Another view from the prawn seats, and a Friday evening trip to the Bridge. Last time I was there as a student Chelsea had a temporary stand and were managed by Glen Hoddle. Now they’ve got a billionaire in charge, not the Russian but Todd Boehly, who has so far bought 27 players for a sum just shy of £900 million.
Two changes from Super Robbie included a welcome return at the back for Reece Burke, and a surprise start in midfield for ex-blue Ross Barkley. Andersen and Pelly dropped to the bench.
Town made a very tidy start. You could immediately see Barkley’s top flight experience when inside two minutes he won a free kick just inside the Chelsea half simply be retaining possession of the ball when challenged. Chong then robbed the £100+ million pound Caicedo a few minutes later, burst forward, before smashing it well wide of the post.
Another £100+ million player Enzo escaped a clear yellow for a nasty slap on Kabore, before the same Chelsea player missed a great chance a couple of minutes later. On 15 minutes Town won a corner after great hold up play from Eljah, but not for the first time on the night Giles put in a poor delivery to the near post.
It then went a bit downhill after Sterling beat half the Luton team which depending on your view was either a great piece of dribbling and skill, or some poor defending. Still Town didn’t get too despondent, and when Elijah again won the ball on half way, he released Morris with a peach of a ball, only for Carlton to take a first touch too wide.
Tommy Lockyer then went harshly into the ref’s book for his first challenge of the game on 27 minutes, swiftly followed by a more deserved one for Nakamba although replays suggest Marvellous hardly touched him. More good work from Ross saw a another well won free kick that came to nothing.
A blatant pull back from Gusto who was having a great game for Chelsea again went unpunished by the ref, backed up by a Fernandes trip on 40 minutes. Kabore danced down the goal line inside the box with time ticking by in the first half, with Reece Burke having a follow-up shot deflected for a corner. Another near post delivery easily cleared.
It looked as though Robbie had moved to put two men on Sterling and his influence had quietened on half time when a bit of Chelsea timewasting at a throw-in also went unpunished.
Luton started the second half strongly and after yet more good work from Elijah, Morris had a shot blocked, before Ross won yet another free kick. Chilwell should have put the hosts two up but inexplicably tried to pass to Sterling when easier to score. Jackson then forced a great save from Kaminski as the game went end to end.
The Hatters got another warning when a Sterling cross saw Fernandes hit the post after Chong gave the ball away.
Luton’s best move of the match saw the ball fall to Giles about 10 yards out with only Sanchez to beat, but his shot was deflected off Gusto resulting in a comfortable save.
The Town paid for the missed chance when Gusto put another great ball in for Sterling to finish first time on 68 minutes. Fernandes finally got a card on 72 minutes and Barkley blazed the free kick well over.
Sterling was found down the wing by a lobbed ball from Fernandes and his cross was turned in by Jackson to make it 3-0 on 75 minutes.
Still Luton didn’t lie down, and there was time for a Morris deflected effort on 81 minutes, and a great chance for Brown who was clean through but his chip cleared both keeper and bar comfortably.
After the game Robbie said he saw clear improvements and he was correct. There were none of the defensive errors from Brighton, Luton tonight were undone by Sterling who appears back to the top of his game.
Impressive debut from Barkley given the circumstances. Slight concern over the set piece deliveries given we’ve had more than a dozen now in 2 games, but the true test starts now with our first Premier home game, also back on TV on a Friday night, at the magnificent cauldron that is the refurbished Kenny.
A chance first on Tuesday night for the reserves to take on English football’s most in-form team, League 2 Gillingham in the EFL cup.
Benno