Luton Town 2 Aston Villa 3 – Second Half Domination Undone By Sucker Punch

A fight back dashed at the death

Another incredible game in front of a record crowd thanks to the introduction of safe standing down at the Oak Road. A first half where two sloppy goals were given away was forgotten as Town overcame an injury crisis to utterly dominate their Champions League opponents. Only to fall victim to an unopposed cross headed in by one of the smallest men on the pitch*

Three changes for the Town as Kabore returned at right back, Townsend got a start, and of course Kaminski returned in goal. The decision to risk Bell backfired when he was forced off injured after only six minutes.

There were warning signs in the first half before Villa opened the scoring. A corner was swung in and Watkins found too much space to flick a header in. It got worse when a free kick on half-way was extremely quickly taken and Watkins found himself with the freedom of the Kenny end to deftly finish off the post. Quickly taken set pieces have found us wanting this season. We think back to the Spurs goal at the Kenny. Other examples may spring to mind.

Kaminksi kept the score down in that first half with more great saves.

Half time some tactical tweaks from Super Robbie. And boy did it pay off.

Kabore was a player reborn and found himself with space on the flank. Hashioka came on and won practically every challenge. Morris was electric. Ogbene caused mayhem. Chong had Duracell energy. Mengi was a colossus. Clicker Clark a terrier. Barkley a poet on the ball.

First Luton goal a Burke shot miraculously saved on the line, ball squirmed out to Carlton who did brilliantly from the byline to nod it back across, Reece second effort blocked by keeper, Tahith pokes it home. Bedlam and hope in the Kenny.

Equaliser a few minutes later. A carbon copy of the winner at Everton in the League. Peach of a delivery from Alfie, a Bergkamp-esque volleyed finish from Carlton.

Belief coarsing through the supporters.

Carlton had a header straight at the keeper. Tahith couldn’t sort his feet out with goal at mercy. Surely a winner was coming for Luton.

But in only their second attack of the half Diaby had too much space to put a ball in, and we had another Rice/Diaz moment at the Kenny when little Lucas nodded home.

We still believe and on the evidence of the second half – Town are taking the fight right the way to game 38.

On to the Palace.

#COYH

Footnote * to be fair to Digne he is 5 foot 10 which is a reasonable height.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré, Doughty, Burke, Mengi, Bell (sub Ogbene 6); Clark, Barkley; Chong (sub Mpanzu 84), Townsend (sub Hashioka 53), Morris.

By Sammo