Stevenage vs Luton Town FC (4th Oct 2025)

04/10/2025 STEVENAGE 2-0 LUTON TOWN

Hatters slip to defeat at Stevenage

Town succumb to two second half goals at Broadhall Way

The Town slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Stevenage.

Matt Bloomfield made four changes to the side that came from two goals down to earn a point at Blackpool on Tuesday.

Three of those were players who came off the bench at Bloomfield Road. Gideon Kodua won and scored the penalty on Tuesday night while Norwegian striker Lasse Nordås also started in attack. Midfielder Jake Richards was given his first league start since joining in the summer and Teden Mengi returned to the centre of defence. Milli Alli, Shayden Morris and Nahki Wells dropped to the bench while Zack Nelson was left out.

In what was a largely forgettable first half dominated by the blustery conditions, the Town almost had the lead inside five minutes when Cohen Bramall latched onto a through ball by Richards to send a shot from the edge of the box narrowly over the crossbar.

On 13 minutes the hosts almost had the lead themselves – this time a fine defensive intervention from Mads Andersen denied home striker Jamie Reid, who had skipped past Josh Keeley.

In truth, those two moments were the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes as they struggled to cope with the wind.

After the break, Keeley needed to be on his toes to deny Reid on 48 minutes and then Harvey White moments later.

However, the Town should have taken the lead on 54 minutes. Richards’ cute lay-off released Bramall down the left and his cross was met by Nordås who, six yards out, could not force his shot past Filip Marschall in the Boro goal.

It would prove to be a crucial moment as, 11 minutes later, the hosts took the lead. Boro broke down the left and, after a cross was half-cleared, Chem Campbell ran onto the loose ball and curled a fine first-time strike into the far corner.

In response, Bloomfield made a quadruple substitution, introducing Joe Gbodé, Morris, Alli and Jordan Clark but, within 90 seconds of their arrival, it was 2-0 when Boro substitute Jordan Roberts drilled a low finish past Keeley.

With their tails up, the hosts almost made it 3-0 on 74 minutes – Keeley holding onto a goal-bound header from Reid before Kal Naismith denied Reid again with a last-ditch tackle moments later.

The Town knew they had recovered from two goals down already this week to grab a point and, as they went in search of the same, Morris wasn’t far away from connecting with Bramall’s low cross with 12 minutes left.

But it should have been game over on 81 minutes when Reid strode clear of the Hatters defence but somehow shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

As time ticked down, Bramall saw a free-kick well saved by Marschall on 84 minutes before Naismith saw an effort cleared from danger in the closing minutes.

But they would prove to the final chances as the Hatters were left to reflect on a frustrating afternoon.

Town: Keeley, Makosso, Naismith, Mengi, Andersen (sub Alli 68), Saville, Richards (sub Clark 68), Fanne (sub Wells 81), Kodua (sub Morris 68), Bramall, Nordås (sub Gbodé 68).

Subs not used: Shea, Nakamba.

Attendance: 7,228, including 1,363 backing the Town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG9tFf8NbpQ – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sda1zAgl8e4 – Matt Bloomfield interview

League One: Stevenage 2 Luton Town 0

Bloomfield's misery deepens as Town are swept side by Stevenage

Luton’s boss Matt Bloomfield saw the pressure on his job ramped up after what was yet another thoroughly demoralising 2-0 defeat at new League One leaders Stevenage this afternoon.

What had been an even opening hour, low on any real moments of class, was then changed completely when the hosts moved in front midway through the second period, doubling their lead soon afterwards, as such is Town’s brittle confidence, shoulders slumped and heads quickly dropped to the floor, meaning there was only one winner from the moment on.

It meant Bloomfield came in for yet more abuse from the near 1,400 visiting supporters during that second period and following the full time whistle, and leaves Town’s board with a real decision to make, as the Hatters fell to 11th in the table, eight points away from the top two ahead of an international break next weekend.

Prior to kick-off, Luton, who were two unbeaten going into the contest, made four changes, as Teden Mengi came back into the centre of defence, which saw Kal Naismith move out to the left back role. Three of the subs who helped the Hatters to a point at Bloomfield Road in midweek got their chance from the first whistle as well, summer signing Jake Richards in for his full league debut, while penalty hero Gideon Kodua returned, with Lasse Nordas preferred upfront to Nahki Wells, who dropped to the bench with Shayden Morris and Milli Alli, as Zack Nelson missed out completely.

Luton should really have opened the scoring with their first attack of note on five minutes, as a brilliant move started by Christ Makosso’s Cruyff turn inside his own half saw the ball played one touch through Kodua and Nordas for Richards. He looked up and rolled a perfectly weighted pass for the onrushing Bramall, but under pressure from a covering defender, he lofted his shot over keeper Filip Marschall, but also disappointingly over the bar.

Boro then had a decent spell and might have gone ahead on 12 minutes when top scorer Jamie Reid beat the offside trap to go through and get the better of the advancing Josh Keeley, pulling the trigger to try and find the unguarded net, only to see Mads Andersen make a superb last-ditch to prevent his attempt crossing the line.

With the driving wind playing a factor, Luton struggled to really make the ball stick upfront which allowed the hosts to reassert the pressure on their opponents as they shaded both territory and possession, leading to a game that was a tough watch for those who had given up their afternoon to do so.

In the latter stages of the first period, Town finally started to get the ball in advanced areas, Richards almost finding some space in the box on 36 minutes, as when Boro tried to run it away from danger, Kodua made a fine challenge to win it back, only for Makosso, with Nordas screaming for the ball on his right, to try his luck from 30 yards, the defender without a goal for the club, dragging poorly wide.

Midfielder George Saville continued to show his worth to the visitors, preventing Reid from being able to turn in the area, while after the break, Nordas, who had struggled with his hold-up play all game, was played in on the left, his cross finding its way through to Maksosso who was right to have a crack this time, seeing it charged down.

Keeley had a moment of fortune when White was able to get a shooting opportunity from 20 yards, the Irishman getting the ball away and the rebound cleared. As Town started to up the ante slightly themselves, Richards showing what he can do when having space, a first time flick through to the advancing Bramall whose first time cross was met by Nordas from a couple of yards out, Marschall spreading himself to save with his legs.

Makosso had an attempt blocked away as Luton began to enjoy the better of the match for the first time, but such was the nature of the contest, it soon became a midfield battle once more. However, they were then undone with the first real moment of quality as the hosts moved ahead on 65 minutes as when a Luton move broke down, the ball was transferred forward quickly once more with Dan Kemp freed on the hosts’ left.

It looked like his cross had been cut out by Andersen, only for the ball to then rebound into the path of Chem Campnell who was able to curl his shot beyond the despairing dive of Keeley and into the corner of the net. Bloomfield responded with a quadruple change three minutes later, Jordan Clark, Morris, Alli and Joe Gbode on for Richards, Andersen, Kodua and Nordas.

While they were being introduced, Boro brought on Jordan Roberts and of the five, it was he who had the best impact just on 71 minutes, with near enough his very first touch too, meeting a free kick that was cleared in his vicinity, hammering a volley that flew past Keeley at his near post.

That saw the chants against boss Bloomfield start up from the away end yet again as they had done at Lincoln recently, Town fans making it crystal clear they want a change in the dug-out, and those jeers increased when Reid’s header was pounced on by Keeley. What was the most concerning aspect was the speed in which Luton’s confidence evaporated, as there were absolutely no real signs they would come back as they had done at Blackpool in midweek, Naismith almost coming a cropper when he passed straight to an opponent, only an inch-perfect sliding tackle in the area saving his blushes.

Town might have got a goal back on 77 minutes, Bramall getting wide again, his cross just missed by Morris at the far post, however, Stevenage could and most definitely should have added to their advantage, Keeley’s goal kick caught in the wind and Town’s defence was sliced open again, with Reid sitting the stopper down but somehow sidefooting wide.

Late on, Town had their moments, Marschall penalised for handball outside his area, recovering to save Bramall’s well-struck free kick, white Naismith’s backheel was cleared away, but those final stages were met with more boos from the travelling supporters who were joining in with the taunts from their home counterparts, letting Bloomfield know what they want to happen during the international break. It’s now up to the Hatters board to decide if that is going to take place and whether there is a new man at the helm for the next league match at Mansfield in a fortnight’s time.

Boro: Filip Marschall, Luther James-Wildin, Jordan Houghton, Dan Sweeney, Dan Kemp, Charlie Goode, Lewis Freestone, Harvey White, Jamie Reid, Chem Campbell (Phoenix Patterson 90), Beryly Lubala (Jordan Roberts 68). Subs not used: Taye Ashby-Hammond, Dan Butler, Dan Phillips, Gassan Ahadme, Jasper Pattenden.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Christ Makosso, Teden Mengi, Mads Andersen, Kal Naismith ©, George Saville, Lamine Fanne (Nahki Wells 80), Gideon Kodua (Shayden Morris 68), Jake Richards (Jordan Clark 68), Cohen Bramall, Lasse Nordas (Joe Gbode 68).

Subs not used: James Shea, Marvelous Nakamba, Nahki Wells.

Booked: Makosso 34, White 39, Sweeney 45, Marschall 83.

Referee: James Bell.

Attendance: 7.288 (Hatters 1,363).

Bloomfield vows to keep on fighting after Hatters fans call for Town boss to go

Luton supporters make their feelings known during Stevenage defeat

Hatters boss Matt Bloomfield has vowed to keep concentrating solely on the job in hand despite coming in for yet more criticism from Town’s supporters following this afternoon’s 2-0 defeat at Stevenage.

The Luton chief had seen his side on level terms with an hour gone, before the deadlock was broken by Chem Campbell’s curling finish on 65 minutes, sub Jordan Roberts then doubling the hosts’ lead just six minutes later. As had happened against Lincoln City recently, it led to the near 1,400 away fans voice their frustrations towards the manager throughout the latter stages of the contest, with those jeers only growing after the full time whistle, as they made it abundantly clear they want his time in charge to come to an end.

Chief executive Gary Sweet recently stated that he would have no qualms in making the call to remove Bloomfield if results didn’t improve, and with Town now 11th in the table, three points away from the play-offs and eight adrift of the automatic promotion spots, the club’s board now appear to have a real decision on their hands.

Bloomfield himself clearly wants to battle on though, as asked about the reaction from the fans and whether he was confident that would remain in charge for Tuesday’s trip to Cambridge United in the Vertu Trophy, but more importantly the home game with Mansfield on October 18, Luton having next weekend off due to an international break, he said: “I understand people’s frustrations and they’re entitled to voice them in the way they see fit. There’s nothing I can say about that, it’s tough for the boys, but we have to stick together in tough moments and keep fighting. I’m just trying to do my job to the best of my ability.

"I feel the support (from the board) and I’m just focusing on my job the best I possibly can. Three years I’ve been doing this and that’s all I’ve ever done is focus on the job. Losing football matches I've always hated it as a player, as a coach, as a manager. When you lose it’s really, really tough and this week has given us a win, a draw and a defeat. We wanted more points than what we got out of it, but we’ve only got the four and we’ll have to get back to work, so I’ll just keep concentrating on my job, that’s all I’ve ever done.”

Meanwhile, discussing Town’s third defeat on the road in their last four matches, he added: “Scrappy first half, we had a very, very good chance (through Cohen Bramall), didn’t take it obviously and then nothing really happened in the first half. It was just a scrappy game, balls in the air, wind, that never really settled.

"We had anticipated that it might take a while to and it never really did at all in the first half. Second half I thought we were very good for 15, 20 minutes up until our opposition score, again another good chance (for Lasse Nordas), a couple of balls across the face where we’ve got to get in and get tap-ins. We’ve spoken about that a lot and then a bit of a scrappy goal, He’s taken it very, very well, we deal with the situation, ricochet drops, and it’s just disappointing what happens after that to be honest, that’s the disappointment for me.”