Luton manager Rob Edwards promised his side will “keep going” after a 1-1 draw with Everton at Kenilworth Road saw them miss the chance to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone.
With 17th-place Nottingham Forest not in action until Saturday Luton had the opportunity to put real pressure on their rivals in the race to beat the drop, but after Elijah Adebayo had equalised Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penalty in the first half they failed to summon a winner despite a frantic finale.
Should Forest beat bottom-side Sheffield United and Burnley overcome Newcastle, Edwards’ side could finish the weekend in 19th and three points adrift, but he insisted his players will fight until the end.
Rob Edwards’ reaction to Luke Berry’s 96th-minute bicycle kick attempt 🫣@LutonTown''s late flurry of chances weren’t enough to get the win against Everton. #LUTEVE pic.twitter.com/VMhBrbb2To
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 3, 2024
“We wanted a win,” he said. “We threw everything at it, we tried. You can’t guarantee the result but you can guarantee how hard you work.
“We stood up to Everton’s physicality really well, their running power. We could have been having a different conversation now if the ball had gone a couple of inches, a couple of big blocks they made. A draw wasn’t what we wanted.
“We don’t know as we stand. We’re still in the mix. Other things are out of our control, that’s obvious. But we’ll keep going.”
Adebayo’s goal to earn a point was magnificently taken. Albert Sambi Lokonga’s high, raking pass arrived just too deep into the box for a header at goal, but with rapid speed of thought Luton’s top scorer – making his first start in three months after an injury – took the ball on his chest, sent his marker Ashley Young tumbling to the ground and from eight yards slid his finish wide of Jordan Pickford.
“A good performance considering he’s been out so long,” said Edwards of his goalscorer. “It’s a fantastic goal. It’s hard for any team in this league when you’re missing key players. He showed there what we have missed.”
A draw was the least Luton deserved but they were put in a precarious position when Everton took the lead after 24 minutes. As a corner was floated into the box, Teden Mengi took hold of Jarrad Branthwaite and hauled him off his feet and to the floor.
Luton have only managed to secure two wins so far in 2024.
How will Rob Edwards'' side fair in their remaining matches? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/8qUHHRtUcv
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 3, 2024
It was a poor error from Mengi, with the ball nowhere near where the offence took place. From the resulting penalty, awarded after a pitch-side VAR check, Calvert-Lewin sent Thomas Kaminski the wrong way to make it 1-0.
“I don’t think we’ve got too many complaints,” said Edwards of the award. “Teden will have a phenomenal career. It’s just a bit of learning for him.”
Edwards’ side bombarded Everton as the realisation dawned that two points were slipping away, Andros Townsend driving low at goal in stoppage time, denied by a Branthwaite block.
The best chance fell with virtually the final kick to substitute Luke Berry, contorting his body to deliver an audacious overhead kick that ricocheted to safety, taking Luton’s last chance of claiming victory with it.
Everton boss Sean Dyche reflected on a game that he was disappointed not to see his side win.
“We lost our way a bit in the second half,” he said.
“That can happen. Overall I’ve asked a lot of these players. I’m not going to over-question it, but I’m always greedy. We want more.”
Raith Rovers boss Ian Murray is confident his side will improve in the cinch Premiership play-off final after beating Partick Thistle on penalties.Thistle won 2-1 at Stark’s Park and came closest to winning the tie late on before the game went to penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw.Rovers captain Scott Brown saw his side’s first penalty saved by David Mitchell, but Jack McMillan and R...
Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed hope ugly scenes involving rival fans would not tarnish a “beautiful moment” after leading his side to Wembley with a 3-1 win over West Brom.Adam Armstrong’s brace following Will Smallbone’s opener propelled Saints into the Championship play-off final against Leeds on May 26.Home fans spilled on to the pitch to celebrate moving a...
Partick Thistle suffered more play-off penalty woe as Lewis Vaughan’s spot-kick fired Raith Rovers into a promotion decider.The Jags were on course to reach their second successive cinch Premiership play-off final after David Mitchell saved Raith’s first penalty from Scott Brown at Stark’s Park after a 3-3 aggregate draw.But Jack McMillan missed the target and Ricco Diack hit the...
Adam Armstrong struck twice as Southampton booked a place in the Championship play-off final with a thumping 3-1 victory over West Brom on a raucous evening at St Mary’s.Midfielder Will Smallbone set Saints on course for a Wembley showdown with Leeds on May 26 by lashing home the opener four minutes into the second half.Top scorer Armstrong completed the job with a fine finish followed by a ...
Dumbarton earned promotion to cinch League One after a 2-2 draw with Spartans resulted in a 4-3 aggregate win for the Sons in their play-off final.The visitors held a narrow 2-1 advantage after Tuesday’s first leg and simply needed to avoid defeat to win promotion, but fell behind after just three minutes at Ainslie Park, when Cameron Russell nodded home Callum Booth’s cross.Celebrati...
Let's start our 7M Daily Laugh today. Klopp's last day at Anfield Mbappe (free)Alaba (free)Rudiger (free)Valverde (5 million)Lunin (8 million)Kross (25 million)Modric (30 million)Camavinga (30 million)Arda (30 million)Endrik (35 million)Courtois (40 million)Vinicius (45 million)Rodrigo (45 million)Militao (50 million)Tchouameni(80 million) Bellingham (100 million)Don Florentino Perez. When X...
Manchester United could be prepared to hire a German to replace Erik ten Hag.The Red Devils are said to be in talks with Bayern Munich's departing coach this week.Per Sky Germany, the Red Devils are talking with Thomas Tuchel's management team.Tuchel, who worked at Chelsea in the Premier League, is set to leave Bayern despite the club's attempts to get him to stay.The outlet adds that United's pre...
· France have named their 25-man squad for Euro 2024.· Top talents like Michael Olise, Moussa Diaby, and Jean-Clair Todibo have all been left out.· Chelsea duo Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi will also be watching the tournament from home.With the European Championships now less than a month away and firmly on the horizon, some of the continent's top nations have begun to reveal the shor...
Germany men's national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann has announced a 27-man preliminary squad to take to EURO 2024 - but with only 26 spots, that means one man will still be left out.Sport Bild has a guess as to who that might be, and the answer might surprise you. Via @iMiaSanMia:The one player that will be left out of the final 26-man squad for the Euros will most likely be either Maximilian...
The Netherlands have unveiled their 30-man preliminary squad for Euro 2024, with head coach Ronald Koeman leading the charge. UEFA has recently increased squad sizes to 26 players for this year’s tournament, requiring at least three goalkeepers. Although not the favorites, the Oranje could be the dark horses, having secured second place in their qualifying group behind France.Koeman inherite...
- 1 Danilo Orsi nets hat-trick as Crawley thrash MK Dons to reach play-off final
- 2 Transfer news & rumours LIVE
- 3 Marc Skinner wants to stay at Manchester United after ‘historic’ FA Cup win
- 4 Sterling considering leaving the club
- 5 Major Liverpool star still an option for Real
- 6 Mourinho to join Fenerbahce?
- 7 Football is cruel – St Johnstone boss Craig Levein left to rue missed chances
- 8 Alex Scott looks stunning in bold see-through outfit
- 9 Celtic run riot against Kilmarnock to win another Premiership title
- 10 Marcus Rashford's new £700,000 Rolls Royce Wraith revealed