Luton Town provided the killer bang to see off Blackpool on bonfire night as the Hatters returned to winning ways with a special 1-0 victory. Here are our takeaways from the game.
Terrific Tom towers above Blackpool
Blackpool is a town famed for its rock but nothing was more solid at Broomfield Road than the one central defender the Hatters have left standing in Tom Lockyer.
For the second game in succession, the Welshman saw the defender immediately to his left depart the field of play in the first period but he didn’t let that distract him. Ending up on the left of two centre-backs with James Bree alongside him, Lockyer put in one of the best defensive efforts a Town shirt has been privy to in quite some time.
As well as keeping the Championship’s top scorer Jerry Yates in check, the popular defender displayed two absolutely remarkable goal-line blocks to preserve the clean sheet, this coming after his header paved the way for the winning goal midway through the second half.
The moral of the story is if you are reduced to one central defender make sure it is Lockyer. No defender in the division is playing as well as him right now and if he does not go to the World Cup, as boss Nathan Jones hopes, it will be a downright disgrace.
Horvath the hero with huge double save
It was a rare occasion when Lockyer was beaten but the few times such an occurrence took place he was bailed out marvellously by the custodian between the sticks, Ethan Horvath.
The American picked up his eighth clean sheet of the campaign which was earned with a majestic double save in the second half when Blackpool looked destined to score. He looks better and better with every game and is another who should be going to the World Cup.
Bright Berry lights up another away win
Blackpool is also famed for its illuminations but it was returning Town midfielder Luke Berry who shone brightest when he delivered another perfectly timed burst into the box to get on the end of a knockdown from Tom Lockyer after a deep James Bree corner to fire the Town to victory.
Berry is famed for his late runs into the box, which very often result in the net bulging, and lived up to the billing. He also showed good tactical discipline as, for most of the match, he had to utilise a deeper midfield role after the injury to Dan Potts forced Town into a change in formation. This was Berry’s first goal in almost eight months. Nathan Jones will be hoping his classy midfielder stays fit to notch many more.
Clark sparkles in another position
Such is the needs-must state of the Luton Town squad these days, with so many defenders missing that, for a third match in succession, the Hatters have been forced to use someone out of position at right-back.
Last weekend Alfie Doughty was the man selected there, while injuries forced Harry Cornick into that position on Tuesday evening. This time it was Jordan Clark who began the game at right wing-back before playing right-back once the formation switch had taken place.
As with everything Clark does, he played impeccably there and looks a more than capable deputy should he be needed there in the future.
Morris monsters home defence without reward
Any manager will tell you that defending starts at the front and Carlton Morris epitomised that with a tireless display up top which deserved to be rewarded with his name on the scoresheet.
That wasn’t to be with home keeper Chris Maxwell either in the right place to deny him or a Blackpool defender getting in the way to deflect the ball out of danger.
Jones will have signed Morris for his goals but we were all reminded of the exceptional shifts he puts in without the ball in this contest.
Pelly is another who deserves the plaudits
After six months out of the game, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu has now played every minute of the last two games and deserves a huge amount of credit for doing so, particularly in physical endeavours in testing conditions. This wasn’t one of his more memorable performances in terms of impacting the game with the ball, but in a backs-to-the-wall effort, Pelly did as much as many to repel the waves of Blackpool attacks late on.
With Gabe Osho back from suspension in midweek but most likely needed in defence due to Potts’ injury, the midfielder may need to put another huge shift in. Whatever happens you know that is exactly what he’ll do.
Forced formation change could lead to bigger and better options
Once Dan Potts went off with a back injury in the first half, Town boss Jones was forced into utilising a 4-3-3 formation which looked nicely balanced and allowed Luton to get three of their attacking personnel on the pitch at the same time.
Better still, playing four at the back didn’t weaken too much defensively despite their absence of recognised centre-backs. In the new formation, Luton were organised, hard to break down and had a threat on the counter.
It could all be quite useful if Luton go behind in a crucial match towards the end of the season.
Berry was unlucky not to do the same in the previous game, bursting into the box, he just couldn’t get the ball down enough to stick it in. Love his awareness in & around the box.