Luton did the double over Swansea this season with a 1-0 win at Kenilworth Road on Saturday in a game that was far more eventful than the scoreline suggests. Here are our takeaways from the game.
Morris majors in goals and minors in shithousery
What do we want? Wins.
When do we want them? All the time.
Anything else?
Yeah, how about a number nine scoring the winner and rubbing it in, in the most gloriously petty ways, please?
When do we want it? Oh, just stick it in my veins, ta very much.
Thereās something very Danny Hylton about the 14-goal Carlton Morris and Iām here for it. Just watch this celebratory barge on Joel Latibeaudiereā¦
He’s banged them in from miles out this term, so this was Morrisā easiest goal for Luton, but it saw the striker already double his tally for the whole of last season.
Against the Swans, he wasnāt even as dangerous as he has been, but with five assists also in the mix this campaign, heās been a wonderful acquisition and big credit must go to Townās recruitment department.
More possession, please
Most teams in the Championship will have to accept that Swansea City like to Bogart the ball. Admittedly, against Luton this term, theyāve done bugger all with it and, in this game, possession stats donāt win prizes.
In the previous three clashes with the Swans, since their boss and red card collector Russell Martin has been in charge, the Welsh side has gobbled up 72.8 per cent, 71.9 per cent and 75 per cent of the ball, respectively.
Incidentally, Town were unbeaten in that trio of tests, bagging seven points out of nine. Had it not been for the most remarkable and unlucky hat-trick of long-range deflections that saw them come back from 3-0 down, a month into Martinās tenure last year, it would have been maximum returns for the Hatters.
Of course, all of those games were against Nathan Jonesā Luton, who made a habit of winning whether the Hatters had the ball or not. Quite often it was the latter.
But, under his successor Rob Edwards, Town have been evolving. The results are still there, but with Jordan Clark and Pelly-Ruddock (though he was rested on Saturday) running the midfield, they’ve been dictating more games instead of watching the ball sail over their heads to the frontmen.
Edwards’ result against Swansea this season? The same. Three points, clean sheets, happy days.
The Welsh side still passed and passed and passed, but this time for a much-reduced 58 per cent of the time.
That, as an example of Edwards-ball in microcosm, highlights what Luton are becoming under his watch – a proper footballing side. Itās wonderful to watch.
Top class, thereās no Doughty about it, Alfie
What does Alfie Doughty and the Exorcist have in common? Both love a cross and making opponentsā heads turn around until theyāre sick!
It was the flying wing-back that did all the hard work for Morris’ winner and even though his centre may have taken a tidy nick off Matthew Sorinolaās boot, while butterfingered keeper Andy Fisher couldnāt keep hold, it was a reward for what seems a sole focus when Doughty has the ball at his feet – beat a man, whip it in the mixer.Ā Doughty had the most touches of any Town player and made them count with the most (seven) key passes. And in his last three games, the wing ace has bagged two assists, fired in 31 crosses with 18 of them on the money.
Also, considering Swanseaās last visit to Kenilworth Road was sponsored by deflections – how do you like them apples, lads?
But all good things come to those who wait, and though it took until October to clap eyes on the summer signing from Stoke, heās been making up for lost time ever since.
Sadly for him, in instalment number 1,569 of the match-day sponsors picking their man-of-the-match with the aid of beer goggles, Doughty missed out on an accolade that went to Cody Drameh instead. Thatās no offence to the Leeds loanee, because he was solid, but the man on the other flank is different gravy at the moment.
Blow me down, a ref that was all right!
Itās only right that we offer a sliver of balance to the avalanche of abject ineptitude that officials that have rocked up with at Kenilworth Road this term. Jeremy Simpson (the referee against Burnley), weāre looking at you!
But with Dean Whitestone on Saturday, along came a referee that, for once, didnāt officiate out of the same instruction manual of utterly bizarre decision-making that many of his predecessors have.
And it was almost worthy of printing a limited run of souvenir t-shirts when the man-in-the-middle penalised Swanseaās Matthew Sorinola for taking the piss with a throw-in where fainted chucking it in while shuffling halfway up the touchline.
The result? Whitestone reversed it for a Luton throw. Not only was it glorious in its embarrassing punishment for a professional footballer, but itās a simple example of how all refs could nip all niggly misdemeanours in the bud. Well, the Swans ace do it again, did he?
Whitestone did send off Town assistant boss Richie Kyle along with Swans manager Russell Martin for a both-bench mass melee at the end of the match, though it couldāve been worse if heād also punished Rob Edwards, who was at the forefront of the initial scuffle, so we’ll chalk that one up to a win as well.
Oh, you can also file that fracas under the shithousery takeaway mentioned above. We probably shouldnāt, but fans love a decent ruck. Letās just hope the FA donāt slap Luton with another charge which costs them Ā£10,000. Weāre still looking at you Jeremy Simpson, and wondering if you might fancy chipping in to make up for one of the worst refereeing displays at Kenilworth Road this term?
Outstanding Osho
Itās time to start recognising just what a progressive defender Gabriel Osho is becoming. People were quick to chastise him for conceding two penalties last month, but heās been involved in half of Townās clean sheets, despite only making 21 league appearances. Yet he offers so much to a Town team thatās growing ever more adept at breaking through the lines.
There were several occasions when the former Reading man would do his job defensively, but then burst past Swansea attackers closing him down, to kick-start Luton attacks.
Edwards said: āHeās been a really consistent performer. Heās another one of playing through some pain. Full credit to him to get through the full game. I thought he was absolutely brilliant.
āWeāve got a number of players that can do that (bring the ball out). Burkey (Reece Burke) can do the same. Amariāi (Bell) and (Dan) Potts can do the same thing. We encourage those outside centre-backs to take space when they can and step in.
āThat can provoke the opposition and you might have to pay through them, or play around them and get some attacks going.
āNormally, what you’ll see is them play it and hopefully then follow as well to try and overload areas. The first goal we got against Millwall in midweek was from Amariāi crossing it. So, we try and encourage the players to do that, but heās naturally very talented and silky with the ball, Gabe. We want to encourage him to keep being brave.ā
Top drawer Tom
If youāre talking about pure defensive abilities then surely Tom Lockyer is currently one of the best in the Championship.
After a goalkeeping howler in the previous game, Ethan Horvath had relatively little to do against Swansea to earn a 14th clean sheet – because the stand-in skipper was a one-man roadblock.
They didnāt penetrate or threaten Town much, but when they did Swansea must have been sick of the sight of the Wales defender heading the ball away. He led the Luton way in that regard with seven aerial duals won, and his final whistle celebration in front of the main stand showed Lockyer’s passion for the place.
Edwards said: āIf we’re going to win, Iād love to win by three or four. We all would. It is a real team effort. And you can see how hard the lads work right the way through the group.
āIt’s not just back unit and the goalkeeper that deserve the credit. It’s everyone, the whole group. So weāll try to continue that resilience and being difficult to break down in the run-in. Weāre going to concede goals because that just happens, but with zeros and ones you normally get points.ā
The former Wales international was also asked if heād like to see Lockyer in Rob Pageās side for the upcoming games, Edwards said: āObviously, it’s not my decision so I don’t step on Robās toes or anything like that at all, but his form has been outstanding for us.
āHe’s been a big, big part of the clean sheets and the reason that weāve been able to continue the good form when we picked up the job. So, from my point of view, he is definitely someone who should be looked at and maybe even playing. I can’t speak highly enough of him as a man. And as a player he has been top class.ā
Perhaps Wales might learn from fluffing their lines in the World Cup group stages, where Lockyer remained rooted to the bench. Every week for Luton he’s proving that decision wrong.
Ten years on, heās Still revered
You never want to see the half-time pints and pie merchants at Kenilworth Road take a hit at the tills, but thereās few men in Lutonās recent history that could keep the thirsty hordes in their seats at the break than John Still.
He promised to control the controllables, but it was no surprise that Still even got DJ Darren Jones’ dodgy microphone connection working once he walked back on to the famous Kenilworth Road turf to mark ten years since he took charge of Town. A year later, he led Luton back to the promised land of the EFL.
His work was the platform for the thrill ride that has followed, under Nathan Jones (twice), Mick Harford and now Rob Edwardsā¦and his legend has arguably only grown, judging by the reception he received at half-time from his Barmy Army.
Brilliant piece.