Peterborough United vs Luton Town FC (9th Aug 2025)

09/08/2025 Peterborough United 0-2 Luton Town

Second half goals seal away win for Town

Mads and Clicker on target as Town record a second successive win

Second half goals from Mads Andersen and Jordan Clark proved enough for Luton Town to record a second successive win and continue our 100 per cent start to the Sky Bet League One campaign at Peterborough.

Nearly 3,000 travelling Hatters sang themselves hoarse as Matt Bloomfield’s new-look side produced another thoroughly professional performance to once again keep the opponent at arms’ length, while growing steadily into the season.

It wasn’t spectacular. At times it was a scrap.

But when it came to the crunch, Bloomfield’s evolving team were always in control and produced the moments of quality that secured another three points on the road, the six-month long winless run of last season a distant memory as we made it four wins from our last six away league matches across the two campaigns.

Recent signing from Swansea, Jerry Yates, was thrown in for his debut up front, while Shandon Baptiste came in for Liam Walsh in midfield, the manager praising the latter in his post-match interviews for his attitude in ensuring his replacement and partner, George Saville, were right at it in the warm-up, not to mention his half-hour long contribution to help see the game out.

But while there was a new look up top, with summer signing Nahki Wells dropping in to play as a number ten from the left, behind Yates, while Clark did the job from the right, it was the only two players in the starting line-up who remain from our Premier League campaign that did the damage.

After a fairly even first half in which Christ Makosso blazed the Town’s best chance over the bar after Kal Naismith and Wells had turned Clark’s deep 19th-minute corner into his path, and then the skipper himself had dragged a shot into the side-netting when set up by Milli Alli in the opening minute of the second, it was Andersen who got us going.

An hour was on the clock when the tireless Yates did well to run the right channel and win a corner, which Saville arced deep towards the far post where Andersen held off his marker to head firmly past Posh keeper Nicholas Bilokapic.

It was only the Dane’s second goal in a Town shirt, the other being that maiden Premier League goal against West Ham almost two years ago.

After a man-of-the-match performance in last week’s 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon, the 27-year-old continued to put his injury problems of the past two years behind him with another totemic role at the heart of Bloomfield’s back three.

Seven minutes later, another lovely move down the Town right led to Nigel Lonwijk, on as a half-time replacement for the injured Reu Walters, cutting a ball back for the excellent Baptiste, who might wish he’d shot first time, rather than attempting to side-step his man in the box.

The Hatters were in complete control with Peterborough’s only threat, other than a tight-angled first half shot from Bradley Ihionvien that Josh Keeley did well to repel, being a 73rd-minute free-kick from distance that Harley Mills curled up and over the wall, but wide of the Irish keeper’s left post.

The killer second goal came with five minutes of normal time to play, as the hosts attempted to play out from a goal-kick. Sub George Nevett played it back to Bilokapic, who was forced almost back to his goal-line and in between his posts. The keeper’s touch wasn’t great, and Wells ran like he had all afternoon to close him down, turn and control the ball into the path of Clark.

The Yorkshireman who scored our most famous goal of the modern era under Wembley’s Arch, and who has made a habit of scoring award winners from distance, needed no second invitation to calmly wrong-foot the covering defender and roll the ball into an otherwise empty net.

Cue pandemonium in the away end and a deserved standing ovation for each of the players who made way for second-half finishers – Yates, Wells and Baptiste – but especially for Clicker.

The 31-year-old's name was sung loud and proud as he was replaced by Zack Nelson with a minute of added time to play, moments after Makosso had stung Bilokapic's palms from distance and Lamine Fanne had headed the resulting corner wide.

Luton are back, they also sang. And while it’s early days, these small steps being taken are adding up to a very healthy looking League One table, and a growing belief among a team that is going to get better with every minute they spend together, either out on a pitch or working diligently at The Brache.

So far, so good. See you at Coventry for some midweek Carabao Cup action. If not, then up at Bradford next Saturday for our next league date.

Town: Keeley, Walters (Lonwijk 46), Makosso, Andersen, Naismith, Alli, Baptiste (Walsh 70), Saville, Clark (Nelson 99), Wells (McGuinness 87), Yates (Fanne 71).

Subs not used: Shea, Woodrow.

Goals: Andersen 60, Clark 85

Posh: Bilokapic, Johnston (c) (Lindgren 79), Collins, Wallin (Dornelly 87), Khela, Ihionvien, Odoh (Lisbie 61), Hayes, O'Brien-Brady, Mills (Nevett 78), Okagbue.

Subs not used: Reyes (GK), De Havilland, Conn-Clarke.

Ref: Scott Oldham

Att: 10,827 (2,995 in the away end)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sykF3RoJy4 – match highlights

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZbtW1Lg5t0 – Matt Bloomfield post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfvHw4OPtVs – game day unmasked

League One: Peterborough United 0 Luton Town 2

Andersen and Clark on target as Luton see off Peterborough

Second half goals from Mads Andersen and Jordan Clark saw Luton maintain their 100 percent start to the season courtesy of a much improved second half performance at Peterborough United this afternoon.

Following an insipid opening 45 minutes in the Cambridgeshire sun, Matt Bloomfield’s side looked to have that bit more intensity about them after the break, and once they broke the deadlock through Andersen’s header, there was never any concerns about where the points would end up. Ahead of kick-off, new signing Jerry Yates was handed an instant start as one of two changes, Shandon Baptiste also in, Nigel Lonwijk and Liam Walsh dropping to the bench.

The hosts had the first real attempt on target, but it was easy for Josh Keeley, as he was able to gather Brandon Khela's weak attempt from range. Town couldn't really get any sights of goal themselves in the opening 15 minutes as although both Yates and Nahki Wells broke the offside trap to the fury of the home support, the visitors weren't able to create a meaningful opportunity.

Luton should then have taken the lead on 18 minutes though when Clark's corner was met at the back post by Kal Naismith as the ball dropped invitingly for Christ Makosso who could only slam over the top on his left foot from 10 yards. The Hatters then started to enjoy their best period of play, as the midfield began to get to grips with things, Clark with one beautiful raking pass out to Mill Alli, with Baptiste doing the same twice in quick succession to Reuell Walters, but his delivery from the right flank was lacking.

It led to the game finally start to open up though, as a long ball saw the visitors caught out defensively, allowing Bradley Ihionvien to crack a shot that Keeley was able to easily parry away. Those bright moments then faded, as neither Yates or Wells got any real service, Alli also well marshalled on the left hand side, as the ball spend precious little time in Luton's final third, barring an Alli cross that went into the side-netting, Nicholas Bilokapic not tested once.

Wells did then fluff a great chance on the stroke of half time, as Keeley pumped the ball forwards and Alli caused trouble allowing the ball to bounce through to the summer addition who just needed to touch and shoot, but got it wrong, allowing the hosts to clear their lines. Bloomfield made one change at the break, Lonwijk coming on for Walters who had struggled at times against Abraham Odoh and not doing enough in the final third either.

Town almost made the ideal start to the second period, as Alli was sent sprinting away on the left and found the overlapping Kal Naismith but he could only sidefoot tamely into the side-netting rather than testing Bilokapic or finding a team-mate. Luton then did start to show some kind of momentum, Baptiste not pulling the trigger when he should, al winning two corners in quick succession, the second of them on the hour mark leading to the opening goal, Saville’s inswinging delivery allowing Andersen to shrug off his man and send a diving header into the net.

With the deadlock broken, Town's superiority started to shine through, as a second goal looked like it would end any hopes the hosts had of getting something from the contest, the visitors changing things up, as Walsh and Lamine Fanne came on for Baptiste and Yates. Andersen then saw yellow for clipping his man, Harley Mills ambitiously trying to beat Keeley from almost 35 yards, the Town stopper allowing it to fly wide of the target.

Luton did get that second goal which they had been threatening, as a poor backpass put Bilokapic in a tight spot, immediately under pressure from Wells, who was able to block his clearance and then find Clark who cleverly evaded a last-ditch sliding tackle and then virtually walk the ball into the net. Makosso, urged on by the 4,000 travelling fans, had another pop afterwards, this time from further out, locating the target this time, only to see Posh’s Australian stopper make an awkward stop.

Injuries to home defender Carl Johnston and one of the linesmen led to 10 minutes of stoppage time being played, but the Hatters, as they had done throughout the majority of the contest, never looked like in any danger of conceding as they comfortably saw out another three points, also earning a second successive clean sheet to make it the perfect start to the campaign.

Posh: Nicholas Bilokapic, Carl Johnston (C Gustav Lindgren 79), Archie Collins, Oscar Wallin (James Dornelly 87), Brandon Khela, Bradley Ihonvien, Abraham Odoh (Kyrell Lisbie 61), Cian Hayes, Donay O’Brien-Brady, Harley Mils (George Nevett 78), David Okagbue. Subs not used: Vicente Reyes, Ryan De Havilland, Chris Conn-Clarke.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Reuell Walters (Nigel Lonwijk 46), Christ Makosso, Mads Andersen, Kal Naismith, Milli Alli, George Saville, Jordan Clark (Zack Nelson 97), Shandon Baptiste (Liam Walsh 71), Nahki Wells (Mark McGuinness 87), Jerry Yates (Lamine Fanne 71). Subs not used: James Shea, Cauley Woodrow, Booked: Okagbue 62, Andersen 72, Khela 82, Wells 84.

Referee: Scott Oldham.

Attendance: 10,827.

Luton boss admits there were some 'raised voices' at the break during Posh victory

Bloomfield had been disappointed with opening 45 minutes

Hatters boss Matt Bloomfield revealed that there were some ‘raised voices’ during the half time interval of their 2-0 victory at Peterborough United this afternoon.

Having made two changes from the 1-0 win over AFC Wimbledon, new signing Jerry Yates and midfielder Shandon Baptiste coming in, it led to an opening 45 minutes in which the visitors did carry anywhere the kind of attacking threat they had wanted, unable to muster a single shot on target, Christ Makosso slamming over and Nahki Wells’ touch letting him down inside the area.

That all changed after the break though, as Town’s players were out early for kick-off and looked to show more intensity from the first whistle, Mads Andersen eventually heading George Saville’s corner beyond Nicholas Bilokapic on the hour mark and then Wells blocking the keeper’s clearance to set up Jordan Clark for a tap in with five minutes to go.

Although it led to what looks on paper like a comfortable victory, Bloomfield had been far from impressed with the opening exchanges, as he said: “That’s the relentless nature, that’s the identity we want to have. We weren’t happy at half time as a group, the boys weren’t happy with where it was at, I certainly wasn’t happy. We had words, and they reacted in the right way.

"The boys spoke really well at half time, before I had a chance to speak. We just didn’t quite get our press right and quite play with the right intensity. We can’t expect to just win games easily, it’s not the case. Darren’s (Ferguson) a fantastic manager and his teams play with a real style and identity. It was never going to be an easy day for us, absolutely not, but we know we want to be the best we can be.

"The boys spoke and I spoke, we wanted more from ourselves and each other, and we went and did that second half. We’ve got such a good leadership in terms of experience and voices and before I even had the opportunity they were talking to each other, what they wanted to do better. There were a couple of raised voices as we know how good we can be and we want to get there as quickly as we can, but it’s not going to look perfect overnight either

"I know that and the boys know that. It’s an ongoing process and that’s why I’m really pleased with their integrity, the way they know themselves that it wasn’t quite right. The first half wasn’t quite right, and they absolutely went and implemented everything I asked in the second half. I’m so proud of that performance second half, that’s what we want to be and the boys delivered, so I was really pleased with the group.”

Once Town had broken the deadlock through Andersen’s first goal for the club since netting in the 2-1 Premier League defeat to West Ham United in September 2023, there was never a question as to where the points would end up. It heightens the importance of Town getting that first goal this term, as Bloomfield added: “We’re still getting players up to speed with their fitness, we’re still an ongoing process to get to where we want to get to. Away from home you’ve always got to respect that it’s never going to be easy, but once we got that first goal it was going to be crucial.”