The final game of a quite incredible year for Luton Town. Last December we were playing Norwich, Middlesborough, and QPR. 12 months on and we are in with the Billy Big Boys enjoying home games with Arsenal, City, Newcastle and Chelsea. And the lads put on a performance to match the heroics of Newcastle, and the fighting spirit of Arsenal & City, only to fall just short.
Rob brought Kabore back in to the team but otherwise it was the same XI who had secured a memorable three points up in Sheffield. Poor old Chris Wilder is still moaning several days on. Town looked good first half without creating clear cut chances. But a mistake cost us the opening goal. Kabore hitting a clearance straight to Cole Palmer who lashed the ball into the net.
Before half-time it was 0-2 as Madueke showed great skill to rifle a rocket past Kaminski.
Rob changed it up at half time with Chong and Ogbene on for Brown and Kabore. But the third goal for Chelsea looked to have killed the game. Pushing high up, our midfield got caught by a Jackson through ball, and Palmer again was on hand to steer the ball into the net after a couple of ricochets.
Town looked as though they had a goal back with a peach of a ball in from Alfie nodded home by Elijah. But the cruel mistress of VAR robbed us with an offside. It didn’t put the Hatters off.
From 80 minutes onwards it was one way traffic. Ogbene stuck a magnificent ball in and Elijah found the frame of the goal with a bullet header. Less than a minute later an Alfie corner was beautifully nodded in by Ross Barkley.
Carlton Morris then found acres of space to launch a rocket of a header – similar to the one against Everton – onto the fingers of Petrovic and then on to the bar. The second goal was coming and duly arrived when Alfie’s close range shot was superbly saved by Petrovic only for the rebound to fall nicely for Elijah who tucked home.
In a game with lots of Chelsea timewasting, VAR checks, and subs, the officials decided that only six minutes of injury time was necessary, which wasn’t quite enough for Luton to deservedly go on and secure the equaliser their efforts in the final quarter demanded.
It was exhilarating stuff and in keeping with the excitement and performances this Luton Team have treated fans to in 2023.
Who knows what will happen in 2024 but one thing is for sure – this club is one powerful united unit, team, staff, and supporters.
#COYH
Town: Kaminski; Kaboré (sub Ogbene 46), Doughty, Mengi, Osho, Bell; Lokonga (sub Woodrow 90+4), Barkley; Townsend (sub Morris 62) , Brown (sub Chong 46), Adebayo.