missing out, with youth teamer Aidan Francis-Clarke named instead, although there was a return for Jordan Clark following his sickening collision against West Bromwich Albion last month.

Osho began at left back rather the holding role it had looked like he might occupy, as Jones stuck with his three man defence, the hosts starting with a real spring in their step.

The Hatters took the lead after just seven minutes with a marvellous finish, Cornick, who didn't need a towel to launch his long throw into the area, did just that, and when the ball was headed up into the air, Luke Berry took off to unleash a magnificent flying acrobatic volley which simply thundered past Hamer.

The visitors came with a clear gameplan in mind, which was to play out of the back at all costs, almost coming a cropper when gifting the ball straight to Henri Lansbury, who found Adebayo and he slammed over the top.

There was no such missing the target on 15minutes though when Cornick did superbly to nick the ball off Kyle Naughton, who then tripped him just inside the box for a clear penalty.

Adebyao took the ball and fairly hammered it past Hamer who had gone the right way for his second of the season, but first since the opening day.

Berry sent a left footer over the top as Town scented blood, with Swansea unable to find a plan B or C, other than a Liam Walsh free kick from 25 which was wide.

Luton's terrific start was then cemented with a truly wonderful goal on 23 minutes when Naismith, who had already found Cornick with one lovely outside of the boot pass, released a stunning crossfield pass to the right for the onrushing James Bree.

The defender controlled it in full light, looked up and slid an inch perfect cross to the back post for Adebayo to double his tally, tapping into the net from close range.

Still Luton sniffed blood, Naismith heading Lansbury's corner over the bar, as Adebayo should have completed a 18-minute hat-trick, racing through on goal, City caught square by Osho's clearance, but took a heavy touch and ended up toe-poking wide when faced with just Hamer to beat.

With the first half entering stoppage time, Swansea had their best chance, Ethan Laird doing well on the right and his cross was volleyed wide by Jamie Paterson from a few yards out.

The visitor made a triple substitution at the break, Olivier Ntcham, Ben Cabango and top scorer Joel Piroe on as they fired some early warning shots, Michael Obafemi rifling narrowly over and then Paterson clipping the bar from 20 yards.

Still Luton pressed themselves, Osho foraging down the left, his cross sliced off target by fellow full back Bree.

Just before the hour mark, Town wasted a glorious chance to sew the game up once and for all, Mpanzu doing superbly on the left to power away and keep the ball in play before finding Adebayo.

He unselfishly teed up Cornick rather than go for a treble, but with just the keeper to beat, the attacker could only hit the frame of the goal, with Bree's spectacular overhead effort from the rebound going straight to Hamer.

Luton were left to rue that miss almost immediately, as on 66 minutes, the Swans had one back, Paterson's shot deflecting off Naismith to beat Sluga who got a good hand to it, but couldn't prevent it from bouncing over the line.

Naismith sent a free kick over the top, but City kept on going, Piroe finding space to sidefoot his volley into the visiting fans behind the goal, the half time replacement then putting another decent sighter over.

Just as Luton looked like they had seen out the danger, their nerve were jangling once more with five minutes left, as Ntcham took aim from 25 yards, his effort hitting Mpanzu, veering away from the motionless Sluga, to find the top corner.

As the game entered stoppage time though, Swans had the goal they had been threatening, Piroe left in acres of space to clinically find the bottom corner.

The Hatters might have then won it themselves, Naismith's header straight at Hamer, before City almost left with all three points too, Sluga and Osho involved in a mix-up, as Obafemi was denied a decider by the outstretched legs of Lockyer and Burke.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Kal Naismith (C), Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer, Gabe Osho, Henri Lansbury, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry (Jordan Clark 61) , Harry Cornick (Cameron Jerome 76), Elijah Adebayo (Glen Rea 90).

Subs not used: James Shea, Dion Pereira, Danny Hylton, Carlos Mendes Gomes.

Swans: Ben Hamer, Ryan Bennett, Ryan Manning, Flynn Downes (Joel Piroe 46), Matt Grimes ©, Michael Obafemi, Jamie Paterson, Kyle Naughton, Ethan Laird, Liam Walsh (Olivier Ntcham 46), Rhys Williams (Ben Cabango 46).

Subs not used: Steven Benda, Jay Fulton, Korey Smith, Joel Latibeaudiere.

Bookings: Lansbury 28, Manning 28, Naismith 47.

Referee: Tony Harrington.

Attendance: 9,721 (831 Swans).

Jones: We looked dead on our feet during Swans draw

Town chief bemoans a week of travelling before Kenilworth Road clash

Town boss Nathan Jones felt his side looked ‘dead on their feet’ after the Hatters let a 3-0 half-time lead slip to draw 3-3 with Swansea City this afternoon.

The hosts had looked in complete control before even half an hour had been played, Luke Berry scoring a stunning flying volley, while Elijah Adebayo converted from the penalty spot and then tapped home the third after a wonderful moving involving Kal Naismith and James Bree.

Adebayo then missed a one-on-one moments later, before the second half saw Harry Cornick go clean through only to fire against the post, as the Swans, who had made three changes at the break, came roaring back.

Jamie Paterson (66) and Olivier Ntcham (85) both beat Simon Sluga from outside the box via deflections, with Joel Piero drilling into the bottom corner during stoppage time to salvage an unlikely point.

The visitors then almost won it, Michael Obafemi crowded out after Sluga had gone walkabout, as Jones felt his team paid the price for trips to Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City in the week, whereas City had been held to goalless draws on home soil in their two matches.

The Town chief was also hindered by another injury in the warm-up, the third consecutive game it has happened, Danny Hylton pulling out, to join Allan Campbell, Fred Onyedinma, Amari'i Bell and Sonny Bradley on the absentee list, as he said: “We were frustrated we were only three up at half time, we should have been out of sight.

“Elijah’s gone through at three nil, it could have been four, Harry Cornick hits the post when clean in and the game should have been put to bed

“But when you don’t do that it gives you hope, then they’ve come into it last half an hour and got three goals and that's really disappointing from our point of view.

“We looked dead on our feet.

"We've had two big away journeys and there’s no benefit for this two (away) and two (home) for me as we’ve had real trouble and I haven’t been able to make a load of changes.

“We’ve had no benefit whatsoever of having two away journeys as when we come back to play here, we haven't been able to do any work and that's tough.

“Today I thought for an hour we were excellent.

"First half was as good as defensive pressing performance as you'll see, we pressed them high and could have had far more than we did and that’s the only thing, but we didn't think we'd need more than three to win a game.

“This game should have been done and dusted, but it wasn’t and the Championship, if you don't do that, you can come unstuck.

“We should never have dropped like we did, but we looked dead, tactically whatever you would have done, we looked like we had no energy to go and press, go and win the thing.

“Then we just soaked up pressure and they scored three from outside the box, it’s not like they carved us open, they got to an area, had a shot and all three had deflections, so it’s a tough one to take.

"When you go three games and two big away journeys and playing Wednesday night and then having to go again, especially how we play, either we adjust how we play, or we've got to get our players back, and that's the way it is."

The fact that both Adebayo and Cornick missed wonderful opportunities to add a fourth and almost certainly put the game to bed was a further cause of consternation for the Town chief.

He added: “Elijah has had one first half, he's been clean in, if you do that it's four nil, if Harry scores it's five nil then it's a different game.

“But when it’s three nil, and to be fair, even their first goal, we press and we get real good pressure on it and he's just hooked it round the corner, lucky enough it's gone to someone and then they've gone out.

“So we had enough pressure on the ball, I thought our performance for an hour was excellent and unfathomably we conceded three late on and probably could have lost the game, so that’s the way it is.

“We’ve been the beneficiaries of late goals this week and now we're the victims.”