Preston North End vs Luton Town FC (15th Feb 2023)

Report | Preston North End 1-1 Luton Town

The Hatters had to settle for a point at Preston tonight as the ten-man hosts came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with a late penalty.

Carlton Morris' 12th goal of the season with just over quarter-of-an-hour to go looked to have given the fourth-placed Hatters victory at Deepdale.

But Troy Parrott netted an 81st-minute penalty, after the North End striker's cross struck Tom Lockyer's outstretched hand, to rescue a point for the hosts who had played the final 40 minutes with ten men after Ben Whiteman was shown a straight red for a foul on Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

Manager Rob Edwards made one change from the side that drew 1-1 at Coventry, with Alfie Doughty missing out through an injury he sustained at the weekend, and being replaced by Fred Onyedinma who was making only his second start since October.

Dan Potts was on the bench after missing the last few matches, while striker Joe Taylor - who made his Luton Town debut on Saturday - was named amongst the substitutes once again, alongside Luke Berry who scored a brace against this evening's opponents in March last year.

Preston made most of the early running in a scrappy opening period, but Elijah Adebayo headed wide from a Jordan Clark corner as the Hatters found their feet.

In the 21st minute they were denied three times, Adebayo's shot saved at his near post by keeper Freddie Woodman, with Clark seeing a follow-up shot blocked and then a second effort deflected over the bar by the head of Alvaro Fernandez, who had backpedalled to almost on the goal-line.

Home fans started to get restless as Morris climbed highest to head another corner goalward, before Adebayo pressed Woodman in his area, with the former Newcastle keeper grateful to gather the loose ball with his clearance half-blocked by the Town striker.

Adebayo spurned a glorious chance to open the scoring in the 33rd minute, dragging his shot wide after taking Osho's diagonal pass on his chest and evading the attention of his marker Andrew Hughes, with just Woodman to beat.

Amari'i Bell was next to see a chance go begging as a wonderful passing move from Osho in the left-back area to right-wing, via Mpanzu, Burke and Clark, saw Onyedinma sprint to the byline and cut the ball back for the left wing-back to sidefoot a right-footed effort just wide.

Town were completely dominant by this point, with the ball worked out to the right angle of the box once more, again by Osho and Clark, but Morris' shot was blocked as he looked to work space in the area.

The hosts were reduced to ten men five minutes into the second half as Ben Whiteman was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Mpanzu.

By the 54th minute the Hatters should have had a goal advantage as well as the extra man, Clark playing Adebayo through the middle, but the striker's shot drifted agonisingly wide of the far post after he opened his body up to sidefoot the ball right-footed.

Preston reminded the Hatters that they could still carry a threat with Troy Parrott firing into the side-netting, but Town came as close as possible to opening the scoring on 67 minutes when Morris headed another Clark corner against the bar.

Adebayo headed over from inside the six-yard box, then Lockyer flicked another corner on - but no-one could get on the end of it - as Clark delivered a host of dangerous set pieces into the near post area.

The breakthrough finally came in the 73rd minute, and it was no less than the Hatters deserved as Bell beat his man brilliantly and crossed from the left, a slight deflection looping the ball to the far post where Morris was ready to head home.

Preston were handed a route back into it in the 81st minute when Lockyer was penalised for handball as Parrot volleyed in a cross at point-blank range, with the home forward rifling home the spot-kick.

It was completely against the run of play, with the Hatters in complete control to that point.

But that was all Town could bring home as Preston managed the closing stages well, even denying Clark with a close-range header in the fourth minute of additional time before Woodman saved a Cauley Woodrow effort comfortably, to bring their five-game home losing streak to an end.

Goals:

Preston North End - Parrott (81' pen)

Luton Town - Morris (73')

Att: 13,903 (457 Hatters)

Reaction | Rob Edwards on Preston draw

Manager Rob Edwards felt his side dropped two points as they were held to a 1-1 draw against Preston North End in the Sky Bet Championship this evening.

The Hatters had threatened on multiple occasions before taking the lead through Carlton Morris in the 73rd minute, a short time after the home side had been reduced to ten men. However, against the run of play, Preston found an equaliser from the penalty spot and got a share of the spoils.

"I was really pleased with big parts of the performance," the boss said to BBC Three Counties Radio. "We have to look at performances but ultimately we want results and points on the board. I do feel like it was two points dropped tonight.

"We got that goal, they had a man sent-off and we were looking completely dominant as I felt we were with 11 men. We have been punished now in the last two games away from home with penalties. I feel like we can get to the ball a bit quicker and close the spaces a little bit quicker like we said the other day and that is something we have to learn very quickly from.

"The goal came a bit out of the blew and gave them a fresh impetus and something to cling onto and they really stepped up their game. We had another couple of really good chances right at the death, we kept pushing, we kept trying but it was unlucky we weren’t able to find that second goal which I know I’ve said a couple of times lately.

"You can’t do much more than create the chances we created, and it’s down to the boys to either hit the target or be ruthless and that is something we’re going to keep focusing on."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dtyn7lPangg – Rob Edwards interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3Cy7o5W9Ok – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AXYeaMOe-Q – Amarii Bell interview

Wasteful Hatters throw two points away at Preston

Championship: Preston North End 1 Luton Town 1

A wasteful performance in front of goal saw Luton held to a 1-1 draw against 10-man Preston North End at Deepdale this evening.

The Hatters missed a number of excellent chances throughout the contest against a poor home side, who had Ben Whiteman sent off five minutes into the second period.

With Carlton Morris looking like he had sealed another away victory on 72 minutes, heading home his 12th of the season, Troy Parrott's penalty with nine to go saw the Lilywhites somehow escape with a point and almost go on to win it.

Luton made one change, Fred Onyedinma starting a first league game for the first time since October as Alfie Doughty didn't recover from his groin problem, Dan Potts fit enough to earn a place on the bench.

Although unable to replicate their lightning start at Coventry on Saturday, Town had the better of the opening exchanges, the ball spending the majority of its time in the home side's half.

With 13 minutes gone, the hosts were able to force Ethan Horvath into some meaningful action, the USA international palming away Troy Parrot's back post volley that bounced awkwardly, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu completing the clearance.

Luton were then inches away from taking the lead themselves on 21 minutes, Elijah Adebayo's deflected cross drawing a fine reactionary save from Freddie Woodman, the rebound falling invitingly for Jordan Clark.

His first effort was blocked, before taking his time over a second, saw Alvaro Fernandez's head divert it over the bar from virtually on the line, ensuring the scores remained goalless.

Luton should have been ahead on 33 minutes though, when Gabe Osho beat his man and picked out Adebayo with a diagonal ball that left the striker clean through on Woodman.

He had time to go on, round the keeper and pick his spot, but ended up being almost too casual, attempting a first time half volley and missing the target badly.

Town then wasted their second significant chance just before the break, Clark finding the overlapping Onyedinma who picked out Amari'i Bell.

As at Huddersfield he made a true connection on his less preferred right foot, but unlike against the Terriers, this time his radar was awry and his blast flew the wrong side of the post.

Hoping that they didn't live to regret those chances and that Preston didn't come out a different side, the Lilywhites were in that category just five minutes in, for a reason Town wouldn't have minded one iota, reduced to 10 men.

Whiteman went sliding in to win a loose ball from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and was deemed to be out of control by referee Josh Smith, shown a straight red, with very few complaints from the home player as he trudged off.

Town should have made them pay instantly, Clark's terrifically weighted pass releasing Adebayo for a second time, but after opening his body up, he tried to locate the far corner, and for the second time, failed to do so, missing by a matter of inches.

Although dominating all aspects, Luton had to make sure they kept things tight at the back, Parrott wriggling away to shoot into the side-netting.

Back came the Hatters once more, Morris meeting Clark's inswinging corner, his header from close range crashing against the underside of the bar, before Adebayo got to another ball ahead of Woodman, but once more was wayward.

Edwards looked to swap things around on 70 minutes, with Henri Lansbury and Cauley Woodrow on for Mpanzu and the misfiring Adebayo, but Horvath had to remain alert to collect McCann's deflected attempt.

The breakthrough did finally come on 72 minutes though, and it was no more than Edwards' side deserved.

Bell did brilliantly to engineer a cross from the left hand side, as rather than play an easy pass, he drew his man on to him and sent over a deflected cross.

It deceived Woodman, with Morris free at the back post to send his header back across, the keeper getting something on it, only for Smith's watch to signal it was over the line as Luton finally went in front.

Clark tried to drive the ball in for a second, but then completely against the run of play, Preston were awarded a penalty on 80 minutes when Parrott's shot struck the outstretched arm of Lockyer in the area.

Parrott stepped up himself and gave Horvath no chance at all, as Preston then should have been ahead as Luton were caught out from their own restart, Tom Cannon going clean through only to miss by a matter of inches.

Substitute Luke almost put Town back ahead when picked out by the unselfish Clark, who might have gone for goal himself, the replacement taking a heavy touch and Woodman collecting.

In stoppage time, Reece Burke’s deep cross saw Clark put his diving header straight at Woodman, as did Woodrow from 25 yards, with Lansbury’s blast charged down by a desperate block as the Hatters had to make do with a mere point.

Lilywhites: Freddie Woodman, Alvaro Fernandez, Greg Cunningham, Ben Whiteman, Alan Browne (C), Ali McCann, Jordan Storey, Troy Parrott, Andrew Hughes, Tom Cannon (Liam Delap 89), Brad Potts (Ben Woodburn 72).

Subs not used: Dai Cornell, Liam Lindsay, Daniel Johnson, Robbie Brady, Ryan Ledson.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, Fred Onyedinma, Reece Burke, Tom Lockyer (C), Gabe Osho, Amari'i Bell, Marvelous Nakamba (Luke Berry 84), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Henri Lansbury 70), Jordan Clark, Elijah Adebayo (Cauley Woodrow 70), Carlton Morris.

Subs not used: James Shea, Allan Campbell, Dan Potts, Joe Taylor.

Bookings: McCann 19, Morris 81, Nakamba 83, Brown 86.

Sent off: Whiteman 50.

Referee: Josh Smith.

Edwards demands Town are more 'ruthless' as they miss some glaring chances during Deepdale draw

‘Two points dropped’ for the Hatters at Preston

Luton boss Rob Edwards has demanded his side become more ‘ruthless’ in front of goal after labelling it ‘two points dropped’ in their 1-1 draw with Preston North End this evening.

A first half in which Jordan Clark’s volley was cleared off the line, also saw Elijah Adebayo and Amari’i Bell off target from wonderful opportunities.

After the break the hosts were down to 10 men when Ben Whiteman was sent off, as Adebayo was wayward once more when clean through, before Carlton Morris looked to have sealed the victory with a header on 72 minutes.

However, Preston hit back, Tom Lockyer handling inside the area for a penalty with 10 minutes left, that Troy Parrott thumped home as the hosts almost snatched a victory that would have been incredibly harsh on the visitors.

Speaking afterwards, Edwards said: “I’m really pleased with big, big parts of the performance and we’ve got to look at performances, but ultimately we want results, we want points on the board and I do feel like it was two points dropped tonight.

“I thought we got that goal, they had that man sent off and we were looking completely dominant, as I really felt we were with 11 men as well.

“We’ve got to learn, we’ve been punished now in the last two games away from home with penalties and in similar kinds of fashion.

"So I feel we can maybe get up to the ball quicker and close the spaces a bit quicker, a little bit like we said the other day.

“That’s something we’ve got to learn very, very quickly from but the goal came a bit out of the blue, and it gave them a fresh impetus and something to cling on to.

“Then they really stepped up the game and we still had another couple of really good chances right at the death.

"We kept pushing, we kept trying, but we weren’t able to find that second goal, which I know I’ve said a couple of times lately.

“You can’t do that much more then create the chances we created, and then it’s down to the boys to either hit the target or be ruthless.

"That's something we’re going to try and keep focusing on and keep hitting home, but what I’m really pleased with is the performance and how we did create the chances.

“We knew it was going to be difficult tonight, we know there a little bit nervy and not in the best of moments and I felt that we started the game really well.

"We were on top, a lot of the game seemed to be in their half, and we created two of three brilliant chances in the first half.

"So we were disappointed not to be up at half time, second half was similar sort of fashion and then with the 10 men you expect us to go on, I expected us to go on but we didn't.”