Stoke City vs Luton Town FC (8th Apr 2025)

08/04/2025 STOKE CITY 1-1 LUTON TOWN

Alli earns Hatters last-gasp point

Winger hits equaliser as Town leave it late to pick up deserve point on the road

A superb last-minute equaliser from Milli Alli earned the Town a crucial point in their fight for Championship survival as they fought back to earn a draw at Stoke.

It seemed the Hatters would be on the wrong end of a defeat against a side also battling the drop after Lewis Baker’s heavily deflected free-kick gave the Potters the lead on 74 minutes.

But Town heads never dropped and Alli, who was a constant threat all evening, found the target with a swerving shot after fine footwork in the penalty area to bring the Hatters level and rescue a deserved point.

Defeat certainly would have been harsh on the Town who remain two points from safety ahead of Saturday’s game at Blackburn at Kenilworth Road.

Goal hero Alli’s evening began on the bench until he was introduced in the 17th minute after former Potter Alfie Doughty was substituted after picking up a knock following an altercation with Ben Wilmot.

Chances for both sides were at a premium in an extremely low-key first half that saw Thelo Aasgaard off-target with a well-hit volley five minutes before the break.

Having been booked in the first half Carlton Morris found himself walking the disciplinary tightrope and, 10 seconds into the second half, the hosts were baying for the captain to be shown a second yellow card after colliding with Junior Tchamadeu immediately after the restart.

As clear-cut opportunities continued to be hard to come by, Alli had his first sight of goal on 53 minutes when weaving into the box down the left and firing a shot at goal that Wilmot deflected behind. From the corner, Mark McGuinness nodded wide as the Town continued to push for an opener.

Jordan Clark attempted to catch goalkeeper Viktor Johansson out with a quick free-kick from distance on 57 minutes before it was Stoke’s turn to press. On the hour Thomas Kaminski held a Wilmot header before Sam Gallagher slid a chance wide for the hosts moments later.

Baker tested Kaminski with a pot-shot from distance on 66 minutes with the Town goalkeeper doing well to get his body behind the bouncing ball.

With both teams in need of the points, the game began to swing from end to end and on 69 minutes the Town failed to get the ball over the line following a goalmouth scramble that saw Morris and Alli head goalwards.

Matt Bloomfield made a triple change with 20 minutes left to play, introducing Reece Burke, Lasse Nordås and Lamine Fanne – but with minutes of their arrival the Town fell behind in unfortunate circumstances.

Fanne was harshly adjudged to have fouled Gallagher on the edge of the box and Baker arrowed the resultant free-kick from 25 yards goalwards. The ball clipped off the head of Burke, wrong-footing Kaminski.

It was harsh on the Town but Bloomfield’s troops rallied.

Alli came close to levelling with seven minutes left after dancing into the box but his low rasping drive was kept out well by Johansson.

Still the Town pushed. Stoke survived another goalmouth scramble on 85 minutes with substitute Josh Bowler unable to sort his feet out with the goal gaping.

But as time ticked into the first minute of five added, the Hatters got their just reward through Alli. Clark’s attempted bicycle kick fell at the feet of the former Exeter man and the January arrival wriggled into the box and thundered a left-foot shot past Johansson at his near post for his first goal in Luton colours.

As play restarted there was still time for the Town to push as they sensed a winner. McGuinness got his head on a left-wing cross to test Johansson but the final whistle to ensure both sides shared the spoils.

It’s a fifth game unbeaten for the Hatters who remain two points from safety after results elsewhere.

On Saturday Blackburn are in town.

We’ll see you then. UTT.

Town: Kaminski; Jones, Doughty (sub Alli 17), Makosso (sub Burke 70), McGuinness, Bell; Walsh (sub Fanne 70), Clark; Aasgaard, Chong (sub Bowler 82), Morris (sub Nordås 70).

Subs not used: Krul, Naismith, Mengi, Nelson.

Attendance: 21,226, including 1,191 in the away end cheering for the Town.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b22QGd6-vmc – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DDgUmfd19I – Matt Bloomfield interview

Alli scores in stoppage time to snatch Luton a vital point at Stoke

Championship: Stoke City 1 Luton Town 1

Milli Alli's sensational stoppage time strike ensured Luton claimed what could be a hugely precious point in their bid to stay in the Championship this season with a 1-1 draw at relegation rivals Stoke City.

Town's hopes of staying afloat in the second tier appeared to have been hit by a body blow with 74 minutes on the clock when Luton-born midfielder Lewis Baker's cruelly deflected free kick flew into the net. However, Alli then stepped up to drill past Viktor Johansson in the first minute of five added on by the officials to claim a draw that although saw Town stay in the bottom three, crucially kept Stoke within arm’s length, also clawing a point back on Hull who lost 1-0 to Watford.

Going into the game, Town made one change from the 1-1 draw with Leeds United, Tahith Chong replacing the injured Elijah Adebayo, playing a far more advanced role than his wingback at Hull recently, supporting Carlton Morris in attack, with Thelo Aasgaard up there as well. Despite the obvious importance of the occasion, Luton made a bright start, Izzy Jones looking sharp, as he had calls for a penalty turned down inside 20 seconds, before winning a corner soon afterwards.

With centre half Mark McGuinness picking up a yellow after stepping across Sam Gallagher, the forward then reached a corner but put his header straight at Thomas Kaminski. In a season of injuries, Luton suffered yet another one on 15 minutes when Alfie Doughty went charging into a tackle but came off far worse, sitting on the turf holding his hamstring.

Thankfully he was able to trudge off around the hoardings to dogs abuse from the home fans for their former player, but his evening was done, Alli coming on in his place. With Gallagher in the side, the Potters were always a threat when delivering the ball to the imposing forward, something they did on 21 minutes, the forward nodding tamely behind on this occasion.

After a promising opening, the game then degenerated into a fairly poor spectacle, as bar the odd moment of quality from Aasaggard, there was precious little to mention on display. That almost changed in the closing stages of the half when a hopeful forward rebounded to Luton’s Norwegian international who clipped a lovely dipping volley that was only narrowly over the top.

A frustrated Morris then saw yellow for fouling Ashley Phillips as Aasgaard had another opening from a good Jones' run and cross, unable to get a firm connection on his header as it flashed wide. After the break, referee Dean Whitestone had to keep his wits about him as the home fans screamed for a second yellow for Morris after he collided with Phillips, even though the defender had just run across him giving him nowhere to go.

McGuinness, who was continuing to give everything for the cause despite his earlier caution, got a vital nick on a low strike to send it wide, as Bae Junho also saw yellow for sliding in on Makosso. The game started to open up though and definitely had an added spice to it by now, the ball nicked away from Morris who was about to have a free header, before Alli danced his way into the area and almost broke the deadlock, his effort deflecting over.

McGuinness headed the resulting corner wide, as the opening 10 minutes of the second period already had more excitement than the previous 45. Clark went for goal from a wide free kick but Johansson had it covered, as Stoke, with Junior Tchamadeu’s long throw reminiscent of Rory Delap from these parts, tried to put the visitors’ defence under as much pressure as possible.

Having handled Ben Wilmot's header on the hour mark, Kaminski was then almost left red faced on 62 minutes, as he took an advanced position off his line. The ball was fed through to Gallagher who got a fairly weak shot off but with Town’s stopper slipping, it trickled past him, but thankfully for the stopper, he saw it slide the wrong side of the post.

The Belgian was in action again on 66 minutes, getting his body behind Lewis Baker's instinctive 20-yard blast as it rebounded away from danger. A set-piece at the other end almost caused problems, as Clark’s delivery was met by Morris, Johansson colliding with his own player but Alli's header lacked power to go in.

With 70 minutes gone, Luton made a triple change, Lamine Fanne, Lasse Nordas and Reece Burke on for Walsh, Morris and Makosso. However, one of the replacements, Fanne was adjudged to have fouled Gallagher 25 yards from goal just four minutes later for a free kick that Lewis Baker took, as it hit another of the changes, Burke, on the shoulder, to wrongfoot the already diving Kaminski and fly into the net.

Luton threw Josh Bowler on and with Alli on the other flank having some real joy, he fired low, Johansson bundling the ball away, Bowler unable to sort his feet out to turn the rebound home from close range. The Hatters kept on pressing, Fanne released on the right, his low cross met by Nordas at the near post, who stabbed well wide on his left foot.

However, with five minutes added, the visitors needed just one of them to find the net, as Nordas nodded wide for Bowler, the winger linking with Jones. His cross saw Clark take to the sky and attempt an acrobatic overhead volley, getting the slightest nick which took it into Alli’s path. There was still plenty for the January signing to do, but he did it superbly, drifting past two markers and then hammering into the net to send the 1,000-plus visiting supporters wild.

Town might have won it, McGuinness’s header lacking the power to beat Johansson, but on another night of drama in the Championship, they can reflect on an important point, as they extended their unbeaten run to five games ahead of a must-win contest with Blackburn Rovers at Kenilworth Road this weekend.

Potters: Viktor Johansson, Wouter Burger, Lewis Baker, Bae Junho, Jordan Thompson (Ben Pearson 62), Ben Wilmot, Eric Bocat, Sam Gallagher (Lewis Koumas 86), Junior Tchamadeu, Ashley Phillips, Million Manhoff (Ali Al-Hamad 62). Subs not used: Jack Bonham, Lynden Gooch, Tatsuki Seko, Ryan Mmaee, Ben Gibson, Andrew Moran.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Christ Makosso (Reece Burke 70), Mark McGuinness, Amari’i Bell, Izzy Jones, Liam Walsh (Lamine Fanne 70), Jordan Clark, Thelo Aasgaard, Alfie Doughty (Milli Alli 17),Tahith Chong (Josh Bowler 82), Carlton Morris (Lasse Nordas 70).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Kal Naismith, Zack Nelson, Teden Mengi.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Booked: McGuinness 4, Morris 42, Tchamadeu 47, Junho 50.

Attendance: 21,226.

Bloomfield thrilled Luton's late leveller at Potters shows Town don't know when they are beaten now

Alli rescues a 1-1 draw at bet365 Stadium

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield hailed his side for adding a never-say-die attitude to their game when earning a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Stoke City this evening.

The Hatters’ four match unbeaten run appeared to be coming to a cruel end at the bet365 Stadium, as Lewis Baker’s deflected 25-yard free kick was the difference going into stoppage time. However, substitute Milli Alli, on for the injured Alfie Doughty in the first half, had other ideas, as he rifled home an unstoppable effort to rescue a deserved point for the visitors.

Speaking afterwards, Bloomfield said: “We had a great performance, I was really proud of the team tonight. I thought the way we played, especially away from home and I think especially second half, I thought like it was ours, we were in the running to try and score. Obviously the goal was really disappointing, a deflected free kick, it was going to take something like that to go against us tonight because defensively we’ve been very good recently.

"I said to the boys in the changing room, we’ve added consistency, we’ve added momentum, we’ve added performances, now we’ve added we don’t know when we’re beaten, which if there’s a way to draw a game it’s that. To go behind to a deflection and still find a way to come back and find a moment as there were several moments in that where it could have been an equaliser, to do it so late is great.

"I’m really pleased for the supporters as well as to come away on a Tuesday night and so many of our fans be here with us, supporting us, roaring the boys on, and another lovely moment to share with them at the end. We’re disappointed it isn’t all three if I’m honest, as I thought we played well enough to take all three points, but if there’s a way to just get one then that was it tonight.”

Hatters boss believes last-gasp leveller at Stoke is a 'significant' moment for Luton

Alli earns a point for Town with injury-time equaliser

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield thought the manner of last night’s stoppage time 1-1 draw against Stoke City felt like a ‘significant’ moment for the Hatters in their bid to stay in the Championship this season.

After a low quality first half which saw Luton going closest to an opener when Thelo Aasgaard’s volley flew inches over, the visitors were looking by far the more threatening side after the break, Milli Alli having a real impact on proceedings. The attacker, who had come on for the injured Alfie Doughty after just 17 minutes, weaved his way into the box following a powerful run, denied a certain goal by the body of a covering City defender.

Mark McGuinness also nodded wide from a right wing corner, while a back post Carlton Morris header caused panic, but with 15 minutes to go, it appeared Town were going to see their four game unbeaten run ended, as having just made three substitutions, one of them, Lamine Fanne, was adjudged to have fouled Sam Gallagher for a free kick some 25 yards from goal.

Lewis Baker stepped up and let fly, seeing his attempt deflect off the shoulder of another replacement in Reece Burke, to wrongfoot the already diving Thomas Kaminski and hit the net. Rather than let their heads drop though, Luton still pushed for a leveller, Alli’s fierce attempt batted away by Potters stopper VIktor Johansson and then late addition to the fray Josh Bowler failing to turn home from close range.

However, in the first minute of five added on, Lasse Nordas nodded the ball out to the wing, which eventually saw Izzy Jones' cross end up at the feet of Alli via an acrobatic overhead volley attempt from Jordan Clark. The January addition kept his cool to swerve his way past two markers and then crack an unstoppable finish that arrowed past Johansson at his near post.

The equaliser meant that Stoke, who would have gone six points ahead of Luton with just five games remaining, stayed within four, as Town also pulled one more back on Hull City, as the Tigers were beaten 1-0 at Watford. With Cardiff City and Derby County both also drawing with Preston and Burnley respectively, then discussing the timing of the leveller, Bloomfield said: “It feels significant as if we had lost a game where we played so well it would have been particularly morale-draining.

"It would have been really disappointing if we had lost when we played so well. Especially away from home on a big pitch, we got the ball down and we passed it really, really well. I thought we showed good variety in our play and it would have been really disappointing to lose, so to find a way to come back from 1-0 down and not give up, to find that moment, I’m really, really proud of the boys. We’re evolving all the time. At home at the Kenny and away from home, we have to have a slightly different gameplan because of the pitch size and the way we set up.

"Obviously we’re missing Eli (Elijah Adebayo) tonight. We went with Chongy (Tahith Chong) for that extra energy, the legs and the dribbling ability that he brings, but from a coaching point of view, the way that the boys implemented the gameplan and the way they executed it, I’m really pleased with them. They’re working ever so hard, you can see that. The togetherness, the camaraderie, the spirit that we’ve got in the camp right now and to share that with the supporters again shows how far we’ve come.

"I think we can all see that the team is growing and evolving. The spirit, the feeling, the confidence, the belief around the football club as a whole. Our supporters, with the mood at the training ground, with the noise levels around the canteen, it’s growing. It’s a great point for us, a real good point for us and it’s up to us to turn up the Kenny on Saturday now. I know our supporters will be roaring us on, it’s up to us to put a performance in.”

Bloomfield was disappointed to see Fanne penalised in the manner he was for the set-piece that Town conceded from, a number of decisions made by referee Dean Whitestone that he took issue with. One of them, booking Carlton Morris in the first half, meant the forward had to be replaced with 20 minutes to go, after City defender Ashley Phillips tried to get Luton’s skipper sent off just seconds after the restart, running into the Town forward and then theatrically going to ground holding his face.

The boss continued: “I think he’s (Fanne) read the chop inside and as he’s stronger, the lad’s held on to him, gone down. I felt there were a few soft ones go against us second half if I’m perfectly honest which was really disappointing from my point of view, but it was still going to take a deflection to score against us.

“The decision we took (taking Morris off), Carlton’s a massive player for us. He’s our leader, he’s our captain, he’s such a massive personality, but he’d been booked. He had that little moment at the start of the second half, it’s a busy three game week as well. We need him so it just felt like we’d had to use one stoppage up in the first half and you’re only allowed three, so it felt like the right time to bring fresh legs on.”

Having used five substitutions during the contest, Bloomfield was happy with the impact all of the quintet had from the bench, adding: “It’s a squad game, we’ve discussed it several times and we speak a lot about the impact that the finishers can have. It was nice for them tonight, especially in a busy three game week, on a big pitch, on a Tuesday night.

"I had a slight concern that tonight was going to be tough for us as the amount of emotional input we put into the game on Saturday, but it just felt like the right moment to freshen us up. All the finishers, I thought Burkey was excellent, Lamine, Josh, Lasse and obviously Milli. They all had an impact in the game, which is what we want. It’s all about the group, and will always be that.”