West Ham United vs Luton Town FC (11th May 2024)

Report | Town all but down after Hammers comeback

The Hatters’ hopes of staying in the Premier League are all but over after West Ham fought back to take the points at the London Stadium.

Leading at half-time thanks to Sambi Lokonga’s sixth-minute header, the Town had the points in their grasp – only for three second half goals to leave the Hatters three points behind Nottingham Forest with a game to go with an inferior goal difference.

Unchanged after last week’s 1-1 draw with Everton, the Town started like a team who knew what was on the line and the opening goal came from an likely source. Alfie Doughty clipped in a cross from the left and Sambi Lokonga ghosted in unnoticed into the Hammers’ penalty area to nod past Alphonse Areola. It was the Belgian’s first goal for the Hatters and his first in three years.

What followed for the remainder of the first half was typical Luton: terrific, brave defending to deny the home side – in David Moyes’ final home in charge – a leveller.

On 13 minutes Jarrod Bowen saw his volley hit the outside of the post following Lucas Paqueta’s left-wing cross and ten minutes later Teden Mengi cleared the danger as Jarrod Bowen’s low shot crept goalwards.

Ross Barkley then charged down Bowen’s shot on 28 minutes as the Town continued to frustrate the home side but within ten minutes the Hatters midfielder was limping off the pitch as he picked up a knock and was replaced by Jordan Clark.

As half-time approached, and the game entered an additional five minutes at the end of the 45, the Town stood tall to repel a series of high balls and set-pieces thrown at them by the Hammers.

Just like the first half, the Hatters started the second half well, creating a couple of half-chances but within eight minutes of the restart it was 1-1. Bowen was allowed to run down the right and his low cross was cleared by a combination of Thomas Kaminski and Reece Burke. However the ball fell into the path of James Ward-Prowse and he diverted the ball into the bottom corner.

Having been pegged back the Town knew what was required of them and Elijah Adebayo almost had a chance only to be denied by Kurt Zouma.

But with their tails up, the home side continued to push forward. Kaminski saved three times in as many minutes to keep the Hammers out, with one tremendous stop shortly after the hour to deny Michail Antonio world-class.

Yet you felt it was only a matter of time before the home side took advantage of their weight of possession and on 65 minutes they led. The Hatters half-cleared a set-piece to Tomas Soucek waiting on the edge of the box and the Czech midfielder drove a fine volley into corner.

Five minutes later it was almost curtains for the Town when the lively Mohammed Kudus, having been found by Bowen, somehow contrived to miss when one-on-one with Kaminski with the goal-gaping.

As time ticked down, the Hatters turned to the bench, with Rob Edwards introducing Chiedozie Ogbene with 18 minutes left in his first appearance since the middle of March.

But, within three minutes of the Irishman’s introduction, the Hammers made it 3-1 when young substitute George Earthy tapped home from close range following Kudus’ cut-back.

The third knocked the stuffing out of the Town who tried to bridge the gap in the dying stages but a fight-back failed to materialise.

With one game to go the Hatters are three points from safety with an inferior goal difference as attention turns to the final game of the season against Fulham next Sunday, knowing only an unlikely set of results will prevent them from slipping into the Championship.

It’s been a season to make you proud to be a Luton fan regardless – and we’ll see you next weekend at Kenilworth Road.

Town: Kaminski; Onyedinma (sub Ogbene 73), Doughty (sub Berry 87), Burke (sub Woodrow 87, Mengi, Osho; Barkley (sub Clark 39), Lokonga; Chong, Morris, Adebayo.

Subs not used: Krul, Berry, Woodrow, Mpanzu, Hashioka, Townsend, Johnson.

Reaction | Rob reflects on Hammers heartbreak

An emotional Rob Edwards admitted it was a tough day at the office as the Hatters’ hopes of avoiding relegation from the Premier League were all but over after a 3-1 defeat at West Ham.

Despite leading at half-time through Sambi Lokonga’s goal, the Hammers fought back to victory, leading to poignant scenes as the Town faithful clapped the players and staff for ten minutes after the final whistle.

“It’s a really, really difficult day,” the manager, who was in tears at the end, said. “I almost lost it when I hugged Locks but it got me when the way the fans reacted.

“I thanked the players and staff in the dressing room afterwards because them, along with the fans and the board, have given me the best 18 months of my life.

“Listen, we didn’t get relegated because of today – it’s been an accumulation of a lot of things but we’ve been on an incredible journey.

“I’m disappointed because in the end I’m responsible that we’ve not been able to do it. The game itself is difficult to process. I thought we showed some good things when we went 1-0 up but they have a lot of quality.”

On the ovation he the players received at the end, the boss added: “It’s very special. I’m not too sure you see that very often in this day and age. Everyone wants success and results and want it right now.

“Our fans have shown an intelligence and understanding through their incredible support and the players have earned that.

“We’ve been on this amazing journey together but in the end this league was just a bit too much.”

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fq47sp0IaLo – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPPrEcD-bMA – extended match highlights

Valiant Luton are virtually relegated from the Premier League after West Ham defeat

Premier League: West Ham 3 Luton Town 1

Luton will surely be playing Championship football again next term as their attempts at taking the Premier League relegation battle into the final week of the season were ended by a rampant second half performance from West Ham United this afternoon.

Leading 1-0 at the break, the Hatters looked like they might be able to entertain Fulham next weekend with something meaningful hanging on it, but then as has happened against AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool in recent weeks, the visitors were simply blown away when their hosts, for whom it was manager David Moyes' final home game in charge, turned on the style in the second 45 minutes.

Although Town are now still only three points behind fourth bottom Nottingham Forest, with a goal difference of minus 13 then the Hatters' adventure in the Premier League appears realistically over after just one campaign. Town named an unchanged side from the 1-1 draw with Everton, although they were able to welcome Chiedozie Ogbene back to the bench for the first time in seven matches, allowing Rob Edward to finally have just one goalkeeper on the bench.

Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Luton didn't show any signs of nerves, having over 70 percent possession in the opening stages, and they made it count on just six minutes when Elijah Adebayo sprinted away on the left, seeing his shot charged down. The forward found Alfie Doughty with the rebound, whose cross was met by a flying Sambi Lokonga to power a thumping header beyond Alphonse Areola for his maiden Luton goal and his first anywhere since scoring for Anderlecht back in April 2021.

The hosts reacted well to going behind, Gabe Osho and Teden Mengi getting in a muddle at the back, Mohammad Kudus sending an angled shot wide when he should have at least worked Thomas Kaminski. West Ham went close again, Fred Onyedinma this time giving the ball away and the creative hub that was Lucas Paqueta firing in a cross that 20-goal forward Jarrod Bowen steered against the outside of the post.

An open game saw Town try and regain the initiative, Onyedinma setting off on a driving run that was ended by Kurt Zouma's well-judged tackle inside the box, the centre half then in the right place to stop Adebayo having a tap in from Doughty's dinked cross. Although they had nothing to play for, the hosts had a real spell of pressure, Osho doing excellently not to turn the ball in from a few yards out after a dangerous low cross and Kudus sending a curler over the bar on the half hour mark.

Tomas Soucek had a go from distance too, Kaminski easily able to collect, as with everything having gone right for Luton in the opening 40 minutes, they had their first bump in the road when Ross Barkley forced off with an injury just before the break, Jordan Clark on in his place. Michail Antonio hammered waywardly off target, as after the interval, Town looked to have navigated the early stages successfully but were then breached on 54 minutes as an ambitious ball out to the wing by Clark was cut out, allowing Bowen free to drive into the box.

His cross repelled by the legs of Kaminski, James Ward-Prowse firing the rebound into the bottom corner. With the London Stadium making the most noise it had all afternoon, West Ham belatedly upped the tempo, Doughty's back header straight at Bowen who could only nod into the gloves of Kaminski, the keeper then smartly gathering Antonio's header. The Belgian made his best save moments later, twisting in mid-air to claw Antonio's next attempt away, Bowen putting the loose ball into the side-netting.

Now looking like they could score every time they attacked, only a wonderful block by Doughty prevented Emerson from doing so. Although a point might have been enough to keep Luton’s hopes of staying up alive, United won corner after corner and eventually made one pay on 65 minutes when Town thought they had cleared the danger only for Chong to lose out when looking to run the ball clear. Ward-Prowse's latest incisive cross was headed out to Soucek who expertly volleyed into the bottom corner.

The Hammers ought to have wrapped the points up on 69 minutes as the impressive Kudus was found completely unmarked in the area, but although looking for all the world like he was going to ripple the net, somehow clipped the outside of the woodwork. High on confidence, Vladimir Coufal tried an audacious volley from 35 yards that flew over, as Luton finally were able to bring on Ogbene with 18 minutes to go.

As soon as he was introduced though, the hosts moved 3-1 ahead to put what appeared the final nail in Luton's coffin. Kudus, who had got more and more influential as the half progressed, getting to the byline and his cut back was turned home by sub George Earthy with pretty much his first touch on 76 minutes. Now knowing they needed three goals in a little over a quarter of an hour, Town almost pulled one back when Carlton Morris won Doughty's cross, but Areola was out with his legs ahead of Clark.

Luton couldn't get the head of steam they needed to do so, Kaminski preventing Bowen adding a fourth as the final whistle brought the curtain down on the visitors' chance of remaining in the top flight, with an emotional Edwards spending a lengthy period of time in front of the visiting Town supporters knowing that they are almost certainly back in the second tier once more next season.

Hammers: Alphonse Areola, Kurt Zouma (C), Vladimir Coufal, James Ward-Prowse, Michail Antonio (George Earthy 75), Lucas Paqueta (Danny Ings 84), Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, Angelo Ogbonna (Kaelan Casey 90), Tomas Soucek, Emerson (Aaron Creswell 84).

Subs not used: Lukasz Fabianski, Ben Johnson, Maxwel Cornet, Edson Alvarez, Divin Mubama.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Fred Onyedinma (Chiedozie Ogbene 73), Reece Burke (Luke Berry 86), Teden Mengi, Gabe Osho, Alfie Doughty (Cauley Woodrow 86), Sambi Lokonga, Ross Barkley (Jordan Clark 40), Tahith Chong, Carlton Morris (C), Elijah Adebayo.

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Joe Johnson, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Daiki Hashioka.

Referee: Michael Oliver.

Booked: Barkley 10, Emerson 52, Burke 79, Morris 83.

Emotional Edward reflects on a 'difficult day' as Luton look destined to drop into the Championship

Town fall to West Ham loss at the London Stadium

An emotional Luton boss Rob Edwards was left to reflect on a difficult day as Town were all but relegated from the Premier League this afternoon.

A 3-1 defeat at West Ham United means that realistically the Hatters will be playing Championship football next season, as although they remained three points behind Nottingham Forest, an inferior goal difference of minus 13 means it’s the second tier once more for the Hatters. At the full time whistle, the Town chief spent a lengthy period of time with the travelling supporters who stayed in their numbers, giving their players yet another in a long line of superb ovations.

Speaking to the press afterwards, Edwards said: “It’s really difficult, the final whistle there, giving Locks (Tom Lockyer) a hug nearly got me and then seeing how our supporters reacted, it made me emotional, I’m that kind of person. A really difficult, difficult day. What I said to our players and staff in the dressing room afterwards was thank you.

“They along with our fans, along with Gary and the board have given me the best 18 months of my life and I just wanted to thank them for today. We didn’t get relegated because of today, it was a combination of the whole season. Today was a difficult day but we’ve been on an incredible journey and I’m just really disappointed that I’m the one responsible in the end and feel that way as we’ve not been able to do it.”

At half time, it looked like Town had every chance of taking their hopes of staying up into the final game of the season, leading through Sambi Lokonga’s flying header from Alfie Doughty’s cross. However the second period saw the Hammers score through James Ward-Prowse, Tomas Soucek and George Earthy to end David Moyes’ final home game in charge with a victory.

Edwards added: “It’s difficult to process the game. I thought we showed some really good things to go one-nil up. The spaces were where we thought they would be and we showed at times some real good quality to get behind and get into some good areas. We were also a little bit loose and turned over too many balls and that allowed them to get a foothold in the game.

"They’ve got some real quality players and we felt half time was good, but they just came out with a purpose and we looked maybe a little bit leggy. The heat, the pressure, I’m not too sure, but ultimately their quality told. Once they went two-one up we rolled the dice and ended up with a lot of attackers on the pitch. We had to try and get something from the game and we weren’t able to. Credit to them, they’ve got some really good players and we came up short.”