Norwich City vs Luton Town FC (30th Nov 2024)

30/11/2024 NORWICH CITY 4 – 2 LUTON TOWN

Town fall to defeat at Norwich

Town score twice but two late goals earn Canaries victory at Carrow Road

The Hatters slipped to a sixth successive defeat away from Kenilworth Road as two goals in the final 10 minutes earned Norwich all three points at Carrow Road.

In an open and entertaining game the Town led thanks to Elijah Adebayo’s 19th minute goal but the hosts levelled four minutes later through Ante Crnac.

Crnac scored a second to put the Canaries in front eight minutes later but it took the Town just three minutes after half-time to get back on level terms when Jacob Brown fired home.

But with the Hatters aiming to stop a run of defeats on their travels, Norwich regained the lead with 10 minutes remaining through Emiliano Marcondes before sealing victory on 85 minutes thanks to Borja Sainz’s finish.

On a dull afternoon in Norfolk, the Town were almost behind in the fourth minute when Sainz poked a shot into the side netting with the goal at his mercy as the home side, fresh from beating Plymouth 6-1 in the week, started the brighter of the sides

However, slowly the Hatters found their feet, and on 17 minutes a fine turn from Adebayo almost created a chance for strike-partner Carlton Morris only for a fine interception from Canaries defender Callum Doyle snuff out the danger.

But the Town did not have to wait long for a goal as two minutes later they were ahead. Jordan Clark’s press rushed Anis Slimane into a poor pass and Adebayo was onto the loose ball in a flash. The forward made no mistake with the finish for his third goal of the season.

Sadly the Hatters’ lead did not last. Four minutes later the Canaries were level. The Town could not clear a Norwich set-play with Thomas Kaminski’s attempted punch landing at the feet of Crnac. The Croatian midfielder took a couple of tidy touches before slamming home from eight yards.

All of a sudden it was all Norwich and on 33 minutes the Hatters’ lead had evaporated. Tahith Chong allowed former Town man Jack Stacey to cross from the byline and Crnac was free to turn home in the penalty area for his second.

It was end-to-stuff as half-time approached. Shandon Baptiste was in the right place to cut-out a dangerous Stacey cross on 37 minutes before the same Town man created an opening at the other end that the hosts cleared.

The Hatters then had Kaminski to thank for a superb fingertip save to turn Duffy’s goal-bound header around the post two minutes before the break.

But the Town would go in at the break rueing a big chance for 2-2 when neither Adebayo or Morris could apply a finishing touch with the goal at their mercy following Brown’s inviting low cross.

Yet the Hatters came out fighting after the restart and Brown hit the equaliser on 48 minutes. Baptiste’s left-wing corner caused panic in the Norwich penalty area with the ball eventually falling at the feet of Brown who hooked an effort home for his third of the campaign.

Level, the Town were in the ascendancy and twice came close to taking the lead shortly before the hour only for Morris to have a shot blocked and Brown and Adebayo off target with headers.

Both sides were guilty of gifting possession away but the Hatters continued to keep the Canaries at bay as the game entered the final 15 minutes.

However, with 10 minutes left the home side restored their lead. This time Crnac turned provider with a touch and turn of real class to beat his man and lay the ball on a plate for Emiliano Marcondes to slide home from close range.

It was tough on the Town who had battled all afternoon but, as they searched for an equaliser, Norwich made the game safe with five minutes left when Onel Hernandez sped down the right to deliver a low cross that Sainz swept home – and that was that.

It’s back-to-back home games for the Hatters, starting with the visit of Swansea next Saturday. We’ll see you then.

Town: Kaminski, Hashioka, Bell (sub Holmes 88), McGuinness, Mengi, Chong (sub Moses 46), Clark, Baptiste (sub Krauß 75), Brown (sub Woodrow 67), Adebayo, Morris (sub Taylor 75).

Subs not used: Krul, Andersen, Nakamba, Mpanzu.

Attendance: 26,719, including 1,888 backing the Town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXCVVSZmP6c – Rob Edwards post match

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

Late goals see Luton suffer a sixth successive away defeat at Norwich City

Championship: Norwich City 4 Luton Town 2

Luton's defensive frailties came back to bite them yet again as they suffered a sixth successive away defeat when heavily beaten by Norwich City this afternoon.

With 10 minutes to go and the scores locked at 2-2, it had looked like the Hatters were going to relieve some of the pressure on boss Rob Edwards and grind out a battling point to end their woeful run outside of Bedfordshire. However, the visitors' back-line then folded for the umpteenth time this season as they were breached twice in the closing stages by Emiliano Marcondes and Borja Sainz to seal the points for the hosts, making it a mammoth 21 goals conceded on the road by Town from just nine fixtures this term.

Following the 3-0 defeat at Leeds United, Edwards made four changes yet again for the contest, Daiki Hashioka, Shandon Baptiste, Tahith Chong and Elijah Adebayo all in as Reece Burke missed out through injured, with Victor Moses, Tom Krauss and Marvelous Nakamba dropping to the bench. The Hatters made a far better start then they had at Elland Road in the week as they at least looked capable of making a fist of it, Brown with the first attempt which he pulled wide.

Norwich should have led on five minutes though when Teden Mengi tried an ill-advised turn just outside his own area, having his pocket picked by the worst possible player in the division's leading marksman Sainz. With 15 goals to his name, the Spaniard looked odds on to find the net as he went clean through on Thomas Kaminski, but much to the Town centre half's relief, he could only drag into the side-netting.

Having conceded over 70 percent possession in the opening stages, Luton then started to show signs of life, Adebayo dummying Shane Duffy brilliantly, his cross appearing destined to be turned in by Morris, only for Callum Doyle to make a superb sliding intervention. Town then won the ball back high up, Baptiste sliding in Chong who had space for a shot, ex-Hatter Jack Stacey deflecting over his own bar.

Still Luton attacked though, taking the lead on 20 minutes, although the goal had a huge helping hand from Norwich, Anis Slimane's pass hitting Clark and Adebayo on to it in a flash, evading a last-ditch tackle and slipping his shot under Angus Gunn for his third of the season. Frustratingly for Edwards the advantage only lasted for five minutes though as City were level with a strike that Luton's defence won't want to see again, failing to show any of the 'intelligence' their manager had called for in the build-up.

Mengi once again didn't cover himself in glory when failing to deal with a cross into the box, heading up rather than out and when Kaminski's weak punch was returned to Ante Crnac, the midfielder took a great touch to set up a shooting opportunity that he slammed into the net. Town were almost undone again on 27 minutes, Bell's misplaced crossfield pass going straight to Marcones who raced forward and with Sainz up in support, found his team-mate to the left, Mengi doing just about enough this time to save the day and concede a corner.

However, Luton were breached again with 33 on the clock as yet again it was due to some more shocking decision-making, this time from Chong. A long ball over the top saw the midfielder easily in control of the situation, but he opted to try and let it run out, Stacey not giving up the chase, able to dig out a cross that saw Crnac time his run perfectly to beat Kaminski for a second time and put the hosts ahead.

City almost had a third in the closing stages of the first half, a high, hanging corner met by Duffy, Kaminski redeeming himself slightly by clawing his header away. Luton were then inches away from restoring parity on the stroke of half time, Brown outmuscling a City opponent to break into the box as his low cross was inches away from being converted by both Morris and Adebayo.

Chong was then taken off at half time for Moses, but it was the Canaries who threatened first again, Sainz's hopeful attempt straight at Kaminski. Moses did a swift impact, winning a corner and from the set-piece, Luton were level, Baptiste's delivery and falling invitingly for Brown who was able to stab over Gunn and make it 2-2.

Sainz had another speculative go at increasing his own personal tally, but was off target, as was Marcondes when connecting with a glancing header. Luton always looked a threat from set-pieces, another Baptiste corner saw McGuinness outjump Gunn, his header looping over the bar. Town might have moved ahead just before the hour mark when Morris was able to curve in another left footed cross that Adebayo met first, but with one eye on Gunn rushing out, he nodded wide, before being clattered by the City stopper, able to carry on after getting his bearings once more.

Edwards brought on Cauley Woodrow for goalscorer Brown midway through the second half, while a double sub was Joe Taylor and Tom Krauß came on for Baptiste and Morris. With little in terms of clear-cut chances for either side started to look like Luton could finally return home with something tangible for their efforts, but those hopes went up in smoke, a slick City move saw Town sliced open, Duffy moving forward and finding the influential Crnac who nipped away from McGuinness’s lunging attempts to win the ball.

Into the Town area, he had all the time in the world to look up and despite being on a hat-trick himself, teed up Marcondes to tap home. Woodrow might have levelled instantly, thrashing over from the edge of the box but the game was done and dusted on 86 minutes, Onel Hernandez motoring away from Bell and picking out Sainz who did get his goal, easily slotting past Kaminski.

The result saw Edwards once more met with sustained jeers when he went over to applaud the near 2,000 visiting fans who must now be asking themselves just where and when this miserable away form will end.

Canaries: Angus Gunn, Jack Stacey, Shane Duffy, Callum Doyle, Borja Sainz (Jacob Sorensen 88), Emiliano Marcondes (Ashley Barnes 88), Ante Crnac (Oscar Shwartau 87), Amankwah Forson (Onel Hernandez 61), Anis Slimane (Marcelino Nunez 74), Kenny McLean ©, Kellen Fisher.

Subs not used: George Long, Grant Hanley, Ben Chrisene, Brad Hills.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Daiki Hashioka, Teden Mengi, Mark McGuinness, Amari'i Bell (Tom Holmes 88), Tahith Chong (Victor Moses 46), Shandon Baptiste (Tom Krauß 75), Jordan Clark, Carlton Morris (Joe Taylor 75), Elijah Adebayo, Jacob Brown (Cauley Woodrow 66).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Mads Andersen, Marvelous Nakamba.

Referee: Josh Smith.

Booked: Hernandez 63, McGuinness 71, Woodrow 73.

Attendance: 26,719 (1,888 Hatters).

'Raging' Hatters boss blames 'ridiculous' errors from his Luton players for Norwich loss

Town chief on 4-2 loss at Carrow Road

A furious Luton boss Rob Edwards refused to take the blame for this afternoon’s 4-2 defeat against Norwich City as he put the blame firmly at the feet of his players for what he deemed as four ‘ridiculous’ errors at Carrow Road.

Having moved 1-0 ahead through Elijah Adebayo’s third goal of the season with 20 minutes gone, Town were then breached when Teden Mengi’s weak headed clearance and poor punch from Thomas Kaminski allowed Ante Crnac to level the scores five minutes later. Tahith Chong then inexplicably tried to let a long ball over the top run out for a goal kick just after the half hour, ex-Hatter Jack Stacey able to nip in and cross for Crnac to make it 2-1 to the Canaries.

After the break, Jacob Brown restored parity from close range, but in the final 10 minutes, Mark McGuinness missed his tackle which saw Crnac tee up Emiliano Marcondes to make it 3-2, with Onel Hernandez bursting past Amari’i Bell soon afterwards to find Borja Sainz who made it six straight defeats on the road for Luton. Having been jeered once more when he went over to applaud the near 2,000 travelling supporters, a clearly angry Edwards said: “At 1-0 up and 2-2, I know they’re going to have some of the ball but I thought we were really good, really good.

"Today individual errors have cost us. I didn’t go over there and apologise because that's not on me today, individual errors have cost us four goals. It's absolutely ridiculous, I’m raging about it, supporters should be as well. People have got to fix it quickly otherwise they won’t play. Too many times it’s happened but today it was so, so evident.

"The plan was good, there was a good performance there. We should have actually come away winning the game but we’ve made four massive errors, individually and it’s cost us a game of football, again. The two goals (before half time) are really avoidable, the amount of times we had a chance to clear it for the first goal and we had a blatant chance to clear it for the second goal as well, it’s just head-scratching stuff. You can see how we conceded the goals, it wasn’t a team thing it was an individual thing.”

Asked about the response from Luton’s supporters at Carrow Road, Edwards continued: “The reaction was good, the majority of the fans are with us, but the ones that are angry, fine, they’ve got a right to be angry, I’m flipping angry as well. What do we expect? We’ve just lost the game 4-2, chucked it away, so the reaction was good, exactly as expected.

"The ones that are angry, they’re right to be. The ones that are there clapping and supporting, thank you, but they won’t be happy either. I’ll go over there and thank them as I always do, but I’m not taking all of that today. I’m not going over there and taking that as some of those individuals in there have cost us.”