Blackpool vs Luton Town FC (30th Sep 2025)

30/09/2025 BLACKPOOL 2-2 LUTON TOWN

Late goals earn Town point

Substitutes Clark and Kodua strike late as Hatters draw 2-2 at Bloomfield Road

Two goals in a dramatic final 12 minutes earned the Hatters a point as they fought back from two goals down at Bloomfield Road.

The Town had trailed to two CJ Hamilton goals either side of the break but goals from substitutes Jordan Clark and Gideon Kodua rescued a point for Matt Bloomfield’s men.

Clark brought the Hatters back into the game with a deflected strike on 78 minutes before Kodua converted an injury-time penalty after he was fouled by the hosts’ Olly Casey to level it up.

Blackpool dominated the opening exchanges and took a deserved lead on nine minutes when former Hatters loanee Josh Bowler picked up a loose ball from Ashley Fletcher’s flick, fed Hamilton to the left of the Town area and the ex-Mansfield man’s left-footed shot beat Josh Keeley at his near post.

After a lengthy hold-up for Blackpool right-back Danny Imray to be carried off on a stretcher, Town mounted their first attack of any note with 17 minutes on the clock.

Zack Nelson and Milli Alli combined well on the left, but the latter’s cross flew tamely into Northern Ireland international keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s hands. It was a start, however, as Town grew into the game.

Alli soon arced a cross past the far post, before he then put Cohen Bramall in to the left byline to flash the ball across the six-yard box, with Shayden Morris just missing out as he raced in from the opposite flank.

Blackpool threatened again at the other end as Fletcher hung in the air to direct a header on target from a Hamilton cross, but Keeley saved comfortably before the Town then put their best move of the game together. Nelson and Christ Makosso linked up brilliantly on the right to find Lamine Fanne, whose 15-yard shot was tipped over by Peacock-Farrell.

Fanne’s work-rate was on display when he raced back to dispossess Dale Taylor on the edge of the Town box as the Blackpool forward looked to get a shot off as the Tangerines countered.

Town’s best chance of the half came in the 40th minute when Nahki Wells helped Mads Andersen’s ball around the corner to Fanne, who was confronted by Peacock-Farrell as he looked set to poke the ball past the keeper.

Fanne retained possession and laid it back for Nelson, who looked to pick his spot but his goalbound effort was blocked by Casey and Alli fired the rebound over from a tight angle.

Just as they had the first half, Blackpool started the second in the ascendancy, Makosso having to be alert to come across from right-back to block a shot from Taylor as the Tangerines worked an opening down their right.

But the second goal came on 53 minutes and it was Hamilton again who had the freedom of Bloomfield Road to race onto a through ball from Jordan Brown, who had dispossessed Alli on the edge of the Blackpool area, and fire past Keeley for his second of the game.

Bloomfield made a triple substitution with Clark, Kodua and Joe Gbodé coming on in place of Nelson, Alli and Wells.

Kodua took aim from 25 yards after Saville picked him out with a sharp pass through midfield, but the West Ham loanee’s shot was off target before Clark whipped a low cross in from the edge of the box as Town threatened briefly.

It was end-to-end as Hamilton got another shot looking for his hat-trick at the other end with just under 20 minutes left, Makosso again doing well to block.

Morris and Fanne were replaced by Jake Richards and Lasse Nordås with 15 minutes to go, and Kodua was soon seeing a volley deflected wide before Nordås glanced a far-post header wide from Clark’s corner.

However, the Hatters were back in it in the 78th minute when Saville found Clark to the right of the Blackpool area, and the midfielder’s shot from just outside the box took a wicked deflection off Casey’s back and left Peacock-Farrell rooted to the spot.

Buoyed by the goal, Bramall sent a couple of dangerous crosses in from the left, the second finding Gbode’s head, but the recent signing from Gillingham couldn’t direct his effort on target.

But the Town were to reward the 500 travelling fans as the game ticked into injury when Kodua was fouled by Casey. Referee Woods initially waved play on before calling the foul back and pointing to the spot. West Ham loanee Kodua dusted himself down before dispatching the penalty to make it 2-2.

With their tails up the Hatters went in search of a late, late winner but the hosts saw out the remaining time and the Town were content with a point on the road.

It’s a shorter trip on Saturday when we head to Stevenage. We’ll see you there. Good night.

Town: Keeley, Makosso, Andersen, Naismith, Bramall, Morris (sub Richards 74), Saville, Fanne (sub Nordås 75), Nelson (sub Clark 57), Alli (sub Kodua 57), Wells (sub Gbodé 57).

Subs not used: Shea, Nakamba.

Attendance: 8,530, including 491 backing the Town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eFvaxw0Zg0 – Matt Bloomfield interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viH46MOJssM – match highlights

League One: Blackpool 2 Luton Town 2

Kodua on the spot in stoppage time to earn Luton a dramatic point at Blackpool

Gideon Kodua scored a stoppage time penalty as Luton hit back from 2-0 down to earn a dramatic point at Blackpool this evening.

The Hatters looked like they were about to slump to yet another disappointing result on the road, breached twice by CJ Hamilton, the second arriving with 53 minutes on the clock, as it looked like Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers was just going to have papered over the cracks for manager Matt Bloomfield.

However, the boss then rang the changes, crucially bringing on Kodua and Jordan Clark, as a deflected Clark attempt halved the deficit on 78 minutes, with Kodua then winning and converting an even later penalty to ensure Town left with a point on their tally. The visitors made just one change for the contest, Cohen Bramall replacing Teden Mengi who had a knock, as he went to the left back berth, with Kal Naismith slotting in at centre half alongside Mads Andersen.

Luton didn’t look anywhere near the kind of solid outfit they had been from the weekend, as they barely got out of their half in the opening stages, with former Hatter Josh Bowler pulling the strings for the hosts. It didn’t come as too much of a surprise when the Tangerines took the lead either, Bowler picking up a loose ball and finding Hamilton, who stood up Christ Makosso and fired low through the body of Josh Keeley, who wouldn’t have been happy to have conceded in such a manner.

Having kept three successive clean sheets here on their last three trips, one in which Tom Lockyer in particular was superb, how Luton must have wished they could have emulated those kinds of showings, the hosts going on to dominate the opening stages, as the visitors’ clearances were just continually coming back at them.

After a lengthy stoppage following an injury to Danny Imray, which saw him replaced by Andy Lyons, although the game began to take place slightly more in the hosts’ half, the Tangerines still retained a clear threat on the break, Hamilton escaping on the left to pick out Dale Taylor, his header straight at Keeley.

Midway through the half Town did begin to threaten more often, a lovely sliderule pass by Zack Nelson releasing Makosso, who picked out Lamine Fanne first time, the midfielder’s shot tipped over by Bailey Peacock-Farrell. Town continued to press, getting the ball wide to good effect, Bramall’s ball in blocked behind, but the visitors’ corners weren’t providing the threat they wanted, too often overhit and going harmlessly behind for a goal kick.

Nelson tried to take matters into his own hands from 30 yards, blazing over when he had space to run into and team-mates in front of him, but with five minutes to go until half time, Luton almost got through again, an impudent flick from Wells releasing Fanne, who couldn’t get past an onrushing Peacock-Farrell, with Nelson’s goalbound follow-up charged away and then Alli’s finishing yet letting him down once more from a tight angle.

Needing a big second half to avoid further pressure being heaped on Bloomfield, Town almost fell 2-0 behind inside 40 seconds, Taylor somehow escaping the defence’s attentions, Makosso over to block in the nick of time. They did double their lead on 53 minutes though, when Luton had a lengthy spell of possession on their left, but were unable to get the ball into the area, and with Alli once more getting caught on the ball, as he had done on numerous occasions through the evening, as the hosts quickly moved it to their left.

Hamilton took off and with the visitors’ defence out of position, having committed too many men forward, was able to burst clear and beat Keeley for the second time to double the hosts’ lead. Town then made an instant triple substitution, with Kodua, Joe Gbode and Clark on for Nelson, Wells and Alli, who had an evening to forget.

The changes didn’t initially appear to alter much, Blackpool close to a third when Hamilton picked out Bowler, but falling back, his volley bounced into the ground and went over. Kodua did try and pull one back on 63 minutes, freed by Saville’s pass in the centre, as he sped away and pulled the trigger from 25 yards, watching it fly narrowly wide of the target.

Clark did the same on 70 minutes, as that looked the only way that Town were going to get back into the game, such was their inability to pick out a green shirt inside the box. Bloomfield then went to the bench again with 15 to go, Lasse Nordas and Jake Richards on, as Nordas should really have halved the deficit instantly, meeting a corner from the left but glancing wide.

Town’s policy of shooting on sight did finally pay off on 77 minutes though as Clark had a crack on his left foot as it took a hefty and fortuitous deflection off a defender to wrongfoot Peacock-Farrell who was completely rooted to his spot, the ball dribbling into the corner. Now sensing an unlikely equaliser, Bramall, who had been one bright spot from the evening, whipped over two excellent crosses from the left, the second seeing Gbode nod wide.

With time running out, the visitors were then awarded a penalty in rather bizarre fashion in the 90th minute, Kodua cleaned out in the area by Oliver Casey, with referee Martin Woods playing the advantage for Town to get their shot off, but once Peacock-Farrell had completed the save, he then blew his whistle and pointed to the spot, much to the annoyance of the home supporters.

It was left to Kodua to assume responsibility and the youngster did just that, impressively keeping his cool to send Peacock-Farrell the wrong way from the spot and restore parity for the visitors. Boss Bloomfield might even have been celebrating a win, Gbode’s shot deflecting on to the roof of the net, but in the end, they had to make do with a point.

Tangerines: Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Olly Casey, Jordan Brown, Albie Morgan, Ashley Fletcher (Tom Bloxham 71), Hayden Coulson, Dale Taylor (Lee Evans 81), Josh Bowler (Emil Hansson 81), Michael Ihiekwe ©, CJ Hamilton, Danny Imray (Andy Lyons 16). Subs not used: Franco Ravizzoli, Fraser Horsfall, Zac Ashworth,

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Christ Makosso, Mads Andersen, Kal Naismith ©, Cohen Bramall, George Saville, Lamine Fanne (Lasse Nordas 75), Shayden Morris (Jake Richards 75), Zack Nelson (Gideon Kodua 57), Milli Alli (Jordan Clark 57), Nahki Wells (Joe Gbode 57).

Subs not used: James Shea, Marvelous Nakamba.

Booked: Fletcher 41 (Also Saville 90, Morgan 90)

Referee: Martin Woods. Attendance: 8,530. [Edit actually 8,513)

Bloomfield calls on Luton to show more consistency after Tangerines draw

Hatters claim a point after trailing 2-0 with an hour gone

Luton boss Matt Bloomfld has told his side to be more consistent after they fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Blackpool this evening.

An awful opening 15 minutes had seen Town fall behind to CJ Hamilton’s goal, as although they improved for the remainder of the first period, they then conceded again early in the second half, when Hamilton doubled his tally from a quickfire break. However, Bloomfield then rang the changes, bringing on Jordan Clark, Gideon Kodua and Joe Gbode with 57 minutes gone, Lasse Nordas and Jake Richards then joining them with 15 to go.

It worked too, Clark’s deflected attempt making it 2-1 on 77 minutes, before Kodua was fouled in the area for a penalty in stoppage time, as the West Ham loanee stepped up to earn his side a point. Speaking afterwards, Bloomfied said: “I thought the difference between our performance was either very, very good at times and very, very poor at times.

"We’ve got to be more consistent in our performance, we’ve got to respect the basics of the game more, do the ugly side, or the basics, whatever you want to describe it, better, because we’re playing some really good football. We created numerous opportunities and to keep fighting, a couple of weeks ago we went to Lincoln and we went under, tonight we kept fighting, so I’m really proud of the group.”

Bloomfield demands Town's defending improves although hopes spirits are boosted by late comeback

Luton chief sees visitors back from 2-0 down to earn a point

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield wants his side’s defending to improve and quickly althoughts hopes spirits among the squad have been boosted by hitting back to draw 2-2 at Blackpool last night.

The visitors, as they had done against Lincoln City recently, made a terrible start to the contest at Bloomfield Road, unable to really lay a glove on their hosts, who were sitting second bottom in the table before kick-off. They fell beyond with just nine minutes gone, a ball wide to CJ Hamilton, seeing the winger stand up makeshift right back Christ Makosso and then unleash a shot that flew through Josh Keeley, who should have done better, and into the net.

An injury to Danny Imray led to a delay, as from then on, Town improved, having the better of the rest of the first period, Lamine Fanne twice going close, while Zack Nelson saw his shot charged down too. However, after the break, the Hatters then conceded again early when Milli Alli frustratingly gave the ball away once more in an advanced position, the hosts quickly transferring the ball forward where Hamilton had the run on Makosso to go through and beat the advancing Keeley once more.

Despite that, Town were able to get back into the game thanks to goals from substitutes Jordan Clark with 13 minutes left and Gideon Kodua, who netted an injury time penalty. It saw the Hatters finish with over 60 percent possession and 15 shots to 11, while they also had 37 touches in the home team’s box as opposed to 18 from their opponents, with eight corners to three as well.

It was something Blomfield pointed to when asked if the result only was enough to paper over the cracks, as he said: “I haven’t really given that much thought. The problems are that we’re not defending direct footballs, so we have to be better at that, but on the balance of play, on all the data, on all the shots, we’ve come away from home and created better opportunities. We started slowly, peoples opinions I can’t affect, I just have to concentrate on the job.

“The first goal is so disappointing, a long ball up to the big man who flicks it on and it’s really disappointing to give the goal away. We prepared, we knew what was coming, we understood the physical aspect of what we needed to stand up to and I think it was really disappointing on our behalf and we have to do better in those moments."

The second goal saw Makosso caught out again as he was too far up the pitch, which allowed Hamilton to gallop into the space behind him to draw Keeley and then fire into the net. With Town sticking with a back four for the second game running, and the Congo-born youngster playing out of position yet again, Bloomfeld continued: “We’ve just transitioned to a back four.

"We’ve got a young guy who’s a centre back playing at right full back as we don’t have any other full backs fit right now and occasionally positioning is not going to be perfect, but that’s where we’re at. We believe in Christ a lot, we think a lot of him and I just think we got too high in that moment. We obviously wanted to get the goal back, we dominated that part of the game and we weren’t balanced enough and the break hurt us.”

Although they found themselves 2-0 behind, Bloomfield raided the bench immediately with Clark, Kodua and Joe Gbode thrown into the fray. They were joined with 73 gone by Lasse Nordas and Jake Richards, as despite the perilous situation, Bloomfield always felt Town could get back into the contest, saying: “Yes, I believe in our group.

“It was just the energy they brought to the pitch. The game was there for us, the gameplan was there, everything that we expected to happen happened. We didn't do it well enough at times and the substitutes came on with a real zip about them, an edge about them, we didn’t change anything apart from the fact that there were new bodies on the pitch.

"I was really disappointed that we found ourselves 2-0 down as on the balance of play, the first 15 minutes was all Blackpool. We didn’t come out quick enough or sharp enough, second balls, duels, headers, we didn’t do that well enough. But apart from that I felt the game was ours. A lot of territory, a lot of dominance in our opposition’s half, so I always felt like we had an opportunity to be back in the game.

"It never felt away from us, the second goal was disappointing as we gave ourselves a mountain to climb, but I always felt it was there for us and I’m glad that it came through. Anyone who knows me knows how important I value the whole squad. I thought Gideon was absolutely fantastic, has an edge about him, a resilience, we think a lot of him as you know, we signed him three times. Clicks is just class at any level he plays at, Lasse, Joe and Jakey Richards, I thought all five of them really contributed when we needed. So a few of them have put their hands up to start on Saturday that’s for sure.”

With Town facing what could be an even tougher test this weekend when they head to a Stevenage side sitting second in the table, then asked how much the Hatters can use the comeback as a boost, he added: “A lot I hope because this group is evolving, it’s growing. We’re not the finished article yet but we are showing some good shoots. There’s also elements we need to be better at, so we’ve just got to keep working and keep getting better, but for team spirit and camaraderie, results like that can only be good.”