Luton delivered one of their best results in modern times when they went to Bramall Lane and secured a record-breaking 1-0 win against promotion pacesetters Sheffield United. Here are our takeaways from the match.
Terrific Tom dazzles again
What else is there that can be said about stand-in skipper Tom Lockyer that hasn’t already been said?
It is incredible to think that we live in a world where an international football manager thought he had three better Welsh defenders than him for a major tournament just four months ago.
Lockyer has been superb this season and needs to be thinking about making space on his mantelpiece for a raft of awards which will come his way at the Player of the Season Presentation Evening next month.
He gave another example of his quality here. Against a physical Sheffield United frontline fed by endless balls into the Luton box, the only things Lockyer didn’t head away were crosses or throws that didn’t need touching.
Everything else met the middle of his head and he was absolutely paramount to the Hatters keeping a 15th clean sheet of the season. The only way this performance can be improved upon is the one all Luton fans hope he gives which involves him signing a new contract.
Marvelous is just exactly that isn’t he?
If you listened to part one of the latest Luton Town Supporters’ Trust podcast you’ll have heard the boys wax lyrical about Marvelous Nakamba and if you were wondering why then watch the video of this game.
Spoiler alert: he was absolutely perfect.
He read the game brilliantly, used the ball equally as well and never stopped harassing the home players and forcing them into mistakes, or taking the ball from them and setting Luton on their way.
This win fired the Town right into the automatic promotion race and Nakamba is very much leading the charge.
15 is the magic number
A 15th clean sheet for Ethan Horvath was matched in total by leading Town marksman Carlton Morris who notched that number for Championship goals for the campaign, in his first season with the club.
Registering that tally with almost a quarter of the season still remaining is one thing, but Morris has been playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks and has still been delivering the goods.
You wouldn’t say that Morris was at his brilliant best in this encounter, with Town not really needing to do too much attacking, but the thing about strikers is they need to be there in that one special moment.
Morris was and his goal made the difference between the two sides, as so many of his strikes have been this term.
Brilliant Bell keeps getting better
Whether it is at left centre-back as he was positioned on Saturday, or left wing-back as we saw him in his early days, it is impossible to ignore the form of Amari’i Bell right now.
The defender has slotted in next to Tom Lockyer like he has been playing with him for years but in this entirely enjoyable transitioned style of football that Luton play under Rob Edwards, which allows defenders to carry the ball through the lines and form another attacking option, Bell is absolutely revelling in his new role.
Clearly, when you go away to second in the league the emphasis is on keeping the back door shut but countless times Bell stepped in to intercept a pass and would carry the ball forward and get Luton on the front foot.
You can name a number of players who are thriving under the Edwards leadership. Bell is high up on that list.
No Drameh with Cory in the side
Regardless of the eventual Match of the Day shambles on Saturday night, one man who should be appearing on it, but isn’t, is Cody Drameh and that is very much to Luton’s gain.
The Leeds loanee has been improving with every match he has played for the Hatters and might have saved his best for the Yorkshire trip just down the road from where he should be turning out for his parent club.
That he isn’t is Leeds’ problem, not Luton’s and the Hatters made full use of the youngster, who didn’t just excel in his defensive role but was also given the set play responsibilities with both Alfie Doughty and Jordan Clark missing out with injury.
Defensively, Drameh was spot on. Sheffield United sent three different men down his side throughout the 90 minutes and none could get past him. And the corners he did send in were put right into the mixer where, against lesser giants, the Town players could have done some damage from them.
It can’t be long before the attention turns to whether Drameh can be kept at the Kenny for much longer than the remainder of this season.
Excellent Elijah excels again
Not too long ago Elijah Adebayo was getting stick for missing a few chances but nobody can criticise his performance at Bramall Lane.
With Morris playing through the pain barrier, Adebayo took it upon himself to do the physical work and get stuck in with a big Blades back three. He was regularly able to get on the ball and either flick it on for Morris or bring the wide players into the game. From that point of view, it was a perfect number nine performance from the number 11.
His display was topped off with a brilliant piece of skill for the goal. He absolutely embarrassed John Fleck with a nutmeg to get to the by-line and then his cross was perfect for Morris to get in front of the keeper and tap home.
As we head to the business end of the campaign, this level of display from Elijah every week will be very welcome.
Record-breaking Hatters enjoy away delights
It is official! This Luton team are the best road-trippers in the club’s history at second-tier level. No previous Hatters side has won 10 away matches in a second-tier season and that was the number the Hatters achieved when they blunted the Blades at Bramall Lane.
Luton fans have grown accustomed to seeing their team win on their travels a lot over the past couple of seasons – with 17 of 34 victories on the road coming by a single goal – but never before have they seen so many in the same campaign. The win in Sheffield means no Championship side can currently match the points haul on their travels that Luton have achieved. With five more road trips to come, Luton will be hoping to build on their 10 victories so far as they push for a top-two finish.
Injuries, please don’t become an issue again!
The way Luton are playing under Rob Edwards at the minute, the only thing that can derail them is injuries.
Unfortunately, three key ones reared their ugly head in Yorkshire. Alfie Doughty and Jordan Clark were forced to miss the game with injuries they have sustained and worse followed 25 minutes into the contest when Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu was clattered into from behind by Jayden Bogle.
You could instantly tell all was not right with a man who doesn’t stay down without reason and as he limped across the pitch with his shirt over his head everyone feared the worst. Those fears looked to be confirmed both when Pelly made his way across the pitch on crutches at full time with a knee brace on and then when Rob Edwards did his post-match.
The situation with Pelly’s injury looks bleak, which is a real shame because he has been brilliant under the new boss. Town will miss him but in Campbell, Luke Berry and Clark – when he is fit – they still have enough options in the centre of the park, but won’t want injuries to continue to come and ruin a promising campaign for the second season in succession.
Look up! Dare to dream? Oh, go on then!
Rob Edwards has made no secret of the fact that he wants Luton fans to dream of what might be.
Whether in press conferences, post-match comments or meet-the-manager events, the popular Hatters boss is very much a bundle of positive energy, who, unlike some tentative managers who are scared to dream and aim big, in public at least, embraces the situation his side are in and wants everyone to enjoy it.
That made this clash at Bramall Lane a big one. Now, only seven points separate Sheffield United in second and Luton who moved up to fourth with the win. When you consider the Blades go to Burnley over Easter and could have games piling up if they continue to go deeper into the FA Cup, suddenly the door has opened to a top-two spot.
It won’t be easy to chase down Sheffield United. Luton still have some tough games to come but if the league table is to be believed none of them are as tough as the assignment they have just successfully negotiated.
Whatever happens from here on in, strap yourselves in and get ready to enjoy the ride. It could be very memorable!
