Manchester City vs Luton Town FC (13th Apr 2024)

Report | Hatters fall to defeat at the Etihad

After 65 seconds you feared the worst.

Erling Haaland streaked clear of the Town defence and after a fantastic save from Thomas Kaminski Haaland’s wayward shot hit Daiki Hashioka in the face and the Hatters’ task of keeping the champions at bay was over almost over before it had started.

Yet this side, as they have proved so often this season, are made of stern stuff. Observers, and City supporters, sat and waited for the floodgates to open – but the Town were resolute and dogged in the face of a constant wave of attacks by the reigning world, Europe and English champions.

A string of excellent saves from Thomas Kaminski, the woodwork and blocks from the disciplined teammates in front of him made City work for their three points.

For all their possession Pep Guardiola’s side could not force home a second before the break and the Town got to half-time only a goal down as their rearguard stood firm.

After the restart the Hatters continued to dig in and frustrate their hosts who were wayward in their finishing.

However the Town’s resistance and the host’s frustration was broken on 64 minutes when Mateo Kovacic unleashed a wonderful half-volley from just inside the penalty area giving Kaminski no chance.

The second goal brought the Hatters to life, and two minutes after going 2-0 down, substitute Cauley Woodrow rattled the woodwork after taking Fred Onyedinma’s square pass.

With a quarter-of-an-hour left the score remained respectable but City had other ideas and Jeremy Doku – electric all afternoon – was clipped in the box by Onyedinma and Haaland sent Kaminski the wrong way from the spot.

Moments later Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was introduced to make a milestone 400th appearance in Town colours and within three minutes of his introduction the Hatters were back in it when Ross Barkley finished well on his left foot to score his fifth of the season having pounced on a rare loose City pass.

That goal only encouraged City further and two goals in the closing stages added gloss to a dominant home display. Firstly, with three minutes left, Doku got the goal his performance deserved when finishing well after a slalom run down the left before Josko Gvardiol lashed home a fine fifth in injury time.

As ever come the final whistle the Town headed for their massed ranks of supporters who had stayed until the very end. The reception, for a side having just been on the end of a 5-1 defeat, was a testament to the players’ efforts on a tough afternoon.

Bigger games than this lie ahead – starting at home to Brentford next Saturday.

With five games to go, just one point keeps the Hatters outside the relegation zone.

Therefore, in spite of their biggest defeat of the campaign, optimism reins.

Come on Luton.

Town: Kaminski; Onyedinma (sub Johnson 88), Doughty, Hashioka, Burke; Barkley, Berry (sub Mpanzu 77), Clark (sub Nelson 88); Chong, Townsend (sub Woodrow 59), Morris.

Subs not used: Shea, Krul, Harris, Chigozie, Piesold.

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

https://youtu.be/YAp1LTxeHho?si=AuPbhVtfrI3dEQaR – Press conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeO63WfqErM – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_J0orUTaIY – extended match highlights

Late goals sees valiant Luton suffer another heavy defeat at the hands of Manchester City

Premier League: Manchester City 5 Luton Town 1

Luton once again felt the wrath of a high class Manchester City side who produced yet another utterly dominant display to dish out the Hatters biggest defeat of the season this afternoon.

Although the final scoreline looks like Town were handed a pasting, it wasn't until the final 15 minutes that the hosts made their extra class shine through, scoring three times to send Pep Guardiola's side back to the top of the table. With Teden Mengi absent due to the injury he picked up against AFC Bournemouth last weekend, Luton were able to field one recognised centre half with Reece Burke fit enough to start, Luke Berry and Fred Onyedinma coming into the team, as Issa Kabore was ineligible against his parent club.

Much of the focus would have been on making it as difficult as possible for the hosts to break through, but Town couldn't manage that for more than 60 seconds, as just like in the FA Cup game, the Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland combination that had wreaked havoc back then, was too much. De Bruyne was the architect, his through ball catching the visitors' defence completely disorganised, the Norwegian racing straight through the middle.

Thomas Kaminski stood up well to parry the first shot, with Jeremy Doku's rebound also repelled by a defender. The ball dropped for Haaland though whose volley was going well wide, only to then crash flush into the face of the unfortunate Daiki Hashioka which changed its course from going out for a throw to nestle into the corner of the net and instantly make the visitors' long afternoon look that that bit lengthier.

They managed to keep the treble winners out without too many alarms for the next 10 minutes, Kaminski parrying from Josko Gvardiol, as Julian Alvarez's cleverly drilled corner saw De Bruyne sky over. City were toying with the Hatters at times before looking for the killer pass which they thought they had found when releasing Doku on the left who picked out Matheus Nunes arriving in the area, Kaminski saving at the second attempt.

Alfie Doughty had one burst forward only to see the move break down on the edge of the box, De Bruyne continuing in his quarterback role, finding Haaland for a volley that was over, seeing his free kick also headed wide at the back post. With 20 minutes gone, De Bruyne went for goal himself, tamely shooting at his fellow countryman, as did another Belgian international in Doku, Kaminski able to gather both attempts with little trouble.

Town's defence certainly weren't giving up the fight, Hashioka repelling one effort and then Burke throwing himself in front of Haaland's blast, the overworked Kaminski getting down low to deny Ruben Dias from 20 yards. City kept Luton hemmed in, looking for that chink in the armour, as De Bruyne thought he had found it when slipping Nunes through, the forward's low effort hitting the outside of the post.

Luton did have the luxury of a first corner on 28 minutes, but they couldn't make the most of it and were soon back in their own half defending their lines once more as the City attack was just machine-like in its relentlessness. Rob Edwards' side stuck to the tasks manfully, Hashioka with a fine clearance almost off his own line, Kaminski pawing De Bruyne's curler away and then Kovacic lofting into the stands as Town kept the deficit to one in the opening 45 minutes.

The visitors almost made just as bad a start to the second half as they did to the first, Ederson unfurling a tremendous raking pass that evaded the stretching Burke, putting Nunes clean through, only to lose his footing which allowed Onyedinma to speed back and clear the danger. The pattern was to remain the same though, City having a growing monopoly on possession and Town having all 10 outfield players back defending their goal, Hashioka making another fine block and then Dias dragging wide.

Dias was looking the most likely to add to the hosts' advantage, missing by inches from outside the box, while some more intricate approach play was hammered wide by Alvarez. Kovacic's drive deflected behind via Burke, a quick VAR check for handball coming and going, as City finally had the second goal they had been threatening on 64 minutes when the set-piece reached Kovacic and he hammered an unstoppable half volley which Kaminski couldn't keep out this time.

With Cauley Woodrow now on for Townsend, Luton had the chance to get themselves on the scoresheet on 66 minutes, Onyedinma tenaciously getting the better of Gviarol on the right and pulling the ball back to the unmarked substitute, who took his effort first time, only to see it unluckily clip the bar and bounce away.

Despite falling two behind, it still didn't burst the dam that was Luton's resistance, Nunes having a go from range, easily plucked out of the sky by Kamsinski. As the game wore on, Doku's influence grew and grew, the winger taking advantage of Luton's tiring legs as he went over Onyedinma's stretching challenge inside the area for a penalty on 76 minutes that was expertly tucked away by Haaland.

Town then made a momentous change moments later, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu replacing Berry for his 400th Hatters appearance, only the 11th player in the club’s proud history to achieve such a feat, not bad for a man who began his Town career at Staines in the FA Trophy well over a decade ago. The long-serving midfielder almost had a goal to celebrate too, slamming into the side-netting after Ederson had saved well from Doughty, but Luton did give their 3,000-plus travelling fans something to celebrate with nine minutes left, Barkley nicking the ball away high up, side-stepping past his man and then coolly locating the bottom corner.

It almost gave Town the last goal that the boss craves, but with Doku in scintillating form, he made it 4-1 when turning Onyedinma inside and out, and after teenager Joe Johnson was given his Premier League debut along with youngster Zack Nelson’s second outing in the top flight, Gvardiola slammed home a fifth in stoppage time.

City: Ederson, Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic, Erling Haaland (Oscar Bobb 81), Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne (C Sergio Gomez 81), Julian Alvarez, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akankji, Matheus Nunes, Rico Lewis. Subs not used: Stefan Ortega, Kyle Walker, Nathan Ake, Jack Grealish, Rodri, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Fred Onyednima (Zack Nelson 88), Reece Burke, Daiki Hashioka, Alfie Doughty, Ross Barkley, Jordan Clark (Joe Johnson 88), Luke Berry(Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 77), Andros Townsend (Cauley Woodrow 58), Tahith Chong, Carlton Morris (C). Subs not used: James Shea, Tim Krul, Axel Piesold, Taylan Harris, Christian Chigozie.

Referee: John Brookes.

Booked: De Bruyne 42.

Edwards quickly wipes City loss from his memory as he targets Luton's final five games

Boss reacts to defeat at the Etihad

Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted he had put the 5-1 defeat to Manchester City behind him by the time he reached the changing room at the Etihad this afternoon.

Town went into the game against the treble winners as the clear underdogs, with only one recognised centre half, Reece Burke, in their back-line, as they looked set for a tough afternoon when Daiki Hashioka unfortunately deflected home Erling Haaland’s off target volley inside the opening 90 seconds. To their credit, Luton’s defence then stood firm for the rest of the half, as they didn’t concede again until midway through the second period, Mateo Kovacic powering home a first time effort from a corner.

Haaland added a penalty on 78 minutes before the moment the 3,000 Luton fans in attendance who had made the trip in hope rather than expectation had dreamed of, Ross Barkley finding the net to make it 3-1. City’s quality then came flooding through in the closing stages, Jeremy Doku scoring a superb individual goal and Josko Gvardiol picking out the top corner. With Nottingham Forest held to a 1-1 draw by Wolves, it meant Luton only dropped one point behind their nearest relegation rivals and now have fine winnable games left to go now, three at Kenilworth Road.

It meant Edwards was already focusing on next weekend at home to Brentford, where he might have a bigger squad to select from, as he said: “Today was always going to be very difficult. Without sounding very defeatist, I’d almost made peace with it at the beginning. We wanted a good performance, we wanted to try and come out with some belief and confidence for the final five games.

"I know the scoreline suggests that they were the dominant team, of course they were, they were better, they thoroughly deserved it, they were amazing, but we stayed in the game as long as we could. We knew we were going to be forced low, we wanted to try and be aggressive and even in the first minute we tried, then Haaland’s through one-on-one, the ball almost knocks Hashi out for the first goal, and we’re thinking, wow, there’s one of our few defenders on the floor knocked out and we’re one down after a minute, what a start that is.

"It’s tough, but Hashi managed to battle on and I’m proud of the lads, they gave us everything. Today was never going to knock us or derail us, anything like that. I wiped it as soon as I walked into the changing room after the players. They’re disappointed, of course, no-one likes losing, no-one likes losing five-one, but let’s be realistic.

"They’re a brilliant team, way ahead of us at the moment, and our back four consisted of one centre back, one full back and two wingers, it’s always going to be difficult against that level of opposition. Hopefully we get some bodies back, we’re going to need them and now we’ve got five games where we believe we can win. I’m not saying we’re going to, but we can get results.”

Hatters boss hails Luton's 'unique' fans for giving him belief that Town can win their fight against relegation

Travelling supporters are in fine voice during 5-1 Etihad defeat

Luton boss Rob Edwards once more paid tribute to the Hatters ‘unique’ set of supporters for the ovation they received after going down to a 5-1 defeat at Manchester City yesterday afternoon, revealing it filled him with even more belief that his side can stay in the Premier League against all the odds this season.

An already tough afternoon at the Etihad for the massively depleted visitors, who were without defensive lynchpin Teden Mengi, looked like it was going to be a chastening experience when Erling Haaland’s volley cannoned off the face of Japanese international Daiki Hashioka and cruelly flew into the net inside the opening 90 seconds. Although Pep Guardiola’s side then went on to dominate the rest of the first half, they were held at arm’s length, just, by a committed Town back-line that was made of up Reece Burke, Hashioka, Fred Onyedinma and Alfie Doughty, some desperate blocks keeping the hosts out.

The second period was a slightly different story, City finally getting a second with 64 on the clock through Mateo Kovacic’s fierce half volley from a corner, Haaland himself on target with a penalty when Onyedinma had fouled Jeremy Doku. The 3,000 travelling fans thought the moment to celebrate a goal of their own had gone when Cauley Woodrow hit the bar from Onyedinma’s cross, Doughty denied by the outstretched legs of Ederson.

However, they did have their moment with 81 gone, Ross Barkley taking advantage of a poor touch from Matheus Nunes, easily beating Ruben Dias and then coolly slotting into the bottom corner. Late goals from Doku and Josko Gvardiol saw City comfortably go back to the top of the Premier League, but while a number of home supporters may have missed the late double, stadium rapidly emptying in the closing stages, Town’s supporters stayed to salute their players, geeing them up for what is now a crucial run-in.

With five games to go and Luton just one point away from safety after fourth bottom Nottingham Forest drew 2-2 with Wolves yesterday, the Hatters start at home to Brentford next weekend as they also entertain Everton and Fulham, with trips to Wolves and West Ham as well. Town could get some of the absentees back to help them as well, with Mengi likely to be available, while Elijah Adebayo, Sambi Lokonga, Gabe Osho and Chiedozie Ogbene could all feature at some stage.

It led Edward to say: “Today wasn’t going to derail us whatever happened. I'm glad we're out of it, but the supporters have been incredible, all season long. Home and away, standing and behind the players and me and that is really special, I don’t think any club can say they’ve done that really home and away all season.

"I know it’s unique for us, it’s our first season in the Premier League and hopefully we can have more, but it gives me belief that they’re going ‘come on, we’re with you.’ That’s special, it really is and I think that makes us unique in the fight we're in at the moment. The players, the staff, they give me that belief as well. We know we’re capable in the next five games.

"That’s not me saying we're going to win them all. We feel we can win enough games, we've got three home games at Kenilworth Road where I think it’s difficult for any team to come to and we look forward to it. We are up for this challenge and I think we will get stronger in the next few weeks as we will get some more bodies back.”