Manchester United vs Luton Town FC (11th Nov 2023)

Manchester United 1 Lindelof 59

Town 0

It is a mark of how far the Hatters have come – not just in the past ten years – but this season that manger Rob Edwards was disappointed to see his team lose at Old Trafford.

To hear Manchester United supporters whistling, baying, for the full-time whistle as their team hung onto their slender one-goal advantage was another indication of yet another strong performance against one of – if not the – biggest club in the world.

But as the scoreline reflected – and skipper Tom Lockyer said afterwards – good display are all well and good but at some point wins have got to come and, in front of the biggest ever crowd to watch a regular league match in the club’s history, it was another day of ‘what might have been’.

United, struggling for form but clearly a side crammed with elite-level talent, knew they were in a game once that final whistle went. Because – once again – the Town had stayed in this match until the very end.

Coming off the pitch to a raucous reception from their noisy 3,000 supporters, you sensed Edwards and the Town were proud of their display, but in the end one – just one, one moment – was the difference. More on that later.

The Town’s first half showing was typical of their performances this season. Disciplined. Tidy. Resilient. A wall of white shirts stood in United’s way.

Erik ten Hag’s side would go in at the interval frustrated yet it could have been a different story had Rasmus Hojland converted Marcus Rashford’s right-wing cross. Thomas Kaminski’s wonderous reactions earned him a save of the month nomination for a stop at Aston Villa last month. While it did not win him the award, he might for this: the Belgian brilliantly turning away from three yards out.

For all their possession, the home side were not cutting the Hatters open and as a result Edwards’ side grew in confidence. Minute by minute the Town creeped higher up the pitch.

And that resulted in Chiedozie Ogbene having the Town’s first chance – shooting straight at Andre Onana, the Red Devils’ goalkeeper – on 22 minutes.

But 14 minutes later the Hatters were mighty close to leading at the Theatre of Dreams. Issa Kabore flew down the right and his perfect cross was met by a thunderous leaping header from Carlton Morris. For a split-second it looked all the world 1-0 but Onana leapt to his left and a big left hand later and the ball was clear. Andros Townsend followed-up but the goalkeeper was there again.

United passed up the opportunity for the lead five minutes before the break only for Kaminski and Kabore to snuff out the danger and as the half-time whistle went there was cause for optimism for those following the Town.

Early in the second half Hojlund found space in the box but headed wide and the Town, now shooting towards their support in one pocket of Old Trafford, continued to grow in confidence.

Townsend shot over from distance, however, shortly before the hour the Hatters’ good work was undone when United led. A half-cleared corner was recycled by Rashford and, after his low cross was half-cleared, Victor Lindelof was on hand to bash the ball home from eight yards.

Observers might have fancied the Town to roll over. Luton at Old Trafford, here come the goals… Not so. If anything, the Hatters took the game to United. Their passing remained forward-thinking. The only issue was a genuine threat in the final third was missing.

On 72 minutes the Hatters faithful were in full voice to welcome back Jordan Clark to action, three months after an injury in Bochum in pre-season stopped his season in its tracks.

However, as they huffed and puffed the Town could not call Onana into a meaningful stop and it was left to Kaminski to have the final say with another great stop to deny Rashford adding a second – one which would have flattered the hosts.

Eight minutes of added time was bolted on but despite a few threatening free-kicks which promised hope of a late, late leveller, one would not come.

The whistles from the home support told their own story. Hanging onto a one-goal lead at home to Luton Town. There’s a modicum of satisfaction to take from that somewhere, we’re sure.

Eventually that whistle would come to the home side’s relief and the Hatters took in the applause from the travelling hordes, who’d sung themselves hoarse after an afternoon of non-stop singing.

Defeat, sure. Encouragement? Definitely.

But the need for three points soon are vital and Edwards knows that.

A week’s break will follow and attention will turn to Crystal Palace at Kenilworth Road in the search of that next win.

See you then.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré (sub Giles 85), Doughty (sub Clark 72), Lockyer, Mengi, Osho; Nakamba (sub Mpanzu 85), Barkley, Townend; Obgene, Townsend (sub Chong 60), Morris (sub Adebayo 85)

Subs not used: Krul, Berry, Brown, Nelson.

Attendance: 73,599, including 3,008 noisy Town fans

Edwards proud despite defeat

Hatters manager Rob Edwards was proud of the football club today but explained that "we want more points" after Premier League defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

"We are disappointed," said Edwards. "Of course, there was hard work in the performance and there was good quality in the second half from us.

“We showed a lot of bravery on the ball, and our fans know we aren’t a team that necessarily dominates on the ball.

“To grow on the ball in one of the best stadiums in the world and in the toughest league in the world is difficult, so the boys showed incredible bravery.

“It was harder to break United down later in the game as they got more players behind the ball, we just needed to find moments in the game at the right times and create some chances.

“I saw a determination, a steel, a grit about us in that first half, we rode our luck once or twice but had a chance of our own through Carlton’s header and it was important to stay in the game.

“The support we had from the fans was incredible today, it was very important at the beginning that we showed that respect which we did immaculately, and then I could hear them the whole game.

“It made me really proud to be representing this club and I hope everyone has a safe journey home. Take a lot from it, be proud of the football club today, but we are greedy and we want more points.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRyByGC-J6E – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ozV9BxP0WA – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUlrtRxMK5Q – Extended highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1NCIN_YmOE – Behind the scenes

Lindelof grabs the only goal as Luton fall to narrow defeat at Manchester United

Premier League: Manchester United 1 Luton Town 0

Luton produced yet another battling display full of fighting spirit as they were edged out by Manchester United, who eased the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag with a narrow 1-0 victory this afternoon.

The visitors went with the same XI who produced a marvellous performance when drawing 1-1 against Liverpool last Sunday, although Luke Berry was fit enough to take his place on the bench.

Looking to take advantage of a Red Devils side who had lost four from their last six at home, Town simply didn’t have the ball in the opening stages, a needless VAR check for a handball against Carlton Morris thankfully brushed aside.

England attacker Marcus Rashford, eager to make up for his controversial red card against Copenhagen in midweek had an early sighter, lifting his attempt over following a poor clearance by Gabe Osho.

Luton were indebted to a magnificent stop on 10 minutes from Thomas Kaminski as Harry Maguire's clearance turned into a great pass for Rashford on the right.

He sent over a cross that deflected off Osho and landed perfectly for Rasmus Hojland whose prod goalwards from a matter of yards saw Kamsinki, as he had done against Aston Villa recently, throw out an arm to somehow deflect it away.

Luton did start to finally move their possession percentage stats into double figures with bursts upfield from Issa Kabore and Osho, although United threatened again on 15 minutes, Diogo Dalot's cross headed over by Scott McTominay.

Although they were getting a foothold, the hosts remained a threat, Maguire's ball out to the left wing taken on by Alejandro Garnacho, he advanced into the area with ease, lashing over the top.

Luton responded with their first attempt on target on 20 minutes, a meek one after some neat build-up play, Chiedozie Ogbene straight at Andre Onana from 18 yards.

Bruno Fernandes had a crack moments later, unable to keep his left footer down, as the odd murmur of discontent came through from the Old Trafford crowd when the hosts didn’t force things, their play often laboured and easy to defend against.

Having said that, Maguire took it on himself to get down the wing, Osho standing up well to make an important block as Hojlund looked to spin from close range.

Staying increasingly patient, Town had a let-off on the half hour, a corner finding the unmarked Rashford at the back post, his first time drive cannoning off Osho and flying fortunately wide.

With 10 minutes to go until the break, the Hatters then created their best opportunity when a poor clearing header fell to Kabore, whose cross was met by a fine header from Morris, drawing a decent stop by Onana.

When the hosts then tried to play their way out, Luton won it back and Andros Townsend had a crack, this one far easier for the Cameroon international.

United had to change the injured Christian Eriksen for £55m summer signing Mason Mount, the sub seeing Luton lose their defensive shape, Garnacho left completely unmarked.

He looked to round Kaminski, the Belgian holding him up enough for Town to get players back on the line, Tom Lockyer hammering the shot away from danger.

In the second period, Luton almost fell back into their ways of conceding immediately, a simple free kick played in and Hojlund's downward header bouncing wide.

Town looked to respond, Townsend going for glory from 25 yards, only to shoot well over, as at the other end, Sergio Reguilon couldn't keep his attempt down from inside the area when under pressure from ex-Red Devils' centre half Teden Mengi.

Just as they had done in the first half, United began to dominate the ball but unlike the first period, this time they made it count, a corner not cleared properly by the visitors and there was Viktor Lindelof to slam home from close range, finally breaking Town's resistance.

Edwards brought on ex-United midfielder Tahith Chong for Townsend straight away as Luton didn't let their heads drop, fashioning an opportunity for Barkley who once more was wayward from 20 yards.

United sniffed a second that you'd think would have been too much for the Hatters to come back from, Rashford released in the area and Kaminski doing well to stand up and repel his effort.

An injury to Doughty saw him forced off in the 72nd minute, as Jordan Clark came on to huge cheers from the away end in what was his first appearance since the play-off final and Premier League debut as well.

Chong won a free kick 20 yards out that saw Barkley shoot disappointingly straight into the wall, Clark getting back to make a wonderful block when Fernandes pulled the trigger.

Kaminski was determined to keep Luton in the game, getting down well to his left to parry McTominay's header away.

At the start of the season you wouldn’t have thought the Red Devils would be timewasting from goal kicks in order to cling on to a victory, but that was what was happening, such was the importance of three points to the hosts.

With time running out, Edwards made one final throw of the dice, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Elijah Adebayo and Ryan Giles on for Ogbene, Kabore and Nakamba as Luton looked to snatch yet another late goal.

It was United who looked the more likely though, but they didn’t have their shooting boots on, Dalot's volley always rising, as was Fernandes’ awful free kick.

Mengi almost had the fairy-tale he wanted in eight minutes of stoppage time, only to see his low drive gathered by Onana, as Town went into the international break with yet another valiant defeat.

Red Devils: Andre Onana, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes (C), Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund (Martial 78), Christian Eriksen (Mason Mount 40), Sergio Reguilon (Raphael Varane 79), Alejandro Garnacho (Antony 68), Diogo Dalot, Scott McTominay.

Subs not used: Altay Bayindir, Sofyan Amrabat, Facundo Pellistri, Kobbie Mainoo, Hannibal.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Issa Kabore (Ryan Giles 85), Gabe Osho, Tom Lockyer (C), Teden Mengi, Alfie Doughty (Jordan Clark 72), Marvelous Nakamba (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 85), Ross Barkley, Andros Towsend (Tahith Chong 60), Chiedozie Ogbene (Elijah Adebayo 85), Carlton Morris.

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Jacob Brown, Luke Berry, Zack Nelson.

Booked: Kabore 73, Lockyer 90.

Referee: Graham Scott.

Attendance: 73,599.