Portsmouth vs Luton Town FC (17th Aug 2024)

17/08/2024 Portsmouth 0-0 Luton Town

10-man Town earn point at Pompey

Hatters settle for a share of the spoils after first-half Kaminski red card

Ten-man Town won their first point of the Sky Bet Championship season after a 0-0 draw away to Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Rob Edwards’ side played for over an hour a man-down on the south coast after keeper Thomas Kaminski was sent off for two bookable offences.

The Town started well and nearly got off to the perfect start as Elijah Adebayo and Calton Morris came close to giving the Hatters the lead but were denied by Pompey keeper Will Norris.

The hosts responded as Conor Shaughnessy drifted in at the back post forcing a fantastic save from keeper Kaminski before Paddy Lane saw his strike fly over the bar and into the stands.

Adebayo came even closer to putting the Hatters one up on 23 minutes; his brilliant header following a Chiedozie Ogbene cross tipped onto the bar from an acrobatic save by the diving Pompey keeper.

The Town were then reduced to 10 men when Kaminski was sent off following a second yellow card on 31 minutes. Having been booked for supposedly timewasting two minutes earlier, referee John Busby showed the keeper his marching orders for a foul outside the box. James Shea replaced the Belgian with Morris brought off for the substitute.

The Hatters held off until half-time despite chances from Samuel Silvera and Callum Lang before the referee waved away Pompey's shouts for a penalty.

There was a positive second-half start as the Town came out fighting. Adebayo found space in behind the defence having been put through by a fine Jordan Clark pass, before slicing the ball wide of the right-hand post.

Silvera would come close to giving those in blue the second-half lead for the hosts saw his left-footed shot fly wide of Shea’s goal after several persistent Portsmouth attacks.

As time ticked down, the Hatters nearly found themselves ahead late on, replacement Joe Taylor making an instant impact coming off the bench but was unable to find Tahith Chong in a 2-on-1 counterattack with 10 minutes left.

Pompey would finish the strongest but resilient defending from Amari'i Bell – making his first appearance since March – and Teden Mengi before a fantastic save from Shea following a driven shot from the centre of the box kept honours even on the south coast.

After eight additional minutes the Town could reflect on a hard-earned point in the face of adversity in a game in which, before the red card, could have seen them several goals in front.

Attention now turns to a trip to Preston next Saturday. We’ll see you there.

Town: Kaminski; Ogbene, Doughty, Walters, Mengi, Bell (sub Holmes 77); Clark, Baptiste (sub Mpanzu 87), Chong; Morris (sub Morris 34), Adebayo (sub Taylor 78).

Subs not used: Woodrow, Nelson, Johnson, Francis-Clarke, Chigozie.

Attendance: 20,293, including 2,168 noisy Town fans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s0kLrE0mgU – Rob Edwards interview

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

https://www.lutontown.co.uk/en/news/portsmouth-0-0-luton-or-full-match-replay - Full match replay

Kaminski sent off but 10-man Luton hold on for a point at Portsmouth

Championship: Portsmouth 0 Luton Town 0

Luton ground out their first point of the Championship season with a battling display at Portsmouth this afternoon as they had to play for over an hour with 10 men following a first half red card to goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.

The Belgian international picked up two bookings in the space of a few minutes, the first for what was deemed repeated timewasting with defender Teden Mengi, before he then came flying out of his area to clean out Paddy Lane and receive his marching orders from referee John Busby with 10 minutes of the first half still to play. Replacement James Shea proved an able deputy though, rarely tested in a second period in which Hatters dug in admirably to keep a first clean sheet since the 4-0 win over Brighton in January.

Boss Rob Edwards was able to welcome back Amari'i Bell for his first appearance since early March, while Jordan Clark recovered from the hamstring injury that kept him out of Monday night's 4-1 defeat to Burnley, Joe Johnson and Zack Nelson dropping to the bench. The Hatters looked to make a strong start in the south coast sunshine, Reuell Walters picking off a pass forward as the ball was transferred over to the left where Tahith Chong fashioned a shooting chance, almost locating the bottom corner.

It was all Town in terms of the early chances, a cross from Carlton Morris ending up at the feet of striker partner Elijah Adebayo, who swivelled quickly only to be denied by home stopper Will Norris who had narrowed the angle. Luton should have led on nine minutes, Clark with supreme vision to thread a defence-spilling pass to Morris who took it in his stride but faced with Norris, could only sidefoot against the keeper's trailing let

Pompey had chances of their own though too, Sammy Silvera’s shot easy for Kaminski, who was tested moments later as Conor Shaughnessy met a deep free kick, his downward header bouncing up off the turf and requiring an acrobatic tip over by the alert Belgian. An open contest saw Luton also threaten from a set-piece of their own, Alfie Doughty's corner met by Morris and cannoning away off a covering defender, while Paddy Lane's controlled volley from Silvera's outside of the boot cross was narrowly over.

Town were denied the opener on 25 minutes by a brilliant stop from Norris as Ogbene's cross was met by the head of Adebayo, Pompey's keeper with a wonderful save, tipping the ball against the underside of the bar. The end-to-end nature of the contest was demonstrated as just 60 seconds later, Silvera slipped the challenge of Morris and went for goal too, Kaminski beating his fierce drive away.

The keeper was then shown his first yellow of the afternoon on the half hour having been told to hurry his goal kicks up by referee Busby, although in his defence, it was actually Mengi who was dallying on this occasion. It was to prove so costly though as moments later, Kaminski came charging out of his area only to catch Lane and another Pompey player for good measure, leaving the official with no choice but to brandish a second yellow.

Edwards opted to withdraw captain Morris for Shea, as Pack's free kick was against the wall, before the hosts had huge appeals for a penalty turned down, with Busby clearly having his cards mixed up, showing Shaughnessy red for his vociferous appeals, quickly swapping it for the intended yellow. Shea's handling was tested quickly, as he also did well when Connor Ogilvie met a corner at the back post which was flicked on by the lurking Lang who had positioned himself just in front of the substitute.

Town switched to a back four at the start of the second period, Bell alongside Mengi in the centre, with Doughty and Walters now the more traditional full backs, as they were able to contain any real threats to a minimum in the early stages. The visitors started to look dangerous in the patches of possession they had themselves, Clark with a skilful foray just before the hour mark that saw him trick his way into space and feed Adebayo, who with the angle against him, tried a right-footed toepoke that flew wide.

Looking far more defensively solid than they had done for a good while now, Town were able to restrict Pompey to efforts from range, Lane not missing by much, Shea getting the full-length dive out as his 25-yard curler arched behind, with Lang nowhere near from further out. Pompey brought on former Newcastle winger Matt Ritchie, who instantly showed his quality with a deep ball in that Shea, whose handling had been spot on from the moment he came on, plucking out of the sky once more.

With 12 minutes to go, Luton introduced Tom Holmes for his Hatters debut, in place of Bell, who had impressed on his first outing of the season, while Joe Taylor got a first run-out since the play-off final at Wembley, Adebayo's efforts upfront by himself ended. The pace of Taylor led to an immediate chance as breaking away from inside his own half, with Chong in support, he charged down the middle, seeing his intended pass rebound to him, before putting a low shot straight at Norris.

Having worked hard to ensure they left with something Luton almost let it slip when Elias Sorenson was left unmarked in the area, the sub glancing wide of the target. In the closing stages, the outstanding Mengi showed just how valuable keeping him will be in the transfer window, with two brilliant recovery runs to prevent Pompey from stealing a winner that would have been exceptionally tough on the Hatters.

Pompey: Will Norris, Jordan Williams, Connor Ogilvie, Ryley Towler, Conor Shaughnessy, Marlon Pack (C Ben Stevenson 84), Christian Saydee (Elias Sorenson 78), Sammy Silvera, Andre Dozzell (Owen Moxon 71), Paddy Lane (Matt Ritchie 71) , Callum Lang.

Subs not used: Jordan Archer, Zak Swanson, Terry Devlin, Tom Lowery, Harry Clout.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Chiedozie Ogbene, Reuell Walters, Teden Mengi, Amari'i Bell (Tom Holmes 78), Alfie Doughty, Shandon Baptiste (Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu 87), Jordan Clark, Tahith Chong, Carlton Morris (C James Shea 34), Elijah Adebayo (Joe Taylor 78).

Subs not used: Joe Johnson, Cauley Woodrow, Aidan Francis-Clarke, Christian Chigozie, Zack Nelson.

Referee: John Busby.

Booked: Kaminski 31, Shaughnessy 36, Pack 43, Dozzee 60, Clark 74, Chong 85. Sent off: Kaminski 34.

Attendance: 20,293 (2,168 Hatters).

'Angry' Luton boss hits out at 'crazy' decision to book Kaminski as he denies Town were guilty of time-wasting

Town stopper deemed to be timewasting during goalless draw with Portsmouth

An ‘angry’ Luton boss Rob Edwards labelled the decision to show keeper Thomas Kaminski the first of his two yellow cards during this afternoon’s goalless draw at Portsmouth as ‘crazy’, refuting claims that his side were ever trying to waste time.

With an entertaining match at Fratton Park ticking over the half hour mark, Kaminski and team-mate Teden Mengi had been warned by referee John Busy for taking their time over a goal kick. The pair then did the same again moments later, which led to Luton’s Belgian international receiving a yellow card from the official, although in his defence, it was actually Mengi who was standing over the ball at that point.

Town were hit with a double whammy as moments later Kaminski came careering out of his goal to try and clear the danger only to catch home attacker Paddy Lane and another Pompey player for good measure, as he saw red for the first time in his Luton career. Speaking about the incident, a clearly annoyed Edwards said: “Let’s talk about the initial booking first. I don’t know the full ruling, I think it’s crazy, I do. I’m the one telling them in training, to just wait and assess because we’re looking to try and build if we can.

"We had an extra person in there, we’re trying to assess which pass to make, who is going to try and press for them, so we can try and find the spare man and go and break the line, speed the game up there and not maybe just go big into all the bodies. So it's my fault, but we’re not trying to waste time. It’s early in the game, the way we were playing shows we’re not trying to waste time. It’s crazy and if you’re going to book anyone, book Teden, because Teden’s the one on the ball waiting.

"So there’s the first one and then the second one, he’s trying to do the right thing that he sees in that moment, but football is about split second decisions. He’s decided to come out and try and sweep it, I’ve not seen it back and the ref deems it’s a foul and a booking, but that one I’m not complaining about. The initial one I am and then we had to deal with it.”

Asked if seeing Kaminski receive his first caution would make him alter his approach on restarts, a defiant Edwards added: “Everyone does it though, everyone. Are we going to change football? No, we’re not going to change. The fans were going nuts, the bench as well, that was why. We’re not trying to waste time, I’m really angry with it, really angry with it, what are we supposed to do?

"Otherwise Brighton’s goalkeeper, or (Manchester) City’s goalkeeper would be booked every single game and then if they carry on doing what they’re doing they’ll get sent off if you go by the letter of the law. Sheasy late on, because he (Busby) had already sent someone off, took 40-odd seconds towards the end there managing it and nothing happened.”

Hatters boss explains his 'difficult decision' to take off skipper Morris at Fratton Park

Luton boss Rob Edwards explained the ‘difficult’ decision he had to make in choosing to take off skipper Carlton Morris during the first half of yesterday’s goalless draw with Portsmouth following the red card received by goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.

With 10 minutes to go until the break, the Hatters were reduced to 10 men after their Belgian international was shown two yellow cards in quick succession, meaning substitute James Shea had to enter the fray. Faced with a tough call over which outfield player to sacrifice, Edwards eventually opted for Morris, leaving strike-partner Elijah Adebayo out there to plough a lone field upfront by himself.

On the incident and why he selected the Hatters’ captain to make way, the Town manager said: “That's football, that’s the excitement of it I suppose. It wasn't exciting at the time as the adrenaline’s going and you’ve got to react quickly, take the captain off, which was a difficult decision, but we believe it was the right one. Carlton gets it as well. I’m thinking Eli’s probably a little bit more athletic and being able to manage the workload between all of that hold-up, run, get back in, run. Carlton’s amazing, but that was the decision.”

With Morris having been chosen to lead the team as club captain Tom Lockyer continues to recover from his cardiac arrest, there was no chance he would let his personal disappointment at going off affect the visitors’ chances of getting something from the game as replacement stopper Shea continued: “Carlton will be the first one to say it’s not a problem at all.

"He has to take one for the team and Carlton’s the first one to do that. He has to pick someone, so Carlton came off, it is what it is. I’m sure Carlton will be back in the team next week, it’s one of those things. He’s not going to sulk or anything about it, he’s the first person to get behind the lads. Even at half time, he’s saying ‘come on boys, you can do this,’ and he’s been brilliant.”

The forward could and probably should have opened his account for the season prior to his early withdrawal, as Town created three inviting chances in the opening stages of what was an entertaining clash on the south coast. After Adebayo was denied by Will Norris, Morris was then slid clean through by Jordan Clark’s terrific pass, taking the ball in his stride, unable to beat the trailing leg of the Pompey keeper. Norris then made his best stop of the game when clawing Adebayo’s header on to the post, as Edwards was hugely enthused by what he was watching.

Although that had to change due to Kaminski’s dismissal, Town then dug in impressively to limit their hosts to very little in terms of clear-cut opportunities, as bar one penalty shout and some routine stops for Shea, they were able to earn a first clean sheet since January in relative comfort. Town might have also bagged a winner themselves, Adebayo firing wide and second half sub Joe Taylor shooting straight at Norris, as the boss added: “We started so well, entertaining, we created a number of big chances.

"Eli had one big save, a header hit the bar, Carlton one v one, you expect to take at least one of those opportunities, but we didn’t. We looked really threatening, fast, I was enjoying watching us and then that happened and we had to adjust. The one melee straight after that when Sheasy came in, apart from that, I thought we were very, very comfortable. We had to work differently out of possession, showed a very good side to us and I still think we created the biggest chances of the game afterwards, Eli’s one and even Joe’s counter-attack too.”