Luton Town FC vs Wigan Athletic (19th Aug 2025)

19/08/2025 LUTON TOWN 1-0 WIGAN ATHLETIC

Saville strike earns Town victory

Hatters return to winning ways on home soil

The Town returned to winning ways as a first-half goal from George Saville was enough to edge past Wigan at Kenilworth Road.

Saville’s first goal in Hatters colours arrived in the ninth minute when he connected with Liam Walsh’s left-wing cross.

But the Town lived dangerously in the first period as Wigan struck the woodwork twice and were denied by a string of fine stops by Josh Keeley.

It was a different story in the second half as the Hatters dominated but Matt Bloomfield’s side could not force home a second to kill off the Latics with substitute Lasse Nordås hitting the post late on.

But victory erased the memory of Saturday’s defeat at Bradford with the Town showing three changes from the weekend loss in Yorkshire. Gideon Kodua and Cohen Bramall made their first league starts for the Hatters at right and left wing-back respectively with Walsh recalled in midfield.

The Town started brightly and were rewarded with Saville’s early goal. Walsh was the architect, keeping the ball in play down the left flank and curling a dangerous cross into the box that Saville met first time, guiding the ball accurately into the far corner.

Ahead, the Hatters were almost pegged back on 15 minutes when Will Aimson arrowed a well-hit drive from the edge of the box that pinged flush off the post.

It was a warning to the Town but 10 minutes later they had Keeley to thank to prevent the Latics from levelling once more. Paul Mullin latched onto a fine forward pass but the Hatters goalkeeper stood tall and blocked the striker’s effort.

Back came the Hatters, Jordan Clark showing fine close control to tip-toe into the box and force Wigan keeper Sam Tickle into a reaction save.

However the respite was brief as the visitors struck the woodwork for the second time on 29 minutes. Keeley dropped a high ball into the box and from the loose ball Aimson turned but could not find the target with the goal at his mercy, his shot striking the bar.

The pressure from the visitors continued. Keeley was sharp to get down to his right to turn away a glancing header from Callum Wright before Bramall and Kodua did well with interventions in the penalty area as half-time approached.

But Keeley reserved his best stop moments before the break when his reflexes turned away a point-blank striker from Wigan skipper Jason Kerr.

In front at the interval, the Town were on the front foot at the start of the second half as they looked to double their advantage. Nordås joined the action for Bramall on 56 minutes with Alli dropping to left-wing back and the Hatters’ number 7 came close to making it 2-0 moments later with a blast from distance that stung the palms of Tickle.

While the Hatters continued to press, Nordås saw a shot blocked after neat skill on the half-way line on 77 minutes and 10 minutes later the Norwegian came even closer with a disguised low effort that came back off the post.

As time ticked down Nordås was mighty close to breaking his duck in Town colours when his close range header was diverted away from goal by the slightest of touches by Aimson before another piledriver from Alli was parried to safety by Tickle.

Wigan had barely threatened Keeley’s goal in the second period but they spurned one final chance at the death to level. A corner from the left dropped in the box at the feet of keeper Tickle, up from the back, but his effort flashed agonisingly past the post.

That was the final chance to signal a win and another clean sheet for the Hatters. That’s three wins from four and three clean sheets to start the season.

Solid stuff from the Town who return here on Saturday for an early one against Cardiff. We’ll see you then. UTT.

Town: Keeley, Kodua (sub Nelson 66), Bramall (sub Nordås 56), McGuinness, Lonwijk, Naismith, Saville, Clark, Walsh, Alli, Yates (sub Holmes 90+1).

Subs not used: Shea, Woodrow, Fanne, Baptiste.

Attendance: 10,751, including 562 from Wigan.

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmhIKHsrFV8 – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obMFMqJdC9k – game day unmasked

League One: Luton Town 1 Wigan Athletic 0

Saville bags the only goal of the game as Luton bounce back to beat Wigan

Summer signing George Saville scored his first goal as Luton importantly got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic this evening.

The midfielder pounced with just nine minutes of the contest gone to score what proved to be the only goal of the contest, although Town were indebted to some fine first half saves from keeper Josh Keeley to ensure the three points remained in Bedfordshire.

Hatters boss Matt Bloomfield made three changes ahead of kick-off in response to a 2-1 defeat to Bradford City at the weekend, Gideon Kodua and Cohen Bramall in for their first league starts, Liam Walsh also restored to the starting line-up, Lamine Fanne and Shandon Baptiste dropping to the bench, Mads Andersen missing out completely.

Going with two upfront this time, Alli alongside Jerry Yates in a far more advanced role than he has had so far this term, Luton knew they needed a good first half for the first time this season, and it looked like they would get it. Early on, Bramall was played in on the left, his cross cleared to Jordan Clark who got it all wrong, the midfielder then having another crack, seeing his attempt deflected wide.

It was from that corner that Luton took the lead though, as despite Saville's effort being overhit, Walsh reacted well to recycle it on the left, playing a one-two with Kal Naismith and then swinging in a cross that saw former Millwall player Saville make a stealth-like run into the box and volley into the bottom corner.

Hopes were high that Town would use the opener to go on and really cement their authority on the contest, but they could never fully do so, Wigan going close on 15 minutes when Will Aimson's angled shot clipped the outside of the post. Luton's sloppy play continued, the hosts far more open than they would have wanted, Wigan almost making them pay on 23 minutes, Ryan Trevitt's pass sending Paul Mullin clean through but Keeley's starting position meant he was off his line, meeting him just outside the box to block with his legs.

Jason Kerr headed over, as Luton finally switched on again, almost having a second, Clark twinkle-toeing through a mass of bodies inside the area, his low prod repelled by the legs of Tickle. Still the Hatters gave their opponents chances to level though, Keeley dropping a cross under some slight pressure from Aimson who could only divert against the bar from a few yards out.

Keeley did get it right as the half drew to a close, Jensen Weir's cross met by the glancing head of Callum Wright, the Irish stopper getting down smartly to his right to parry away. Luton went close at the other end too, a wonderful dragged backheel by Yates sending Kodua through who thought he had won a penalty only to see referee Carl Brook award a corner instead.

With Naismith complaining his shirt had been tugged in the area from the set-piece, Town's defensive uncertainty saw play swiftly transferred down the other end as once Bramall couldn't hold up Mullin, Kodua scampered back to make a superb goal-saving challenge. Still Wigan attacked though, Keeley preventing them from levelling with a strong left hand to palm another Kerr attempt away from danger.

After the break, Clark saw his snapshot flash wide early on, as Luton looked to have a far greater degree of control on proceedings, Bloomfield bringing on Lasse Nordas for Bramall which saw Alli drop to left wingback, although he instantly gave a demonstration of what he can do, easing past two and crashing an effort goalwards that Tickle batted away.

The Hatters then had to take off Kodua with what looked like cramp, Zack Nelson coming on, as a period of quiet play was enlivened when Town worked the ball impressively out of defence and through the lines, Saville ending up drilling onto the roof of the stand. Nordas took matters into his own hands, impressively spinning away from his man and making it into the box before his shot was charged down, although the move certainly got the home fans out of their seats.

With three minutes left, the Norwegian came even closer, as with Luton’s supporters willing the January addition to break his duck, he arrowed a low drive that hit the inside of the post and unfortunately for the home crowd, bounced out again. Malaece Asamoah tried to do the same at the other end, but didn't go anywhere near as close, Town then almost wrapping up the victory when a ball in saw McGuinness with a scorpion kick-like cross at the back post that was dropping in but for Aimson's clearance on the line, somehow nodding over under immense pressure from Nordas.

Alli had another crack that was swatted away by Tickle again, as the Latics stopper was almost the hero in the fourth minute of injury time, going up after Lonwijk made a terrific headed intervention behind for a corner. It then dropped to the visiting keeper, but he could only sidefoot wide as Kenilworth Road breathed a collective sigh of relief before celebrating a second successive home triumph.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Gideon Kodua (Zack Nelson 66), Nigel Lonwijk, Mark McGuinness, Kal Naismith (C), Cohen Bramall (Lasse Nordas 56), George Saville, Liam Walsh, Jordan Clark, Milli Alli, Jerry Yates (Tom Holmes 90). Subs not used: James Shea, Cauley Woodrow, Lamine Fanne, Shandon Baptiste.

Latics: Sam Tickle, Morgan Fox, Will Aimson, Jensen Weir (Joseph Hungbo 88), Callum Wright (Dara Costello 74), Paul Mullin (Christian Saydee 74), Ryan Trevitt, Jason Kerr (C), Baba Adeeko, Luke Robinson (Jonny Smith 87), Tobias Brennan (Maleace Asamoah 46). Subs not used: Tom Watson, Steven Sessegnon.

Referee: Carl Brook.

Booked: Brennan 11, Trevitt 55, Saville 66.

Bloomfield pleased that Hatters showed the 'attacking intent' he asked for against Latics

Town bounce back to winning ways at Kenilworth Road

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield was happy that his players were able to show more of the ‘attacking intent’ he is trying to drill into them during last night’s 1-0 victory over Wigan Athletic at Kenilworth Road.

Following an opening three league games of the campaign in which Town had managed just five shots on target, and a 2-1 defeat at Bradford City on Saturday where they didn’t seriously threaten until the final 15 minutes, this time they opened the scoring with just nine minutes on the clock, George Saville volleying home Liam Walsh[s left wing cross to score his first goal for the club.

Town also had Jordan Clark’s close range effort saved by home stopper Sam Tickle in the first period, as after the break, the Wigan keeper repelled two fierce Milli Alli drives from range, while substitute Lasse Nordas also hit the base of the post, Will Aimson making a vital goal-line clearance as well to deny the Norwegian his maiden goal in a Luton shirt.

It meant the Hatters, who were able to play Cohen Bramall and Gideon Kodua as genuine wingbacks, and go with two upfront, Alli alongside Jerry Yates in the first half, Nordas then taking over in the second, as Alli dropped into the left wingback role, had just under 65 percent possession, ending up with 13 shots, four of them on target this time. Speaking afterwards, Bloomfield said: “It’s really crucial that as much as the win, it was really crucial that we showed more attacking intent.

"We went through it at great length yesterday with the boys, they’re a great group, they’re genuinely a really honest bunch, they’re honest with themselves, they are a genuine pleasure to work with. We were all very disappointed after the game on Saturday and rightly so, so I felt it was really important that we showed in front of the lights at home, a lot more attacking intent. Obviously pushing Milli slightly higher, it felt like we were able to do that. George has got some attacking instincts, he’s done it over the years, now he plays slightly deeper so he doesn’t get those opportunities as much.”

Despite Luton’s improved efforts in the final third, victory was by no means all their own way, Wigan having three decent attempts of their own in the first half, Town’s summer signing Josh Keeley required to make smart saves from Paul Mullin and Callum Wright, his best when palming away Jason Kerr’s attempt, while Aimson was denied by the woodwork twice himself.

They all came in a first half that was far more open than the Hatters would have wanted, although they were then able to snuff out the visitors’ threats after the interval until the final minute of stoppage time, when Tickle went forward for a corner, putting his effort wide of the target with what proved to be the final kick of the contest.

It led to Bloomfield adding: “I just felt, first half the biggest threat against us was giveaways and transitional moments which nearly cost us a couple of times. Second half we were more secure in possession, but didn’t get the second or third. We hit the post, had one cleared off the line, Milli had a couple of long range shots, we got into the box a couple of times but didn’t quite find that final moment. I think we needed to kill the game off at two and three just to stop the possibility of what nearly happened at the end, so still plenty for us to work on.

“It’s tough isn’t it right as at 1-0 up you don’t want to sit back and see the game out, you want to get the second and third. We’ve spoken a lot in the last 24, 48 hours with the boys about looking to try and get goals at home. We want to be that team. I didn't feel like it was the shape, it was more the giveaways that then we were quite open to the transitional moments and they did it quite well at times.

"We wanted to commit and have some bodies forward, which we did, but then you run the risk of being slightly open defensively, so we’ve got to make sure we strike that balance. It’s just a shame we didn’t quite get that second to kill the game off and settle everyone down. At 1-0 you’re only one moment away from the possibility of conceding and I’m glad it didn’t happen as I think it would have been unjust. We felt really secure in our shape, really solid with our performance second half, but it would have been just nice to get the second.”