After Bournemouth we talked about dog owners losing leads – don’t give your pooch to Nottingham Forest as for the second time this season they were unable to deal with Luton Town’s never-beaten attitude.
Luke Berry struck with a poacher’s instinct on 89 minutes, so for the second Saturday running Town rescued a point from a game where the opposition had the better chances.
Mengi and Burke at the back, and in front of goal, were simply outstanding. Reece Burke made a goal line clearance in the first half that defied belief. Not long afterwards Mengi scored a lovely goal following a corner only to be denied by an inadvertent brushing of the hand.
In the second half they swapped roles. This time Mengi heroically got back to deny Elanga’s shot from the goal line. And then in the final minute it was Reece Burke’s towering header down that Luke flicked into the net on the turn.
Super Robbie switched it up after Bournemouth with Hashioka moving to the bench and Kabore filling in as the left centre back. Alfie had clearly been told not to get up the pitch as much, and we did look a lot more solid. Pelly came in to midfield and had his best game of the season until a ludicrous challenge sent him crashing into the advertising boards and having to hobble off.
A word for the referee Darren England. Some baffling decisions including a beautiful tackle from Ross Barkley that the official waited five seconds to whistle for after being influenced by the Forest bench. It isn’t too surprising the so-called big games rarely feature a performance from Dear England.
Two weeks off for the overworked physio and medical staff to work some miracles and try and get some of the wounded back in action. Robbie didn’t sound too hopeful in the after match interview, but we are still showing fight.
And with a couple of easy games up next away at Spurs and Arsenal, the sun is still shining on Luton Town.
Final word for Luke Berry who becomes the first player to score in all 4 top divisions in England for the same club. Superb.
#COYH
Town: Kaminski; Kaboré, Ogenbe, Doughty (sub Woodrow 46), Burke, Mengi, Mpanzu (sub Townsend 60), Barkley, Clark (sub Berry 85), Chong, Morris.