Millwall vs Luton Town FC (7th Apr 2023)

Report | Millwall 0-0 Luton Town

Luton Town earned a valuable point against fellow play-off contenders Millwall at The Den on Good Friday.

In a cagey contest between fourth and fifth place in South London, the Hatters extended their league unbeaten run to nine matches with a resolute defensive performance to keep the Lions at bay and preserve an 18th clean sheet of the campaign.

Manager Rob Edwards had entrusted the same starting XI and substitutes to take on Gary Rowett's side as those who beat fierce rivals Watford last weekend.

At Kenilworth Road in February Millwall took the lead inside the first five minutes and history almost repeated himself when Oliver Burke raced onto Zian Flemming’s chipped ball over the top of the Town defence, but his touch was heavy and rolled towards the grateful Ethan Horvath to collect.

Backed by 2,599 travelling supporters in South London, the Hatters looked to gain a foothold in a cagey opening period but the home side continued to probe.

Striker Tom Bradshaw beat international team-mate Tom Lockyer for pace and was denied by Horvath on the angle, with Lockyer doing enough to knock him off his stride.

Luton had their first and best opportunity just before the half-hour mark when Alfie Doughty’s corner was cleared as far as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu who set the ball back to midfield partner Marvelous Nakamba.

The Aston Villa loanee crossed deep towards Elijah Adebayo, who had peeled away from the Millwall defenders, and headed across goal looking for Carlton Morris but for a crucial interception from Andreas Voglsammer before he could make contact.

In a half of few chances, Ryan Leonard tried his luck from distance but once again for Luton, USA international Horvath was equal to it with a low stop.

Much like the first period, the scrappy nature continued, and it was the home side who looked most likely to break the deadlock after the restart. Alfie Doughty was booked for a late challenge on Danny McNamara, George Saville’s resulting free-kick was headed just over by Murray Wallace.

Town grew in confidence towards the end of the match and tested George Long with just over 10 minutes remaining. Carlton Morris produced a snapshot on the angle which was beaten away by the Millwall number one, before he was quickly down at his near post to deny Doughty.

Despite chances for both sides throughout the 90 minutes, neither side were able to make the decisive breakthrough, however the Hatters did move above Middlesbrough and up into 3rd place ahead of Boro’s meeting with league leaders Burnley later in the day.

Luton Town: Horvath; Drameh, Osho, Lockyer (C), Bell, Doughty; Nakamba, Mpanzu, Campbell (Woodrow 87); Morris, Adebayo.

Subs not used: Shea, Bradley, Berry, Lansbury, Burke, Taylor.

Yellows: Doughty, Campbell

Millwall: Long; McNamara, Cooper, Hutchinson (C) (Malone 82'), Wallace; Saville, Leonard (Shackleton 88’); Flemming; Voglsammer (Esse 82'); Burke (Mitchell 83'), Bradshaw.

Subs not used: Bialkowski, Watmore, Honeyman.

Yellows: Saville

Referee: Darren England

Attendance: 18,422 (2,599 away)

Reaction | Rob Edwards on draw at Millwall

Manager Rob Edwards praised his team for their efforts in a hard-fought draw against play-off contenders Millwall this afternoon.

Chances were sparse in a cagey match at The Den but the point and 18th clean sheet of the season propelled the Hatters up into third place, having extended their league unbeaten run to nine matches.

“It was a very challenging game,” the boss admitted to BBC Three Counties Radio. “We had to stand up to an aerial bombardment, lots of balls coming into the box, whether that was set-pieces, long throws, or very fast turnovers. Their forwards are great at reading that or anticipating that as the ball comes over the top.

“There was a lot of strong defending that we had to do in the box and I’m delighted with the way that we did that because we protected Ethan really well. What we lacked today was probably a bit of rhythm, it was really difficult to find the rhythm in the game because there was so many first and second balls.

Manager Rob Edwards praised his team for their efforts in a hard-fought draw against play-off contenders Millwall this afternoon.

Chances were sparse in a cagey match at The Den but the point and 18th clean sheet of the season propelled the Hatters up into third place, having extended their league unbeaten run to nine matches.

“It was a very challenging game,” the boss admitted to BBC Three Counties Radio. “We had to stand up to an aerial bombardment, lots of balls coming into the box, whether that was set-pieces, long throws, or very fast turnovers. Their forwards are great at reading that or anticipating that as the ball comes over the top.

“There was a lot of strong defending that we had to do in the box and I’m delighted with the way that we did that because we protected Ethan really well. What we lacked today was probably a bit of rhythm, it was really difficult to find the rhythm in the game because there was so many first and second balls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-8tzTmq4Bo – Rob Edwards interview

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc5U6JfkzqI – Amari’i Bell interview

Hatters take another step towards securing a play-off place with Millwall stalemate

Championship: Millwall 0 Luton 0

Promotion rivals Luton and Millwall just couldn’t be separated during their meeting at the New Den this afternoon, as the Hatters took another step towards securing a play-off place.

In a game that could quite easily be a play-off semi-final clash in a few months time, a sell-out crowd in South London made for an excellent atmosphere both ahead of the contest and during the eventual stalemate.

That was probably the highlight of the afternoon though as the players couldn’t quite match the fans’ attempts with precious little to shout about on the pitch, in what was an affair high on hard work, but ultimately low on quality.

The visitors were unsurprisingly unchanged from their superb 2-0 victory over Watford last weekend, boss Rob Edwards sticking with the same set of players who had masterminded the famous triumph.

As in the game at Kenilworth Road against the Lions, Luton almost fell behind inside the opening five minutes when their defence was caught out by a ball over the top, the completely unmarked Oliver Burke's touch just letting him down as Ethan Horvath was able to gather at his feet.

Tom Bradshaw then sliced wide of the target when falling backwards on his left foot, as the opening 15 minutes passed without any major incidents, Premier League referee Darren England not letting play flow as much as he might.

It was Bradshaw who caused Town another problem shortly afterwards, beating Lockyer for pace on the left, the Welsh international just managing to avoid nibbling at him inside the area, doing enough to only concede a corner.

Luton finally managed to cause a threat just before the half hour mark, Carlton Morris's attempt from range deflecting behind, which led to their best spell of the first half, a deep cross met by Elijah Adebayo, Morris just unable to turn it in.

Then, another delivery from Alfie Doughty reached Gabe Osho at the far post, but his header was also smuggled away by the Lions, who almost went up the other end and took the lead, Ryan Leonard's shot destined for the bottom corner until Horvath palmed it behind.

Morris had another attempt from outside the box, Adebayo diverting it wide of the post, before the game reverted to its scrappy nature, Luton's xG of 0.03 showcasing that very fact.

The second half initially didn't show any signs of changing that for the Hatters, Millwall showing first, Murray Wallace's header failing to come down and then Andreas Voglsammer latching on to a ball forward, only to get caught in two minds when bearing down on Horvath, Luton getting men back in the nick of time.

With both sides still not able to create anything, Millwall appeared to have an opportunity from a set-piece when Allan Campbell tripped his man, Voglsammer's aim was awry.

Out of nowhere, Luton finally had their first shot on target with 13 minutes to go, Morris's attempt from a tight angle requiring the previously underworked George Long to parry away.

He was called on again just moments later, getting down to turn Doughty's low sidefooter from 20 yards away, as it looked like the visitors might be trying to mount a late charge.

That was stemmed though, Lockyer fortunate to not give away a penalty when man-handling his opponent in the area late on, Wallace firing over the bar.

Adebayo followed suit with an attempt that was ambitious at best, a cross into the box the far better option, but the lack of genuine quality shone through at the death, sub Scott Malone woefully overhitting a cross to a number of groans.

The result was more of a bonus for Luton than their hosts though, as they kept Millwall six points behind them in the battle for the play-offs, extending their own unbeaten run on the road to a mightily impressive nine matches.

Lions: George Long, Danny McNamara, Murray Wallace, Shaun Hutchinson (C Scott Malone 83), Jake Cooper, Oliver Burke (Billy Mitchell 83), Tom Bradshaw, Zian Flemming, Ryan Leonard (Jamie Shackleton 88), Andreas Voglsammer (Romaine Esse 82), George Saville.

Subs not used: Bartosz Bialkowski, Duncan Watmore, George Honeyman.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, Cody Drameh, Gabe Osho, Tom Lockyer (C), Amari'i Bell, Alfie Doughty, Marvelous Nakamba, Allan Campbell (Cauley Woodrow 87), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Elijah Adebayo, Carlton Morris.

Subs not used: James Shea, Henri Lansbury, Luke Berry, Joe Taylor, Reece Burke, Sonny Bradley.

Bookings: Saville 40, Doughty 55, Campbell 77.

Referee: Darren England.

Attendance: 18,422.

Luton chief hails a 'big point' as Hatters play out goalless draw with Lions

Town aren’t breached once more at the New Den

Hatters boss Rob Edwards labelled Luton’s goalless draw at fellow promotion chasers Millwall this afternoon as a ‘big point’ for his side.

With Town starting the day in fourth and their hosts in fifth, a game that was low on goalscoring quality, but high in endeavour, saw the visitors retain a six point advantage over the Lions with six matches of the season now remaining.

Edwards said: “It was a very challenging game, really tough game.

"We had to stand up to an aerial bombardment, loads of balls coming in the box, whether that’s from set-pieces, long throws, very fast turnovers.

"Their forwards are great at reading that, anticipating it, looking forward, their hips are facing the goal, as that ball comes over the top and it was a lot of strong defending we had to do in the box.

“I’m delighted with the way we did that as we protected Ethan (Horvath) really, really well.

"What we lacked today was a little bit of rhythm.

"It was very difficult to find the rhythm in the game as there’s so many first and second balls and duels and it’s difficult to get too much going.

"When we did get moments of control we didn't move well enough, we moved the ball all right but we didn't move and move them well enough.

"The lads showed bags of character, to come away with a clean sheet, and it’s a big point, a big point.

"It’s a really difficult place to come when they’re going for it as well, full house, they were at it, I thought it was a really really good day for us.

“Another clean sheet is a real positive, bags of effort, some good performances, in different ways.

"Football is not always beautiful, you have to play different ways, find different ways and the opposition team are always going to try and play to their strengths and stop you doing what you do well,

"Today, loads of character, loads of heart, lots of battling qualities, I really enjoyed it, I'd have liked to be out there myself.”

Although Luton had better spells in the second period, forcing home keeper George Long into making two saves, Edwards didn’t think there was too much flow in a contest that was officiated by Premier League referee Darren England.

He added: “We had a bit more territory, started the second half very well, they came into it a little bit, it was that fast turnover and if it goes out for a throw-in it’s coming into the box.

"It’s really hard as we want the lads to battle, the ref I thought, it’s a difficult game, but he was quite whistle happy at times.

"There were lots of free kicks going on and you can argue for both teams, again another reason why we lacked flow, as any time, half-way line or anywhere, you know where it’s going.

"They’ve got real threats, so to stand up to that was really good.”