Luton Town FC vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (23rd Sep 2023)

Report | Hatters pick up first Premier League point

Town 1 Morris (pen) 65

Wolves 1 Neto 50

The Hatters are off the mark.

How good does that sound?

Well, within the first few moments after referee Josh Smith had blown the full-time whistle there was a muted reception. But once the achievement had been realised everyone of a Town persuasion came to life again and Kenilworth Road was bouncing once more.

The ‘what might have been’ that we came away from Craven Cottage with last weekend was evident here again as the Hatters showed character in a match full of emotions to level through Carlton Morris’ penalty after coming behind against ten-man Wolves.

Rob Edwards’ men were terrific in the first 25 minutes and on another day may have walked off the pitch at half-time ahead.

The positive start was carried by Chiedozie Ogbene – one of two changes to the side that lost at Fulham – with the Republic of Ireland international getting the visitors on the backfoot from the get-go.

Chances soon came and on 10 minutes the woodwork – which had denied the Town at Fulham last week – was being cursed once more when Morris’ brilliant curling shot from 20 yards thundered back off the goalframe. It deserved better.

A shot from Jacob Brown inside the box was then blocked and the attacker then saw a header plucked away by Wolves keeper Jose Sa as the Hatters upped the ante.

With half-time approaching you felt Wolves had ridden the storm. A flat period of 15 stop-start minutes came and went - and then Jean-Ricner Bellegarde did something silly, needlessly lashing out at Tom Lockyer after competing for the ball on halfway. Referee Smith was quick to brandish the red and following a VAR check, the Frenchman was heading for an early bath.

The Town sensed blood before the break. Ogbene was close to forcing one home before Albert Sambi Lokonga saw a shot saved by Sa.

After the restart the Hatters began with gusto again and Morris’ near-post header was pawed away well by Sa.

Much has been made about the Town’s need to take their chances as this higher level and on 50 minutes the Hatters’ fears were realised with Pedro Neto beat Tom Lockyer and cooly finished past Thomas Kaminski to give the visitors the lead with their first shot of the game.

The Town wobbled a bit after that setback and Kaminski needed to be alert as Wolves pressed for quickfire second to deny Mario Lemina and then Max Kilman.

Heads cleared, the Hatters – with a man advantage – came again. And on 65 minutes they were level when Joao Gomes was adjudged to have handled in the box and after a VAR check, a penalty was given.

Morris, ever-reliable from the spot, sent Sa the wrong way and it gave the Town the final 25 minutes to find a winner their endeavours deserved.

Yet, for their possession only half-chances fell the Hatters’ way as time ticked down. Ogbene, who had impressed with his electric pace and willingness to run, had the ball in the net only to be denied by a tight offside call, and substitute Cauley Woodrow saw a shot locked at the death – and that was that.

So a first point of the Premier League season and the Town are up and running with their first point in the top-flight since 1992.

With more shots (20), more shots on target (4), completed more passes (330), completed more passes in the opposition half (201) and averaged more possession (56.6%) it was the best Town performance of the season in terms of these stats.

It's coming. Keep the faith.

See you at Exeter.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré (sub Adebayo 85), Doughty (sub Giles 72), Burke, Lockyer, Bell; Nakamba, Lokonga (sub Mpanzu 57); Obgene, Morris, Brown (sub Woodrow 72).

Sub not used: Krul, Andersen, Berry, Chong, Mengi.

Attendance: 10,893.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK_BTCK7rXQ – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpHsX01ZrFg – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDkcMX5mOt4 – extended match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAnrrYaMNqE – behind the scenes

Hatters up and running in the Premier League after earning a point against 10-man Wolves

Premier League: Luton Town 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1

Luton's Premier League season is finally up and running as Carlton Morris's second half penalty ensured they picked up a precious point against 10-man Wolves this afternoon.

Although any result will be precious for the Hatters throughout the course of the season, this one was tinged with frustration, after the visitors had to play around an hour with 10 men following the red card shown to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde later in the first half.

A look at the overall stats showed just how much Luton dominated too, with 56 percent of possession, sending in 18 shots, winning nine corners too.

That was way out in front of an opposition side who managed one corner and just three attempts on goal, but crucially, with Luton managing four on target, Gary O'Neil's side had three of them to escape with something when they should have been leaving empty-handed.

The Hatters made two changes from last weekend's defeat against Fulham, Chiedoze Ogbene making his full Premier League debut since joining in the summer, and Alfie Doughty handed a first top flight start of the season.

In his pre-match press conference, Luton boss Rob Edwards had called for a performance that engaged the crowd, and his players certainly responded in the early stages of the first half, whipping the home fans into a frenzy with their sustained attacks, something not seen so far this term.

Ogbene showed just why he was given the nod, and why he had been starring for the Republic of Ireland already this term, as he simply ran at the defence whenever the chance arose.

The space was there on numerous occasions throughout the game too, as inside five minutes, he isolated Nelson Semedo, knocked the ball past him and sprinted on to it, teeing up Doughty whose cross was headed behind before Jacob Brown could reach it.

He was at it again moments later, Mario Lemina just about keeping pace this time, visiting stopper Jose Sa eventually dealing with Amari'i Bell's teasing cross.

With Town already enjoying far more of the ball than they had at Craven Cottage, they almost made it count on 10 minutes, Carlton Morris wrapping his foot around a stunning 20-yard effort which crashed against the post.

Sa had a far simpler stop on 16 minutes, Amari'i Bell's pass slicing through the visiting defence for Doughty, his cross met by Brown, the keeper gathering comfortably.

Ogbene continued his field day on the left, sent away again by Doughty and finding his team-mate for a shot that Morris of all people got in the way of to repel.

The visitors did finally manage to weather the early storm without falling behind, as they began to have a spell of the ball themselves, which with the kind of transfer fees their players on display commanded, was to be expected.

With Reece Burke well positioned to clear a few dangerous crosses, Luton had the added boost of a numerical advantage on 39 minutes when Lockyer was dispossessed by Bellegarde, but the pair both stayed down in a tangle of legs.

With neither able to escape, a frustrated Bellegarde kicked out at the centre half and was shown red by Josh Smith, which after confirmed by a VAR check, left Wolves with a player light.

Now rattled, the visitors almost conceded from their own doing, Craig Dawson's backpass catching Sa out of position, only for Lemina to get back in the nick of time to clear before Ogbene could pounce.

Albert Sambi Lokonga's hopeful attempt was claimed by Sa, as the plan was simple for Town in the second period, keep doing what they were doing, but just add an end product.

They went close to an opener when Morris played in Ogbene and his cross was met by the striker with a diving header, Sa reacting well to save.

Out of absolutely nothing, the visitors struck first with 50 minutes on the clock, a long ball forward seeing Neto outpace Lockyer on the right.

With the defender unable to put a challenge in, the Portuguese international cut into the box and after side-stepping Burke, did what Luton players couldn't, taking on his shot early and slamming into the net, in an instant highlighting the difference between where Town have come from and where they now find themselves.

Their confidence dented, Luton were indebted to Thomas Kaminski for keeping them in the contest, parrying Lemina's effort from a deep free kick and getting something behind Dawson's follow-up too.

Doughty went for the spectacular just before the hour mark, rashly shooting wide, before Town were handed a way back into the game, quite literally, on 65 minutes, Kabore's cross striking the arm of Joao Gomes for a penalty.

VAR checked yet again as the ball rather unfortunately rebounded off his foot and on to his outstretched arm, but ruled in Luton's favour once more, as the decision stayed.

Morris stepped up and after giving it the stutter once more, sent Sa the wrong way to roll into the bottom corner and double his tally for the season, but more importantly deservedly draw the Hatters level.

Town should have led moments later, a corner met by Marvelous Nakamba, but the Zimbabwean showed just why he rarely, if ever, scores, scuffing well wide when he had time and space.

Luton brought on Ryan Giles against his former side and Cauley Woodrow with 18 minutes to go, Brown and Doughty making way.

Town huffed and puffed in the closing stages, but with Wolves' defence delivering a near faultless display in terms of repelling any threats that came their way, sub Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu fired over the top from 20 yards.

In the final minute, Ogbene thought he had capped a wonderful personal display with the winner, nipping in to score when Woodrow's shot deflected to him, but he had gone just too early and the home fans’ calls for VAR to intervene fell on deaf ears this time.

Still they pressed though, Sa spilling Burke's cross only for Woodrow to get too much on his lob as it landed on the roof of the net, as try as they might, Luton just couldn't snatch that late, later winner.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Issa Kabore (Elijah Adebayo 86), Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer (C), Amari’i Bell, Alfie Doughty (Ryan Giles 72), Albert Sambi Lokonga (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 57), Marvelous Nakamba, Jacob Brown (Cauley Woodrow 72), Chiedozie Ogbene, Carlton Morris .

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Mads Andersen, Luke Berry, Teden Mengi, Tahith Chong.

Wolves: Jose Sa, Rayan Ait-Nouri (Matt Doherty 46), Mario Lemina, Pedro Neto, Joao Gomes (Tommy Doyle 90), Hwang Hee-Chan (Toti 46), Matheus Cunha (Boubacar Traore 71), Craig Dawson, Nelson Semedo (Hugo Buena 84), Maximillian Kilman (C), Jeanricner Bellegarde.

Subs not used: Dan Bentley, Fabio Silva, Sasa Kalajdzic, Pablo Sarabia.

Referee: Josh Smith.

Booked: Gomes, Lemina.

Sent off: Bellegarde.

Attendance: 10,893.

Proud Town boss Edwards felt Wanderers draw was a 'missed opportunity' for Luton

Reaction to a first Premier League point for Luton

Hatters boss Rob Edwards felt this afternoon’s 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers was an opportunity missed for his side, despite picking up a first ever Premier League point in the process.

The hosts had almost an hour with a man advantage after visiting defender Jeanricner Bellegarde was sent off for kicking out at Town skipper Tom Lockyer late in the first half, only to then take the lead early in the second period, Neto netting with a terrific individual goal.

To their credit, the Hatters hit back on 65 minutes, Carlton Morris rolling his penalty home after Issa Kabore’s cross was handled in the area by Joao Gomes, but despite having 18 shots in total, they couldn’t earn a precious maiden victory.

Speaking afterwards, Edwards said: “The way the game went, it’s an opportunity missed as we did dominate the game.

“I think we deserved to win, to be so dominating with 11 men, when they get a man sent off, you really want to try and find a way to win, but they've got quality.

“Neto is a top player, you’d all agree with that, we lose the ball cheaply and he scores a great individual goal.

“It did become difficult, so to then get something from the game becomes a bit more positive.

“I’ve got to look at the performance.

"The lads are flat, the lads are deflated as they all feel, everyone can see it who was here today, there was a win there for us.

“But I think it shows how hard the Premier League is, I think it shows how good you’ve got to be, you’ve got to be almost perfect to get anything from it.

"We were close to that, in terms of how we wanted to play but we haven’t won.

"I’ve got to look at the whole thing, the performance, the improvement, I know there’s loads more we can do, loads more we can be better at.

"But we’re competing and we’re competing well, especially in the last three games.

"We’re not giving big chances away and we’re looking a threat.”

After using his post match press conference to call on his players to deliver a performance that the home fans could engage with, Town set about doing just that.

Led by the flying Chiedozie Ogbene on his full top flight debut, as Carlton Morris almost capitalised with a curling drive against the post from 20 yards.

Edwards felt it was the best 45 minutes he had seen since taking over in November as well, continuing: “I’m really pleased.

"We were really aggressive, on the front foot trying to take the game to them, trying to provoke them, that’s what I talked about, that’s what the players went and did, but that’s what Kenilworth Road can do as well.

“We’ve got to make sure we know who we are and what our fans want as well, also what we think the right thing is to win a game of football.

"Last week (against Fulham) we were one thing, but I thought we played really well and should have got something from the game.

"Today I’m sitting here now saying we’ve improved again and should have won, rather than got something from the game, we got something from the game, but we should have won.”

After four straight defeats in their opening four matches, Edwards was relieved to get off the mark though, as he added: “I think it should have been all three, but I’m really proud of the players.

"The performance was excellent, it’s a really good day for the club.

"I thought the supporters were great, everything that we asked of the players, to give the crowd something to shout about, to get them involved, to engage them, I thought we did that.

"We started the game so well, probably the best we’ve ever played since we’ve been at the club, due to the level of the game.

"They couldn’t really get out of the game and we did really dominate the vast majority of it.

"One or two moments, but Wolves are going to have that as they’ve got some quality players, so overall I’m really happy, really proud, but we should have won.”