Middlesbrough vs Luton Town FC (9th Nov 2024)

09/11/2024 Hatters lose 5-1 at Middlesbrough

The Hatters suffered a fourth away defeat in a row as high-flying Middlesbrough won 5-1 at the Riverside Stadium.

Manager Rob Edwards made five changes to the side that beat Cardiff 1-0 at Kenilworth Road three days earlier, but his team were broken by four goals in 24 minutes either side of half-time, with Delano Burgzorg and Finn Azaz both netting two, and Emmanuel Latte Lath also on target.

Substitute Jordan Clark netted his third goal of the season with 13 minutes left to reduce the arrears, but it was the hosts who went soaring back into the play-off places.

The Hatters had started well, with a couple of dangerous looking crosses from either flank courtesy of Tahith Chong and Liam Walsh, although it was Boro who had the game’s first attempts on goal, Hayden Hackney and Luke Ayling both firing over the bar.

Cauley Woodrow, making his first start of the season, had the Hatters' first shot on target - a 25-yarder from the right side of the area that Dieng punched clear - before Walsh, who had been excellent in the early stages, dragged an effort wide from just outside the box.

But Boro took the lead on the half-hour, Burgzorg running onto a loose ball just inside the Town area after a well-worked corner routine from the right.

Town could consider themselves unfortunate to be a goal down having started the game well, but the hosts took complete control of the game two minutes before half-time when Latte Lath controlled Azaz's chipped pass on his chest, turned and placed a left-footed finish into the bottom corner past Kaminski.

The Town keeper had to be alert to prevent it being three by half-time as he saved a Ben Doak thunderbolt at his near post, but Town headed in at the break needing to regroup.

Edwards made one change at the interval, with Victor Moses on in place of captain Amari’i Bell, and Daiki Hashioka switching to left wing-back, with the ex-Chelsea man on the right.

But before they knew it, the Town were three and then four down, and well and truly out of the game.

First, Hackney set Doak clear on the right and the Scotland international cut back for Azaz to curl into the top corner five minutes after the restart.

In a rare glimpse of attacking intent, Chong went on a mazy run down the left and set up Woodrow for a shot that was saved by Dieng.

But within seconds, Boro went straight up the other end and made it 4-0 with Burgzorg netting his second of the game after Latte Lath had won the ball ahead of McGuinness, who was the last defender, and played the Dutch forward in for an open goal.

The Town boss made four more changes, immediately introducing Tom Krauß and captain Carlton Morris for Baptiste and Woodrow, before adding Clark and Marvelous Nakamba to the fray just before the hour, in place of Adebayo and Walsh.

The arrears were reduced on 77 minutes when Krauß won the ball in midfield and fed fellow sub Clark to his left, with the former Accrington man checking back onto his right foot to fire past Dieng for his third goal of the season.

But it was never going to be enough to spark a comeback as Azaz curled in from the edge of the box late on, and the Hatters brilliant travelling support of almost 700 fans were left to head home disappointed.

We thank every single one of you for your passion and commitment in making a 200-plus mile journey for a 12.30pm kick-off at the other end of the country.

See you back at home for Hull after the international break.

Full XI: Kaminski, Hashioka, Mengi, McGuinness, Holmes, Bell (C) (Moses 46), Baptiste (Krauß 55), Walsh (Nakamba 59), Chong, Woodrow (Morris 55), Adebayo (Clark 59).

Subs: Krul, Andersen, Mpanzu, Brown.

Boro: Dieng, Ayling (C), A. Morris, Clarke, Burgzorg, Edmundson, Doak, Dijksteel, Azaz, Hackney, Latte Lath.

Referee: Tony Harrington

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRjahiPpwK4 – Rob Edwards post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhL7hd7AR6A – match highlights

Hatters humbled as rampant Middlesbrough serve up Town's biggest defeat of the season

Championship: Middlesbrough 5 Luton Town 1

Luton's miserable Championship season sunk to new depths as they were handed their heaviest defeat of the campaign with an embarrassing 5-1 thumping at the hands of Middlesbrough this afternoon, suffering their fourth successive away reverse in the process.

Going into the ultimately one-sided contest, successive home games against West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City in which Town were breached just once had raised hopes that the Hatters' defensive solidity that saw them reach the Premier League the last time they were at this level had returned. For the first half an hour, it looked like that might have been transported away from Bedfordshire to the north east too, the visitors looking fairly comfortable against Michael Carrick's team.

However they then conceded four times in just 24 minutes either side of half time as their back-line simply fell apart in what wasn't even a huge onslaught from the home team, who took advantage of some woeful defending to score with virtually every shot, increasing the pressure on manager Rob Edwards once more, his side yet again falling well short in the final match of a three game week.

The Town chief had stuck to his word about making changes for the fixture, with five in total, including striker Cauley Woodrow for his first league start since February when Town were losing 4-1 at Liverpool in the Premier League, a match that seems an age ago now. He partnered the returning Elijah Adebayo upfront in a new-look strike partnership, while Tom Holmes, Shandon Baptiste and Liam Walsh all came in from the side who beat Cardiff 1-0 on Wednesday night, Carlton Morris, Tom Krauß, Jordan Clark and Jacob Brown dropping to the bench, with Alfie Doughty injured.

The heavily altered team looked neat and tidy on the ball in the opening exchanges, as Holmes was keen to venture forward and join in with the attacks, while Baptiste and Walsh got their passing game going, although a harsh booking limited Baptiste’s physicality. Boro went on to have the two best opportunities though, Hayden Hackney driving an angled attempt off target, before with 16 minutes gone, livewire Ben Doak sped away on the right and pulled the ball back for Luke Ayling to blaze wastefully over.

Although having more of the possession, Town couldn't really create a great deal, finally creating a worthwhile opening when Daiki Hashioka picked up a loose pass to find Adebayo six yards from goal who tried to tee up Baptiste rather than go for goal himself, his team-mate dispossessed. Luton began to enjoy their first spell of serious pressure, Woodrow having a crack on 25 minutes that Seny Dieng fisted away, while the forward then did brilliantly in some tight confines on the edge of the box two minutes later, and when the ball dropped to Walsh, he wasn't too far away from picking out the bottom corner with his right foot.

From looking like they might be in the ascendancy, the Hatters then found themselves behind on the half hour as a corner routine was flicked on at the near post where Delano Burgzorg had the freedom of the Riverside to send his finish from 10 yards out beyond Thomas Kaminski. The hosts then made the most of their pressure by scoring a second just before the break, as a dinked ball into the box by Finn Azaz was take on the chest by Latte Lath and he spun Mengi before sidefooting beyond Kaminski to double the hosts' lead.

They almost had a third moments later, Doak's fierce drive batted away by Luton's Belgian keeper, as Hackney's ambitious drive from range flew into the stands. Town made a change for the secnod period, Victor Moses replacing Bell, which saw Hashioka shunted over to the left wingback role. Any realistic hopes that the Hatters had of salvaging anything from the contest were ended with just six minutes of the half gone as Doak broke away once more on the right and took advantage of some gaping holes in the Town defence to pick out Azaz who was able to slam into the top corner.

Luton had their best chance of pulling something back when Chong did superbly on the left to get on the outside and reach the byline as he picked out Woodrow, his low attempt well saved by Dieng. Irked by that opportunity, the hosts just went straight down the other end and made it 4-0 on 54 minutes, as one pass through the middle split the Hatters' defence wide open. McGuinness tried to slide in to prevent Latte Lath escaping, but when he failed to make contact, the forward could then go clean through and pick out Burgzorg to his right who had a simple tap in.

Edwards brought on Morris, Krauß, Clark and Marvelous Nakamba in a bid to try and put a lid on the hosts' scoring, the Town boss was met with stick from both sets of supporters as the ole's ran out from the home stands. Clark quickly saw yellow which now rules him out of the home game against Hull City after the international break, as Morris followed him into the book as well after an altercation with namesake Aidan Morris, quick to give his own team-mates a rollicking in the aftermath.

Town did finally manage to give their 700 travelling fans something to cheer about on 77 minutes when Krauß found a pocket of space just outside the area and after biding his time, picked out Clark who took a touch and was able to beat Dieng to pull one back, although to seriously muted celebrations from the 11 on the pitch.

The were further cheers in the home end with three minutes to play as Boro scored the pick of the afternoon, Azaz taking advantage of some space in the Town box to curl a wonderful finish into the top corner and add a fifth as it looks now like Edwards’ time as Luton manager is coming to an end.

Boro: Seny Dieng, Matt Clarke, Hayden Hackney, Emmanuel Latte Lath (Tommy Conway 70), Delano Burgzorg (Micah Hamilson 70), Luke Ayling ©, Anfernee Dijksteel, Aidan Morris (Dan Barlaser 70), Finn Azaz, George Edmundson (Dael Fry 75), Ben Doak (Isaiah Jones 81).

Subs not used: Sol Brynn, Riley McGree, Jonny Howson, George McCormick.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Daiki Hashioka, Teden Mengi, Mark McGuinness, Tom Holmes, Amari'i Bell (C Victor Moses 46), Liam Walsh (Marvelous Nakamba 59), Shandon Baptiste (Tom Krauß 55), Tahith Chong, Cauley Woodrow (Carlton Morris 55), Eliah Adebayo (Jordan Clark 59).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Mads Andersen, Jacob Brown.

Referee: Tony Harrington.

Booked: Baptiste 15, Burgzorg 31, Hashioka 49, Clark 61, Morris 66.

Attendance: 23,692.

Edwards unsure of his future as he doesn't want to be a 'divisive figure' for Luton fans

Town chief accepts he could well leave the club following 5-1 loss

Luton boss Rob Edwards is unsure of his future after admitting he doesn’t want to be a ‘divisive figure’ at the club following this afternoon’s awful 5-1 defeat at Middlesbrough.

The Hatters chief saw his side concede four goals in the space of 24 minutes either side of half time, Delano Burgzorg (2), Emmanuel Latte Lath and Finn Azaz all finding the net, as although Jordan Clark pulled one back, Azaz then completed the rout in the closing stages. It saw Edwards come in for some heavy criticism from the near 700 travelling fans at the Riverside Stadium, with the Town manager fronting up as usual, but appearing to wave farewell as he went over to offer his apologies after the full time whistle.

Asked for his immediate thoughts about his position, an honest Town chief, who looks like he has taken charge of his last match as Luton manager now, accepted he could have no complaints if the Hatters board decided to act, saying: “It’s not a good result and results haven't been good enough. I'm realistic, whatever will be will be. I'm not in control of that stuff, I love this football club and whatever is best for the football club is the right thing.

"I and we have given everything for this football club. I’ve loved the two years, it’s been one hell of a ride and we’ve achieved things that probably no-one thought was possible. So if that is it, then I and we can hold our heads high as we've given everything and if it’s not then we continue to fight. I don’t want to be a divisive figure here as it’s the supporters who are the most important people at any football club and they’re the ones that are making that noise and they’re the ones that let us know.

"I’m realistic. Today was not a good day but I’m proud of the work we’ve done here. There’s been a lot of challenges and it’s been difficult, but the football club always comes first. I'm a big man and I know how the game works. I love this club and whatever is the right thing is the right thing, I've tried my best.”

Edwards was also eager to apologise publicly to all those who made the lengthy trip to the north east for the early afternoon kick-off, as he could understand their reactions after the game, adding: “Our fans especially are really intelligent and they want what’s best for the club in the end. We want results and we set a really high bar and currently it’s too inconsistent, so I understand their frustrations completely.

"I love the club and the football club comes first, that’s all I can say. We’ll always give everything for this football club, but I don’t want to see people suffer. All our supporters, they don’t deserve that, they’ve had too many tough times. I’m pleased that we’ve been able to give them a lot of smiles, but days like today I feel for them.

"My main concern right now and the people I feel for most most are the supporters who either got up really this morning to make it here because of the time of the kick-off, a long, long way, or came up last night and spent even more money and I feel for them right now. I feel quite numb. A horrible, horrible day for us, one of those days when you want the ground to swallow you up in the end the way it was going. A really difficult day and the supporters are the main concern and I just want to apologise to them.”

It’s clear that the Town manager still has the support of the players though, skipper Carlton Morris saying: “I can only speak on myself and the players, we’re 100 percent behind him and absolutely love the gaffer. We’ve been through so much together, he’s done so much for this football club, so that’s where I stand on it.”