Lincoln City vs Luton Town FC (20th Sep 2025)

20/09/2025 LINCOLN CITY 3-1 LUTON TOWN

Town slip to defeat at Lincoln - Clark on target but Hatters endure disappointing day on the road

Two goals in the last 10 minutes condemned the Hatters to defeat at Lincoln.

The hosts came close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute when Adam Reach’s free-kick came back off the crossbar.

But the Town’s reprieve did not last long as on 12 minutes the Imps took the lead. The Hatters lost the ball upfield and the hosts countered. Freddie Draper fed Ben House and the home midfielder finished well from 12 yards past Josh Keeley.

Keeley then needed to be alert four minutes later as the hosts sensed a second but the Town stopper then produced a stunning one-handed save to keep out Draper’s rasping drive on 19 minutes.

It was all the Imps as the Hatters struggled to land a blow at the other end and Keeley needed to field an acrobatic effort from Draper on 26 minutes as the hosts continued to push for a second.

But as half-time approached, the Town began to find their feet. Their first chance of the afternoon fell to Nahki Wells who volleyed wide on 35 minutes.

Millenic Alli’s shot was blocked three minutes later before Jordan Clark saw a long-range drive tipped over by home goalkeeper George Wickens.

On 40 minutes a deep George Saville corner was almost forced over the line but the Town went in at the break a goal behind.

At the start of the second period, Matt Bloomfield introduced Joe Gbodé for Jerry Yates and the Town restarted on the front-foot with Gbodé shooting wide on 48 minutes.

But Lincoln soon regained the ascendancy. House powered a header over at the back post on 54 minutes before Rob Street saw a shot blocked by brave defending from Kal Naismith.

Shortly after the hour James Collins – a man who scored 72 goals in 183 games in Town colours – saw a dangerous cross cleared by Naismith and on 73 minutes the striker saw a decent hit blocked by Saville.

Two minutes later the Hatters had a huge let-off when another former Town man came close to doubling the Lincoln lead. The ball dropped at the feet of Sonny Bradley in the six-yard box but with the ball on his right foot, the centre-half shot over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.

At the time it would prove crucial as, two minutes after that miss, the Hatters were level on 77 minutes. A short free-kick routine saw Saville square to Alli. The winger threaded a pass through to Clark into the area and the Town midfielder snuck a cute finish with the outside of his boot past Wickens.

All of a sudden you felt the momentum was with the Town but no sooner were they level, Lincoln regained the lead. Wickens’ goal-kick was flicked into the path of Justin Obikwu and the home striker sped clear of the Hatters defence to finish confidently beyond Keeley.

Lasse Nordås replaced Wells with two minutes left on the clock as the Town chased a late leveller but it was the hosts who had the final word bang on 90 minutes when House made sure of the points for the Imps when finishing well with a low shot from the edge of the box.

A disappointing day on the road. We’re back at home next week with Doncaster the visitors. We’ll see you then.

Town: Keeley, Lonwijk, Alli, Naismith (sub Bramall 65), Mengi (sub Morris 60), Andersen, Saville, Clark, Nelson (sub Nelson 65), Yates (sub Gbodé 46), Wells (sub Nordås 88).

Subs not used: Shea, Fanne.

Attendance 9,255, including 1,433 in a sell-out away end.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0c8UoHuSTo – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7gtw0_B3DU – Matt Bloomfield interview

League One: Lincoln City 3 Luton Town 1

Shambolic Hatters concede twice late on to lose at Lincoln

Luton’s inability to defend came back to haunt them again this afternoon as they conceded twice late on to lose 3-1 at Lincoln City, with manager Matt Bloomfield coming in for some severe criticism from the away end.

Following a pretty awful first half, it looked like Town might leave with something, midfielder Jordan Clark levelling the contest with 13 minutes to go. However, the Hatters’ wafer-thin back-line proceeded to fall apart in the final five minutes, as first Justin Obikwu and then Ben House found the net to significantly ramp up the pressure on Bloomfield.

The manager had made three changes from the 3-2 defeat to Plymouth Argyle last weekend, centre half Teden Mengi in for his first start of the season, with Kal Naismith recalled and Nahki Wells back in to partner Jerry Yates upfront, Christ Makosso and Lasse Nordas dropping to the bench, Gideon Kodua missing out completely.

Whatever gameplan Luton went with at the LNER Stadium didn’t work, as despite teasing a return to a back four in the warm-up, they stuck with their wingback system, and were grateful to the frame of the goal early on as with four minutes gone, Adam Reach’s free kick from the right wing beat the outstretched fingertips of Josh Keeley but cannoned against the bar and away.

Town didn’t heed the warning though, as their back three was sliced open with incredible ease on 13 minutes, Luton giving the ball away as Freddie Draper picked it up centrally, playing a perfect through ball for House who was left completely unmarked to go clean through on Keeley and slide the ball under him.

The Hatters were under constant pressure in the opening period too, the dangerous Draper a constant threat, as after almost getting through, he had a chance on 20 minutes as Yates gave the ball away and Mads Andersen committed himself, charged forward only to see Keeley claw his attempt over the bar.

Luton’s play was summed up at the midway point though, a short corner routine worked out to Milli Alli, and his attempted cross saw the ball hit his standing foot and get away from him, as although Town won it back, they ended up passing straight out of play. It led to boos coming from the away end, with strains of ‘we are embarrassing’ heard as well, that man Draper going close again, somehow left unmarked to meet a long throw sending his overhead volley straight at Keeley.

Town couldn't muster anything at the other end, Clark and Zack Nelson getting into the box, but the moves disappointingly broke down with Luton not able to get any kind of shot at George Wickens’ goal. The Hatters finally stemmed the flow of pressure and actually managed to keep hold of the ball, which led to their best spell of possession, which ended in an opportunity for Wells on 35 minutes, Alli’s cross headed up rather than out, the forward setting himself but then volleying wide.

As a large number of away fans streamed for the concourse with a good eight minutes of the half remaining, Luton did finally look to gain some kind of ascendancy, Yates finding Alli for a shot that was charged away and then Clark driving forward, his 25-yarder comfortably tipped over the bar by Wickens, who at least was finally called into action.

With Yates having been clattered by the keeper as he tried to latch on to a Clark deflection that rebounded into the box, bizarrely booked as well, he then came out for the second half, but clearly still feeling the affects, immediately made his way back down the tunnel, Joe Gbode and not Nordas on his place. The deadline day signing tried to open his account immediately and ambitiously, sending an angled 25-yarder tamely wide, as Lincoln began to reassert themselves, House demonstrating a greater willingness at the back post, as Town’s bookings began to tot up, George Saville and Mengi both cautioned.

Bloomfield kept ringing the changes in a bid to rescue something, Shayden Morris having the final half hour, as he also introduced Makosso and Cohen Bramall with 65 gone, the latter trying to repeat his Barnet heroics with his very first touch, but came nowhere near, his free kick flying miles over.

Ex-Hatter Sonny Bradley should have put the game beyond doubt on 74 minutes, as a long throw was initially cleared, before Tom Hamer’s header fell invitingly to him as he chested down and then on his less favoured right foot, could only shoot into his former fans behind the goal. Luton then made their old skipper pay almost immediately as they won a free kick and played it short to Alli, whose threaded pass picked out Clark, the midfielder taking a touch and then finishing quite brilliantly with the outside of the boot.

Town then went in search of what would have been an unlikely winner as a corner was cleared out to Alli and he flashed an effort across goal. However, with Luton seeing Mads Andersen and Gbode both receiving treatment for head injuries following the chance, the pair were allowed to continue, from the goal kick, the Imps hammered it forward and won the first header, before Makosso missed his clearance, allowing Obikwu, who had just come on, a free run on goal and he showed no mistake to hammer past Keeley and put his side 2-1 in front.

It went from bad to worse for the visitors too as they were cut open again so, so easily in the 90th minute, House was allowed the freedom of Lincolnshire to waltz clear on the left, cut inside and then beat Keeley, who appeared to dive too early, his shot bouncing over the stopper’s dive and nestle in the bottom corner.

It led to chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt,’ and also ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning,’ that coming from the near 1,500 fans in the away end, although a number had already made their way to the exits. That crescendo of abuse increased after the full time whistle as well, Bloomfield cutting a disconsolate figure as he ponders how to put things right when Town head into what could be a crucial week for his future, entertaining Doncaster Rovers next weekend and then travelling to Blackpool on the Tuesday night.

Imps: George Wickens, Tendayi Darikwa ©, Adam Reach, Adam Jackson, Tom Bayliss (Ivan Varfolomeev 90), James Collins (Justin Obikwu 80), Conor McGrandles, Sonny Bradley, Rob Street (Tom Hamer 66), Ben House (Erik Ring 90), Freddie Draper (Frankie Okoronkwo 79). Subs not used: Zach Jeacock, Ryley Towler.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Nigel Lonwijk, Teden Mengi (Shayden Morris 59), Mads Andersen, Kal Naismith (C, Christ Makosso 65), Milli Alli, George Saville, Zack Nelson (Cohen Bramall 65), Jordan Clark, Nahki Wells (Lasse Nordas 88), Jerry Yates (Joe Gbode 46).

Subs not used: James Shea, Lamine Fanne.

Booked: Collins 16, Lonwijk 25, Yates 45, Saville 52, Mengi 55, Gbode 72.

Referee: Seb Stockbridge.

Attendance: 9,255 (Hatters 1,433).

Bloomfield apologises to Luton supporters for 'unacceptable' display against Imps

Town are beaten by Lincoln City

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield apologised to the Hatters fans who made the trip to Lincoln City this afternoon after delivering a performance he labelled as ‘unacceptable’ during their 3-1 defeat.

The visitors, who had seen almost 1,500 supporters in attendance at the LNER Stadium, made a quite frankly woeful start to proceedings, conceding after just 12 minutes when Ben House was allowed all the time in the world to go clean through and beat Josh Keeley. With Town not even second best they were that bad in the opening half an hour, it led to jeers coming from the away end midway through the half, as although they gradually improved before the break, still swapped ends 1-0 behind.

In the second period, the hosts were once again on top, before Jordan Clark appeared to have rescued a point with 13 minutes left, producing a clever finish into the bottom corner from Milli Alli’s pass. However, the visitors defence fell apart once more though, conceding twice in the final five minutes, as they were roundly booed off afterwards by the visitors supporters, who questioned Bloomfield’s future in charge too.

In the second period, the hosts were once again on top, before Jordan Clark appeared to have rescued a point with 13 minutes left, producing a clever finish into the bottom corner from Milli Alli’s pass. However, the visitors defence fell apart once more though, conceding twice in the final five minutes, as they were roundly booed off afterwards by the visitors supporters, who questioned Bloomfield’s future in charge too.

"We managed to get ourselves back in the game and then there’s more mistakes to fall behind. We were second best all afternoon and that’s absolutely not good enough.”

On that opening 25 minutes in particular, with basic passes going astray and Lincoln having enough chances to be out of sight, Bloomfield added: “It looks like we weren’t full of confidence today and it’s hard, right. The boys are trying hard, but one mistake leads to two and confidence is not in a good spot at that point.

"So when we’re passing it, too many turnovers, when we’re competing we weren’t coming out with enough duels and ultimately if you don’t do enough of those things you lose the game. It’s unacceptable from us, me included, we’re part of it as a group, I take full responsibility for that and I have to take full responsibility for that and I do. It was unacceptable today.”

Bloomfield will use booing as 'fuel' to succeed as Town boss insists he can win Luton fans back

Woeful Town are beaten by Lincoln City

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield insists he will use the negative reaction he received from Town’s travelling fans during and after the 3-1 defeat at Lincoln City on Saturday as ‘fuel’ to succeed at Kenilworth Road while also remaining confident he can win the Hatters’ fans back onside once more.

A well below par and quite frankly embarrassing display at the LNER Stadium by the visitors saw the hosts deservedly take a 12th minute lead when they were cut open by the impressive Freddie Draper’s pass, Ben House allowed to go clean through to easily beat Josh Keeley. With Town barely unable to string any moves together of their own in the opening half an hour, with passes either being over-hit or, on a number of occasions going straight out of play, there were audible signs of disappointment from the away end before the half hour mark, with plenty of the near 1,500 in attendance making their way to the concourses with almost 10 minutes of the 45 remaining.

Town did start to show some belated signs of life in the latter stages of the first period, Nahki Wells volleying wide and Jordan Clark’s shot touched over by Imps keeper George Wickens, while once Shayden Morris came on after the break, it looked like they might escape with an unlikely point when Clark cleverly turned in Mill Alli’s pass from a short free kick.

However, with five minutes to go, the Hatters back-line fell apart once more, substitute Justin Obikwu taking advantage of an error by Christ Makosso to beat Keeley once more and then House notching his second even later, when bending into the bottom corner after yet further questionable defending. It led to chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’ and ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ from the away supporters before the final whistle, with Town’s fans continuing to let their feelings be known when Bloomfield went over to show his appreciation.

Asked how much it hurt to witness that kind reception, and whether he thought he could win supporters back over, the boss, who was appointed in January, said: “Yes, we’ll keep working to turn results. Football supporters want their teams to, I’m not telling you what our supporters want, I’m sure they can think that for themselves, but in general, football supporters want their team to show heart and desire and be picking up points. We didn’t show that today so they’re well within their rights to question what’s going on.

“You have to front it up, that’s my job as a manager, front it up. That’s the reason I wanted to do this job, the responsibility that it brings. I relish that, I enjoy the responsibility that it brings and when things aren’t going right you have to front it up. I totally understand our supporters’ frustration, I totally understand their desire to see things being better on the pitch, but I can assure you and I can assure everybody that no-one cares any more than I do. I’ll be working night and day to try and put things into a better light and try to create better results, and I’ll continue to do so."

On whether he can use the poor performance and the response from fans as motivation to put things right, Luton falling to a third defeat from four league games, slipping to 11th in the table, Bloomfield continued: “Listen, I don’t think I could be any more determined, but it’s fuel, it’s absolutely fuel. I have a high desire, a huge desire to put everything right, to get more points on the board, to have our team playing the way we all believe they can.

"We’re in a tough moment right now, but the only way you get out of these tough moments is to stick together, keep working hard and come out the other side stronger. I have a huge pride in my work, in our work as a group, and of course it hurts. I’m human, football managers are human, it comes with leading a life in this job, resilience. You have to build your resilience and you have to dig deep and you have to keep working and believe in what you’re doing. I believe in what we’re doing and we have to find ways to make that come out stronger.

"I think this is the first performance this season, Bradford away wasn’t good enough, today wasn’t good enough, this is the first time in a little while I’ve had to stand here and give my honesty. The last two home games we’ve got beat, but we’ve had 43 shots of which 37 were in our opposition’s box. We need to take those moments more, but today there’s no excuse, it wasn’t good enough and we have to be better.”

Although Bloomfield admitted he would wait until Town were back in training before going through things with his players, he couldn’t hide his frustration at the way in which they were breached for the second time in the game. With Luton finally enjoying some kind of ascendancy, they switched off from a clearance by keeper Wickens, which the boss had drilled into his players beforehand, as Tom Draper easily beat Alli, who appeared to leave the ball, in the air and then with Christ Makosso heading against Obikwu rather than away, it allowed the replacement to do the rest in clinical fashion.

He said: “It’s a simple ball up. We explained all week, the goalkeeper delivers out to the right hand side, we have to win first contacts, be ready for the seconds. Lincoln are very organised, we knew what was coming, we prepared for that. We got ourselves back in the game and then a long goal kick out to the right hand side, Milli stops as he heard a shout from behind, he thought it was Cohen (Bramall), but we’ve just got to compete on the first one.

"I’d rather have two players competing than none, they flick it through, ricochet of Christ and he’s one on one. The third goal, we stop, it’s unacceptable and I’m not going to defend it from us today. It didn’t catch us out, we knew what was coming. Their goalkeeper delivers out to the right hand side, there was one after about two minutes, he delivered out to the right hand side, we prepared for it all week, so we need to execute better, we need to be better and improve.

“I’m honest with the boys, I will always be honest. They understand where I stand right now and I will always front it up, tell the boys what I think, but Monday’s a time for discussion, today was not a time for discussion. I’m hurting right now, we have to be hurting right now when results aren’t in our favour and we have to use that to keep working and come back stronger."

Asked just how he will begin to turn things around, Luton entertaining Doncaster Rovers on Saturday and then heading to Blackpool next Tuesday, he added: “Get back on the training ground and work, that’s the only way I know how. Get back on the training ground and work, look for different ways to try and deliver the same message if that’s what the boys need, a bit of a freshness, but we’ll get back and we’ll keep working.”

Hatters chief reveals defender was dropped at Lincoln after being late to a team meeting

January signing had to make do with a place on the bench

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield revealed that defender Christ Makosso was dropped from the Hatters XI for their trip to Lincoln City on Saturday after being late to a team meeting.

The 21-year-old had started five out of Luton’s eight League One encounters this term, missing three games due to suspension having been found guilty of a violent conduct charge following the 2-0 victory at Peterborough United last month. However the Congolese centre half, who has impressed since joining Town from Belgian side RWD Molenbeek in January, wasn’t named on the teamsheet for the trip to the LNER Stadium, with Teden Mengi in for his first start of the campaign having recovered from a knee injury picked up during pre-season.

Makosso then replaced the former Manchester United centre half with 65 minutes gone and his side trailing 1-0, but with Town then drawing level through Jordan Clark’s clever finish, it was the defender’s misjudgement that saw the Imps retake the lead with five minutes remaining, heading against Justin Obikwu rather than away, as the Trinidad & Tobago international raced clear to slam past Josh Keeley and make it 2-1.

Ben House added a third in the 90th minute, as asked afterwards why he had gone with Mengi over Makosso, Bloomfield said: “Ted’s had injuries since we’ve been here. We got him for a few games at the end of last season but unfortunately he’s been injured in pre-season. The plan wasn’t to start him today, he played 45 minutes behind closed doors on Tuesday, but unfortunately for us Christ was late to a team meeting yesterday (Friday) so we had to make a late change.

"We have to make sure that we have rules that we abide by and basic principles. Our culture is so important and we need to make sure that Christ has the information so he can go and do that. He’s a good kid, but he’s young, he’s learning. He’s in foreign country so we have to maybe look after him better and make sure he has the information clearer if that’s what’s necessary, but it was good for Ted to get 60 minutes on the pitch.”

Bloomfield reveals why he dropped West Ham loanee as he expects system talk to continue

Kodua misses out on Town’s squad at Lincoln City

Luton chief Matt Bloomfield admitted it was ‘harsh’ to leave West Ham United loanee Gideon Kodua out of Town’s match-day squad that were beaten 3-1 at Lincoln City at the weekend, as he knows the defeat will see his much-maligned system come in for further scrutiny.

The 20-year-old has been one of the Hatters’ most impressive players so far this term, starting four of last five matches in the right wingback berth, including the 3-2 loss to Plymouth Argyle the previous weekend, where he was taken off on the hour mark. However, when the teamsheets dropped before the contest at the LNER Stadium, Kodua wasn’t anywhere to be seen, not even on the bench, as fellow on-loan addition Nigel Lonwijk took over, with transfer deadline day addition Shayden Morris preferred on the bench as well.

Asked why he wasn’t included, Bloomfield said: “He wasn't injured Gids. With the balance of the bench and needing players to cover different positions, him and Shayden obviously occupy that right hand side, it came down as a choice to that. It’s probably harsh on Gids as he’s done well for us, but that was the decision we had to make.”

Although the Hatters teased swapping to a back four in the warm-up to the contest, once they lined up for the opening whistle, it was quite clear they were sticking with the three-man central defence that has come in for some major criticism from supporters this term. This time it was the returning Teden Mengi, Mads Andersen and Kal Naismith tasked with keeping the Imps forwards quiet, but that never looked realistic, the visitors sliced apart on 12 minutes, Ben House having the freedom of Lincolnshire to go clean through and beat Josh Keeley.

It didn’t improve a great deal afterwards either, City bossing proceedings for the majority of the contest, as they could have added to their lead in a first half in which Luton’s players were jeered by their own supporters at times for what was a pitiful display at times. Asked about persisting with the formation once more, and opting for Lonwijk in what continues to be a wingback role that clearly doesn’t suit him, Bloomfield continued: “Yes, it’s an argument, absolutely.

"Look, we’ve discussed this several times, there’s lots of contributing factors to the formation we’re playing right now. We were defending as a four today as we needed Nige with his physicality. We knew how good Lincoln are with their duels, with their first contacts, we felt we needed his extra height which is what we did. There’s been lots of talk, there will be lots of talk on the formation and we’ll keep analysing things and doing the best we possibly can.”

Although Town have one out and out left back in Cohen Bramall who was signed on the eve of the first game of the campaign, they don’t have a genuine right back available, with Reuell Walters currently injured, as is summer addition Hakeem Odoffin, who can also play there, while Izzy Jones, playing as wingback last season, is also injured. However, asked if the lack of an option on the right hand side of defence was down to the recruitment in the summer, Town not bolstering that area of the pitch, Bloomfield simply replied: “We’re a group and we’ll keep working together to get the best results we can.”

One other potentially telling decision on the day was just after the half time interval, as striker Jerry Yates couldn’t continue due to taking a hugely painful whack to the head from goalkeeper George Wickens when challenging for a loose ball, somehow booked by referee Seb Stockbridge. Although the striker emerged from the dressing room, he headed straight back down it before the second half could begin, with Bloomfield bringing on deadline day addition Joe Gbode, who has played just a few minutes so far since joining from League Two Gillingham, ahead of Lasse Nordas, despite the Norwegian starting Town’s last four games and scoring twice.

The boss continued: “He (Yates) said he felt fine when he was inside, but as soon as he came back out, he didn’t feel right, so we made that change straight away. We just felt like the pace (of Gbode) down the sides was something, we discussed it and it was what we needed right at that moment. I thought he showed some good moments Joe, but he’s also a young boy learning the game so we have to be patient with him as well.”

With Town beaten again though on the day, suffering a third loss in four fixtures, asked how the players were feeling in the dressing room afterwards, Bloomfield added: “They’re quiet, they’re down as you’d expect. They care, but we’ve got to show it more, our care has to be out on the pitch. Everyone went over, we all wanted to still say thankyou to our supporters for paying their money, travelling and coming and supporting us, but the boys are in a tough moment right now and it’s not an easy moment.”