Luton Town FC vs Swindon Town (13th Jan 2026)

13/01/2026 LUTON TOWN 1-2 SWINDON TOWN

Vertu Trophy run ended by Swindon

Yates on target but Town exit Vertu Trophy after defeat to Robins

The Hatters’ run in the Vertu Trophy came to an end after Swindon came from a goal down to earn victory at Kenilworth Road.

Jerry Yates’ early penalty had the Town in front only for Swindon to score twice through former Hatters academy player Will Wright and Filozofe Mabete to send the Robins through to the quarter-finals.

Yates’ spot-kick, earned after Emilio Lawrence was fouled in the box, gave the Hatters – showing seven changes from Saturday’s win over Stevenage – the lead.

And Jack Wilshere’s side had chances to extend their lead with Shayden Morris warming the gloves of Swindon goalkeeper Lewis Ward and Lamine Fanne heading wide.

Lawrence, who was threat down the Town left together with full debutant Harry Fox, tested Ward with a low shot but, seven minutes before the break, Wright levelled when his cross from the left sailed into the net.

And the Robins, riding high in League Two, completed the comeback eight minutes after the restart when James Shea parried a flick-on into the path of Mabete who tucked home unopposed from close range.

Lawrence almost restored parity immediately, only to be denied by Ward before the game was halted for several minutes with confusion on the touchline.

Swindon’s Aaron Drinan tested Shea with a vicious shot on 62 minutes, and his appearance was made known to the referee with the Robins striker not listed on the official teamsheet despite him being brought on as a half-time substitute.

After discussions with both managers and captains, play continued with the Hatters making two changes of their own with Ethon Archer given his debut and Marvelous Nakamba also brought on.

Archer almost made an instant impact when haring into the box down the left but his pass for Yates was cut-out by the Swindon defence with the striker ready to pull the trigger.

Time ticked down with the Hatters pushing for an equaliser to take the tie to penalties but, despite eight added minutes and the introduction of youth team striker Dawid Gawel for his senior debut, the Town couldn’t find one and Swindon celebrated victory.

Town: Shea, Walters, Lonwijk, Makosso, Fox, Saville (sub Gawel 87), Fanne (sub Nakamba 71), Nelson, Lawrence (sub Archer 71), Morris, Yates.

Subs not used: Thomas, Johnson, Paternoster, Lortenzen-Jones.

Attendance: 3,243, including 585 in the away end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuA8OS_9CUQ – Jack Wilshere interview

Vertu Trophy: Luton Town 1 Swindon Town 2

Controversy at Kenilworth Road as Luton suffer Vertu Trophy exit to Swindon

Luton Town were knocked out of the Vertu Trophy after a 2-1 defeat against Swindon Town at Kenilworth Road this evening, although that might not actually be the case.

With an hour on the clock and the score 2-1 to the visitors, the match was called to a halt for a good eight minutes when it was pointed out to the officials that Robins substitute Aaron Drinan, who had entered the fray at the break, hadn’t been named on the official teamsheet. Referee Peter Wright stopped the game and was deep in discussion with his assistants, plus both managers too, as the contest was eventually allowed to continue and be played out to a conclusion.

With Town unable to force a penalty shootout, it remains to be seen what the outcome is and whether Swindon will be thrown out of the competition and the Hatters are allowed to progress, or indeed just be fined for the error of their ways, as has happened to Shrewsbury when they fielded an ineligible player against Chelsea U21s in the same competition and Grimsby Town when they also did so when knocking Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup earlier this campaign.

Back to the action though and Town made seven changes for the clash, giving a full first team debut to young full back Harry Fox, as he joined James Shea, Reuell Walters, George Saville, Zack Nelson, Shayden Morris and Jerry Yates in coming into the side, with only Nigel Lonwijk, Christ Makosso, Lamine Fanne and Emilio Lawrence keeping their places from the 2-1 win over Stevenage on Saturday.

Prolific young forward Dawid Gawel was on the bench, joined by U21s pair Vladimir Paternoster and Jack Lorentzen-Jones, the returning Ethon Archer also a substitutes along with Marvelous Nakamba and Joe Johnson. Town made the perfect start as on seven minutes, Lawrence showing just why Wilshere was so keen to sign him from Manchester City, doing a full 360 just outside the box and then driving into the area where he was felled by Joe Snowdon for an obvious penalty, Luton’s third in three successive home games.

Yates stepped up and scored, just about though, as his low and not that hard attempt appeared to have been easily saved by Lewis Ward, only for the ball to somehow squirm through his legs and dribble into the net. Williams gave a further demonstration as to why he has been brought in from the Etihad, demonstrating great pace to stride forward and a decent end product too, picking out Morris who stabbed goalwards, not getting the connection he desired, as from Walters’ follow-up cross, Fanne’s header landed harmlessly on the roof of the net.

Another error from Makosso, who was having a hit and miss time of it in the early stages led to former Luton forward Ollie Palmer having a cross-shot that the defender got back well to clear. Still Town attacked though, as blessed with pace on either flank, Morris picked up Lonwijk’s important clearance just outside the box and then set off, getting deep into Robins territory before being fouled by Filozofe Mabete for the game’s first booking.

Morris had a crack himself midway through the half, fizzing an attempt on his left foot that Ward was able to touch over the bar, as Walters sent in a pinpoint cross that Fanne got all wrong, heading well wide of the target. Town had another chance on 27 minutes when they won a corner which Saville delivered, Ward flapped and then breathed a huge sigh of relief when Lonwijk couldn’t find the net at the back post.

The Hatters, who were building well from deep, did so again when Saville’s pass was deftly flicked on by Yates for Fanne who in turn found Williams, the winger eager to show off his step overs before shooting low for Ward to gather. Fox, who was another having a good game, stepped in to collect a clearance and with the goal coming into sight, had a go from 25 yards that was deflected behind as Luton’s attacks continued to have a good variety about them.

Out of the blue, the hosts were pegged back on 37 minutes though when Will Wright delivered a cross-shot from the left that was missed by his team-mates and wrongfooted Shea to sneak into the corner of the net. With five minutes left, Makosso tried another ill-advised pass across his own box that was straight to an opponent, Fanne saving his bacon with a crucial sliding tackle and James Ball hammering the loose ball over.

After the break, Luton looked destined to move back in front when Lawrence’s dangerous ball in rebounded out to Fanne who unleashed a powerful attempt that hammered against a covering defender and ballooned away. Following such a dominant first period, Wilshere’s men found themselves behind on 53 minutes when Aidan Borland’s cross was met by Ollie Clarke, his simple header badly slipping out of Shea’s grasp, and taken full advantage of by Mabete who tapped in.

Saville wasn’t far off from an angled free kick, while Shea was called upon just after the hour mark when that man Drinan escaped on the left and Gavin Kilkenny fired over from 20 yards after the ball broke to him. Then came the controversy and the stoppage as with no players injured, but both sides going over to the dug-outs, it left the near 3,330 in attendance with absolutely no idea of what was happening and why, both sets of fans soon chanting ‘what’s going on’ as they were left none the wiser.

When the game did restart, Luton brought on Archer and Nakamba, two players who definitely were named on the teamsheet, as Archer had an instant impact, his cross almost turned in by Yates, denied by a fine saving tackle, and then having another delivery flicked behind for a corner. With time running out, Gawel came on for Saville following his 33 goals for the U18s and U21s this season, as he was sniffing around when the impressive Archer had a crack from outside the box, Ward holding on, almost able to pounce when Mabete almost made a hash of his clearance too.

Try as they might, Town couldn’t find a leveller, Nelson seeing his free kick deflect into the wall, as Wright’s whistle was met with muted celebrations by the visiting players and manager Ian Holloway, who clearly weren’t sure if they would be taking their place in the quarter-final draw or not.

Hatters: James Shea ©, Reuell Walters, Nigel Lonwijk, Christ Makosso, Harry Fox, Lamine Fanne (Marvelous Nakamba 71), George Saville (Dawid Gawel 87), Zack Nelson, Shayden Morris, Jerry Yates, Emilio Lawrence (Ethon Archer 71).

Subs not used: Lucas Thomas, Joe Johnson, Vladimir Paternoster, Jack Lorentzen-Jones.

Robins: Lewis Ward, Filozofe Mabete, Will Wright, James Ball, Ollie Clarke (C, Tom Nichols 77), Tom Wilson-Brown (Billy Kirkman 46), Gavin Kilkenny, Joe Snowdon (Joel McGregor 46), Aidan Borland, Ollie Palmer (A Drinan 46), Michael Olakigbe (Darren Oldaker 80).

Subs not used: Connor Ripley, Jake Tabor.

Booked: Mabete 22, McGregor 60, Walters 77, Archer 90.

Referee: Peter Wright.

Attendance: 3,243 (585 Robins).

Wilshere demands Luton improve from set-pieces after conceding two 'identical' goals in Robins loss

Town undone twice from short corners against Robins

Luton boss Jack Wilshere has demanded his side improve on set-pieces after expressing his disappointment in the way Town conceded two ‘identical’ goals during their 2-1 Vertu Trophy defeat at the hands of League Two Swindon Town last night.

The hosts, who like their opponents made seven changes on the evening, had gone in front after just seven minutes when Manchester City loanee Emilio Lawrence was fouled in the area by Joe Snowden, allowing Jerry Yates to tuck home his penalty, only just though, as goalkeeper Lewis Ward really should have saved it, the ball somehow squirming through his legs.

Town were then on the front foot for most of the rest of the first half, Swindon’s only chances coming from some errors at the back, Christ Makosso’s wayward passing the main culprit, but they levelled on 37 minutes when a short corner led to Will Wright’s cross being left by his team-mates and wrong-footing recalled stopper James Shea to nestle in the corner of the net.

After the break, the game turned into a more even contest, the Robins going ahead when yet another short corner saw the ball played out to Aidan Borland whose cross was met by Ollie Clarke’s flicked header that should have been routine for Shea. Unfortunately it slipped out of the skipper for the night’s grasp, allowing defender Filozofe Mabete to make the most of the experienced stopper’s error to find the net from a yard or so out to make it 2-1.

Following that, Luton couldn’t find an equaliser, Yates going closest when he was denied by a goal-saving tackle from Ethon Archer’s cross, Archer himself shooting at Ward from just outside the box. Having seen the Robins score from two of their three corners on the night, Wilshere was disappointed that his side didn’t make more of their opportunities, as having 13 of their own, midfielder George Saville taking eight of them, they didn’t really test Ward, especially after the break, the closest they came when Nigel Lonwijk headed wide at the back post in the first period.

Speaking afterwards, a frustrated Hatters boss said: “I thought we started really well, I thought there was a little bit of a drop off, especially second half and probably towards the end of the first half. We had total control, got the penalty, scored, probably had another couple of opportunities where we should do better and try to see the game out early, but second half I thought we dropped off a little bit and when you give two goals away that are identical it hurts as well.

"We spoke about set-pieces before the game, then spoke about it at half time and you have to understand that teams at 1-0 down, they’re comfortable, especially in this competition when you’re playing against a team from the league below. They probably accept that we’re going to create opportunities and we’ll probably score one of them, and at 1-0, they’re probably thinking stay in the game and we’ll try and get a set-piece, or a counter attack or something.

"We allowed them to do that which is frustrating and from our attacking set-pieces, I don’t think we had enough threat. We had a lot tonight, we have to do better in those moments, and you can see the importance throughout every league now of set-pieces. We practice them a lot so we have to get better at them.”

Although he made seven changes for the contest, with Shea, Saville, Yates, Reuell Walters, Harry Fox, Zack Nelson and Shayden Morris all coming in, with the U21 quartet of Dawid Gawel, Vladimir Paternoster, Jack Lorentzen-Jones and Lucas Thomas named on the bench, it demonstrated once more that Town’s battle to earn a play-off spot this term remains a priority.

Despite that, Wilshere was still disappointed that as it stands, his side are going to miss out on the potential of heading to Wembley in the final, as there is a chance Town could be reinstated following Swindon bringing on Aaron Drinan for the second half despite the substitute not being named on the teamsheet.

If Luton’s exit is confirmed, Wilshere added: “We spoke about that with the players before, I asked has Luton ever won this competition? And Harry Fox was the first one to put his hand up and say, ‘yes, we won it, we beat Scunthorpe,’ so it has a meaning. We’re disappointed with the result as we spoke about it before, we’re three games away from Wembley, three games away from probably taking 40,000 fans to Wembley and experiencing a day there which is special for anyone.

"Growing up as a young kid, all the players in there would dream of playing at Wembley, so a lot of respect for the competition. I think you can see throughout the competition, the results we’ve had, how much energy we’ve tried to put into it, so we’re disappointed. Everyone in the dressing room is disappointed, the staff are disappointed, but we have to pick ourselves up and go again for a big game (against Lincoln) at the weekend.”

Hatters boss expect EFL to investigate Swindon's ineligible player 'mistake'

Forward who wasn’t named on the teamsheet is brought on at half time

Luton boss Jack Wilshere has put his faith in the EFL to get to the bottom of tonight’s controversy in the Vertu Trophy that saw Swindon Town make what he described as a ‘mistake’ by bringing on an ineligible player during their 2-1 victory at Kenilworth Road this evening.

The Robins, level at 1-1 in the last 16 tie, made three substitutions at the break, with Billy Kirkman, Joel McGregor and Aaron Drinan all entering the fray, although the latter, their top scorer, with 19 goals already this term, hadn’t been named on the official teamsheet that was submitted prior to the contest.

He was on the field for 15 minutes which saw Swindon take the lead through Filozofe Mabete’s effort, before his inclusion was then brought to the attention of referee Peter Wright by the fourth official, with the game stopped for a good eight minutes. After discussing the incident with his assistants, Wright was then also seen speaking to both Wilshere and visiting boss Ian Holloway, but the game was allowed to continue and play out to an end, as with no further scoring, the visitors triumphed 2-1.

Although Shrewsbury were fined £30,000 for playing an ineligible player during their 3-1 victory over Chelsea U21s in August, it was when on-loan goalkeeper Elyh Harrison hadn’t received written permission from parent club Manchester United, but had been named on the teamsheet. It now remains to be seen whether Swindon are kicked out of the competition, with Luton reinstated, or the Wiltshire club are just hit with a financial penalty instead, but asked about the incident, Wilshere said: “To be honest with you, I didn’t know what to make of it, but I thought it took too long.

"We have to come to a decision quicker, we’re either going to play or we’re not going to play and I wanted to play, I wanted to carry on playing. I think we can get there quicker and it keeps the flow in the game, but they’ve obviously made a mistake and I don’t know the rules but we have to trust that the EFL will look at it, will investigate it and will come to the right decision. I’m trying to focus on the performance, of course that’s a major talking point, I understand that, but we just have to trust the EFL and when they investigate it, let’s see.”

Asked who it was that noticed that Drinan was on the field when he shouldn’t have been, Wilshere continued: “I certainly didn't. I remember before the game when we were looking and their teamsheet came through, Powelly (Chris Powell, assistant) actually noticed it and said that he’s not there as we know that he’s one of their better players, but we still didn't notice when he was on the pitch, so I don't know the answer.”

Questioned as to whether Wright, an official with 20 games under his belt this season at National League to League One level, said to him during their chat, he said: “He didn't say much, that’s why I thought he could have come over quickler or his communication could have been better, because just tell us what’s happening, as I didn’t know. I thought that there was something going around that there’s a player on the pitch, but they weren’t communicating with us and it took seven minutes. Then I went over to say ‘come on, let’s go, let’s try and make a decision,’ and eventually we got there.”

One thing that WIlshere wanted to do though was make sure the fixture was played to a finish, although he confirmed he was never asked whether he had been given the option to call the game off or not himself, adding “No, I kept saying, come on let’s play, but there wasn’t an option. He said ‘let’s finish the game and we’ll investigate it after.’

"I don’t think I have (been involved in a game like that before), honestly I don’t know. I can’t ever remember it happening, but there must have been occasions when it has happened. We just have to trust the EFL, they’ll be investigating it, there’ll probably be discussions going on about it now, and we’ll see what happens.”