Newcastle United vs Luton Town FC (3rd Feb 2024)

Report | Hatters earn point in pulsating eight-goal thriller

Newcastle 4 Longstaff 4, 23, Trippier 67, Barnes 73

Town 4 Osho 21, Barkley 40, Morris 59 (pen), Adebayo 62

Where to start? Perhaps just three-and-a-half miles away.

September 2010 the Town were beaten 1-0 at Gateshead. Heads were low. 1,075 fans – the majority Hatters – trudged out of the International Stadium and another season in the Conference would beckon.

Fast forward 14 years and 11 minutes’ drive down the road, and over 50,000 fans watched the Town go toe-to-toe with Newcastle United in one of the top-flight’s most mind-boggling matches of the season.

Twice behind. Twice level. 4-2 up. 4-4. And both sides could have found a fifth.

The story of this game would take a novel to tell. We don’t have the time or patience for that.

But it all began so quickly when Newcastle took the lead on seven minutes. At that point it looked as though the Town might be in for a long afternoon when Sean Longstaff rifled home to finish an intricate home move.

Yet the Town’s response to going behind was truly excellent. Settling into the game as if nothing had happened, they were soon level when Gabe Osho rose highest to nod on Carlton Morris’ flick to deservedly bring the Hatters level.

However, no sooner were the Town on terms they trailed again two minutes and three seconds later when Longstaff restored the Magpies lead, converting after Thomas Kaminski had parried Anthony Gordon’s effort.

Behind again but once more no panic from those in orange.

Undeterred, the Hatters built once more and, as they seized control of the football, their efforts were rewarded with a second equaliser five minutes before the interval.

It was a goal all about Ross Barkley. The Town midfielder won the ball on halfway, drove goalwards and slipped Alfie Doughty inside the area. The wing-back’s shot was parried by Martin Dubravka but the ball fell at the feet of the Hatters number six and he poked home into an empty net.

It was breathless stuff as the half-time whistle blew. But that was literally just the half of it.

As the game swung from end to end in the early stages after the restart, suddenly, on 57 minutes, Rob Edwards’ side finally wrestled destiny into their own hands.

One major observation from the first 45 minutes was how much harm the pace of Chiedozie Ogbene was causing the home defence down the right. And the former Rotherham man was instrumental in leading to the Town taking the lead for the first time. His surge into the box was ended by Dan Burn in the penalty area and after a sustained VAR check, captain Carlton Morris stepped up – at the second time of asking – to roll home. 3-2.

It was good. It was great. But things got even better three minutes later when the Town stunned St James’ with a fourth. A wonderful flowing move beginning down the left saw Doughty find Barkley and Barkley square to Elijah Adebayo and the man who netted a hat-trick in midweek made no mistake to steer home from close range for his ninth of the season.

You felt, honestly, that it was too good to be true. From non-league to Premier League, our story’s been one for Hollywood, but surely it couldn’t get much better than leading 4-2 to the good at St James’ Park in the top-flight. If you were a betting man, you’d want to cash out. Here, in the real world and on the pitch, there was still 20 minutes to play.

With our – that’s ours, not the players’ – heads in the clouds, in dreamland, we were given a quick reality check and were brought back down to earth with a bump as Newcastle hit back.

The Magpies, who had thrashed PSG in the Champions League earlier this season, upped the ante and got to within one goal on 68 minutes when captain Kieran Trippier found the target.

And the turnround was complete six minutes later when substitute Harvey Barnes dispossessed Barkley and send a low finish beyond Kaminski from the edge of the box.

Back level you felt, with the roar of the 50,000 Geordie voices, there was going to be only one outcome.

Yet this Luton Town team is stacked with resolve and resilience.

A period where holding onto your hats was a genuine necessity, though, as the hosts pushed for a fifth. Kaminski came to the rescue with eight minutes left to turn away Barnes’ goal-bound shot and the Magpies came even closer two minutes later Jacob Murphy spurned a chance at the back-post after a wonderful cross from Bruno Guimaraes had dissected the Town backline.

One more, the Hatters responded brilliantly to adversity and when ten added minutes were added by the officials the Town found a second wind and it was Ogbene who had the game’s final glorious chance. Barkley was the architect, pinging a ball to the back-post but the Irishman’s fine side-foot effort was held by the relieved Dubravka.

Moments later the final whistle blew and both sides could breathe a sigh of relief on a rollercoaster afternoon on Tyneside that will live long in the memory.

A precious point – not many teams have taken those from here over the past 18 months – and a performance to be proud of.

Forget 14 years ago. The Town have moved on and are moving up the table and deservedly so. 16th and out of Rob Edwards’ relegation zone.

We’ll take that thank you very much.

Not since 1959 have the Hatters scored four in back-to-back games in the top-flight.

The past week has been nothing short of brilliant.

We’ll see you for more next weekend.

Up the Town.

Town: Kaminski; Mengi, Osho, Bell, Ogbene, Doughty (sub Burke 79; Lokonga, Barkley; Clark (sub Mpanzu 68), Morris (sub Brown 79), Adebayo (sub Woodrow 88).

Subs not used: Krul, Berry, Kaboré, Chong, Townsend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwqzCjv7Uf0 – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg1YkH4Kk0o – match highlights

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqc_BrBw1Dk – game day unmasked

Luton claim another precious point after crazy eight-goal thriller at Newcastle United

Premier League: Newcastle United 4 Luton Town 4

An absolutely crazy game of football saw Luton claim another point in their battle for Premier League survival in what was a bonkers eight-goal thriller at St James' Park this afternoon.

Words won't quite do the 100 minutes of football justice, Luton trailing 1-0 and 2-1, then leading 4-2, before being pegged back by a quickfire Magpies double, the visitors almost winning it at the death as well. Before the excitement started, Town chief Rob Edwards made one change to the side that had thumped Brighton & Hove Albion in midweek, Teden Mengi fit enough to replace Reece Burke, with Issa Kabore and Jacob Brown back on the bench once more.

Despite a bright start in which the Hatters looked like they could get some joy when isolating Chiedozie Ogbene against lumbering United full back Dan Burn, one excellent foray into the box saw keeper Martin Dubravka claim his deflected cross. That good work was undone on just seven minutes though, Lewis Miley spreading the ball wide to Kieran Tripper, his cross allowed to run across the box where the onrushing Sean Longstaff tucked past Thomas Kaminski.

Ogbene had another penetrating run into the box which saw his cross kicked away from inside the six yard box, boss Edwards frustrated no Luton forward had made the run across his marker for a simple tap in. An action-packed spell saw Town restore parity on 21 minutes with a free kick straight from the training ground, Ross Barkley's lofted ball in met by Carlton Morris who nodded back for Gabe Osbo to head in via the underside of the bar.

However, just as Luton looked like they might move in front, they were hit 90 seconds later, an attack breaking down inside the area, with Anthony Gordon sprinting away on the left, going up against Osho. He raced away from the Town centre half who simply couldn't touch him for fear of being sent off, cutting on to his right and although Kaminski powered away, the rebound fell to Longstaff who picked out the bottom corner for his second of the afternoon.

Still the Hatters threatened, especially when Ogbene was in possession, receiving a throw from Kaminski and then just burst away from Lewis Miley and ghosting past Burn, Town unable to fashion a shooting opportunity. Longstaff, sensing a first half hat-trick, saw a pop from range clear the bar, but Luton were level again five minutes before the break.

Barkley won the ball back in midfield and set off on a driving run forward, picking Doughty to his left. The wingback's low shot was saved by Dubravka but dropped right into the path of Barkley who kept his composure to tap home from a few yards out for his sixth goal against Newcastle in his career. Knowing it was imperative they stayed level this time, Luton almost had a third, Adebayo's cross just unable to get the touch it needed from Morris.

After the break, Gordon made way for Callum Wilson, as the hosts almost had another early goal, Jacob Murphy getting away in the box and Kaminski was there to block, the attacker having another go moments later, missing the target this time. Luton then had a penalty on 59 minutes when Ogbene was sent one on one with Burn once more, the Town wingback bursting away yet again as the defender's arm was across his shoulder.

The infringement started outside the box, but Ogbene managed to keep his footing until making getting into the area and then going over, the linesman belatedly flagging. VAR was called on to adjudicate, with referee Thomas Bramall instructed to point to the spot, Morris stepping up. With the noise deafening, he tucked home his effort, sending Dubravka the wrong way, but had gone too early, ordered to retake his spotkick.

The Luton forward then showed nerves of steel to do exactly the same with his second effort, sticking with the same spot, as Dubravka anticipated a switch, going the wrong way once more. If that wasn't good enough for the travelling fans, Town were then in dreamland just three minutes later, Doughty released on the left and finding Barkley. He delayed his pass, weighting it perfectly for Adebayo to clinically slot home for his fourth goal in a week, sparkling scenes of mayhem in the away.

Home boss Eddie Howe rang the changes, with Tino Livramento and Harvey Barnes on, unfortunately for Luton, as crucially, the hosts were back in the game on 66 minutes, Trippier volleying home at the far post. Town were then pegged back in what was turning into a truly mental game of football, Barkley dispossessed in midfield, his appeal for a foul falling on deaf ears and Barnes sidefooting into the bottom corner from just outside the box to make it 4-4.

Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was introduced, his cross shot straight at Dubravka, while Teden Mengi prevented it being three goals in five minutes for the hosts as he made a vital block on Barnes as the ball dropped to him inside the area. Kaminski made a wonderful save when Fabian Schar drove forward and found Barnes once more, his shot taking a nick off Mengi, the Belgian doing superbly to fingertip it behind.

The action then slowed down slightly, Bruno Guimaraes with an outstanding outside of the boot cross that saw Murphy divert over at the post, but during 10 minutes of stoppage time, Luton, with Barkley pulling the strings were able to demonstrate an element of control. They almost won it too, the midfielder's cross met by Ogbene, who was denied the most famous of winners by Dupravka.

Magpies: Martin Dubravka, Kieran Trippier (C), Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, Anthony Gordon (Callum Wilson 46), Jacob Murphy, Miguel Almiron (Harvey Barnes 64), Dan Burn (Tino Livramento 64), Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Lewis Miley. Subs not used: Lorius Karius, Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Emil Krafth, Lewis Hall, Joe White.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Chiedozie Ogbene, Teden Mengi, Gabe Osho Amari'i Bell, Alfie Doughty (Reece Burke 79), Ross Barkley, Sambi Lokonga, Jordan Clark (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 68), Elijah Adebayo (Cauley Woodrow 88), Carlton Morris (C, Jacob Brown 79). Subs not used: Tim Krul, Luke Berry, Issa Kabore, Andros Townsend. Referee: Thomas Bramall. Booked: Burn, Lokonga, Murphy, Osho.

Edwards felt every kind of emotion during Luton's thrilling 4-4 draw with Magpies

Reaction from Town boss at St James’ Park

Hatters boss Rob Edwards admitted he felt absolutely every emotion going during his side’s unbelievable 4-4 draw at Newcastle United this afternoon.

The Town chief saw the visitors fall behind early on when Sean Longstaff scored, only for Gabe Osho to level. Eddie Howe’s team then led again, Longstaff scoring his second, before Ross Barkley made it 2-2. After the break, the Hatters were in dreamland, Carlton Morris converting from the spot and Elijah Adebayo putting Town 4-2 in front.

However, Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes found the net to draw Newcastle level with 20 minutes still to go, as Luton managed to hang on and make sure they left with something, Chiedozie Ogbene almost winning it in the 98th minute.

Asked to sum up his feelings, Edwards said: “Mixed. Very, very proud, pleased with the performance, we came here to win the game and be brave, which we were. Loads of character, resilience and quality to get back into the game after going behind twice and then after going two goals up, tinged with a little bit of disappointment that we couldn’t see it out.

"But I’ve got to respect the opposition and the quality of the players that we’re coming up against, once they got that third goal back there was still quite a lot of time on the clock and the almost inevitable happened. They got that equaliser and then I was pleased with our character and resilience and then actually some quality to keep it at 4-4 and then keep playing.

"We had a big chance late in the game with Chieo, we were still trying to win the game. I thought it was entertaining, two teams absolutely going for it, two teams committed to the way they play. I felt everything, I felt sick at times, I felt elation at times, I felt really proud watching the team play, overall I think a point was the fair result.”