Luton manager Nathan Jones hailed a “huge three points” as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall bagged the winner to beat ten-man Bournemouth after a controversial early red card for Jefferson Lerma.
The Leicester loan ace’s 67th minute blast into the bottom corner was the icing on the cake after a recall deadline passed without a Foxes phonecall, confirming four more months of the midfield maestro in a Hatters shirt.
And the 22-year-old’s second of the season ensured a gloriously familiar 1-0 scoreline that has marked seven of Luton’s last eight away day Championship victories.
The stage for that was set by the 26th minute dismissal of Lerma and it might’ve been the claret that streamed from Tom Lockyer’s eye that forced referee David Webb to fish out of his pocket the card to match. Replays, however, showed Luke Berry slightly backing into the Bournemouth man in mid-flight, contributing to to the Columbian landing a spinning backhander on the Wales ace.
Hatters boss Nathan Jones said: “I don’t think it’s stonewall and I don’t think it’s categorically harsh. I think it’s up for interpretation as all reds are, but the elbow’s raised, he’s made contact, he’s cut his (Lockyer) eye.
“Was it reckless? Was it dangerous? To be honest with you, with some of the fouls that happen in football, and some of the fouls that happened today, you’ve only got to breathe on someone, they go over and get a free-kick.
“Comparable to that and what happened with the red card, there’s a massive massive difference. If I was (Bournemouth boss) Jason Tindall, I’d probably be a little bit disappointed with it.
“I was livid with the red card we had away at Swansea, but these things even themselves out. If I’m honest, you’ve still got to win the game, because these are a top side.”
Despite getting bandaged up, the centre back was soon unable to carry on, getting replaced by Kal Naismith, less that 24 hours after he signed for Town on a free.
That saw Dan Potts move from left back to the heart of defence where he would later pop up for a vital intervention.
The man advantage made scant difference in the first half where Town saw little of the ball and managed no shots at all, but after the half time interval they sprung into life, led by a lively Harry Cornick.
Home keeper Asmir Begovic, who proved a stubborn obstacle in the stalemate at Kenilworth Road last month, looked in similarly obdurate mood. In quick succession, he pulled of saves from Glen Rea and Dewsbury-Hall, either side of a first-class, point blank block from Berry.
Such profligacy has a tendency to bite underdogs in the backside but Potts – who looked an assured stand-in presence at centre half – sniffed danger when Dominic Solanki got in behind and he ensured the striker’s shot didn’t reach the goal, despite beating Simon Sluga.
That was the last time the Croatian would be bypassed. In the first half he beat away a Josh King snapshot and, as the clocked ticked to the final whistle, he dived at full stretch to push away a Rodrigo Riquelme shot.
By then, Town had their noses in front and that epitomised them fighting tooth and nail for a second clean sheet in a month against the Cherries and their first win of 2021.
Pleasingly, it’s one that moves the Hatters to within seven points of the play-offs and, crucially, after 24 games, double that distance from the dreaded drop zone.
“It’s a huge, huge three points, let’s not play it down,” Jones told the BBC afterwards.
“Today, under a load of pressure is a massive, massive result for us.”
PLAYER RATINGS:
SIMON SLUGA – 8
Showed good reactions to palm away a snapshot from Josh King and then dived well to paw away Rodrigo Riquelme’s shot to preserve Luton’s lead.
DAN POTTS – 8
He made a timely interception to deny Dominic Solanki from opening the scoring nine minutes into the second half. And, in the two times he’s played as a centre half of late, he’s looked quite comfortable. Could that be the role for him, long-term?
SONNY BRADLEY – 8
Dominant in the air and marshalled Dominic Solanki well for the most part. After a below par performance against QPR in midweek, this was the perfect response.
TOM LOCKYER – 6
Was eventually forced off after a bloody aerial clattering from Jefferson Lerma in the 26th minute. Replaced eight minutes later by new signing Kal Naismith.
JAMES BREE – 7
Grew in confidence in the second half, with one burst down the line past two Cherries hinting at the player that Town can look forward to when he’s fully match fit. Replaced in the 87th minute by Matty Pearson.
GLEN REA – 7
Showed good awareness to make an important intervention after the Cherries got in behind Town for the first time and another timely piece of defensive work to nick the ball away from Dominic Solanki. Denied by Asmir Begovic early the second half.
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL – 9
A cracking finish for his second of the season to add to his usual high standards where he was neat in possession and, when in attacking positions, probed throughout.
PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU – 6
Seemed slightly off the pace, typified by not playing to the whistle and stopping for a foul that was never given, with Bournemouth able to attack in a dangerous area.
LUKE BERRY – 7
A dodgy early header back to Simon Sluga put Josh King in on goal but the striker couldn’t make the most of it and Town survived. He was denied a goal by Asmir Begovic from point blank range, but was more influential in the second half.
HARRY CORNICK – 8
Gave Luton their best path forward in the first half with some intelligent running and he continued his good work in the second period. Though he had a good chance that he blazed high and wide, he did get the assist for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s goal. Replaced by Jordan Clark in the 76th minute.
JAMES COLLINS – 7
Headed wide from a Harry Cornick cross, which was a difficult chance to make anything of, but he battled away with his usual determination. Replaced in the 87th minute by Danny Hylton.
SUBSTITUTES:
KAL NAISMITH –
A promising first display where he got more minutes than he was perhaps expecting after his signing for Town yesterday. Almost had an opportunity but former Hatter Jack Stacey nicked in before he could strike.
JORDAN CLARK – 6
Kept things simple and won some useful free-kicks as the clock ticked down.
DANNY HYLTON – N/A
Not on long enough for a rating. Booked late on for putting the ball into the stands after the whistle had blown and then chucking it back there when it came back. Standard Hylton shithousery, that you just love to see.
MATTY PEARSON – N/A
A welcome return for the defender after two games out. Picked up a caution, but not on long enough for a rating.
UNUSED SUBS: James Shea, George Moncur, Kazenga LuaLua, Sam Nome, Joe Morrell.
A win’a a win and it would be churlish to moan. But sorry it wasn’t much fun to watch (again). One shot on target from open play but a great goal from it.
But yup you called it Glos. And Jones is right, after Tuesday especially, and with 3 more away games before home comforts it was a huge 3 points. The negative momentum we could have had by the time of Huddersfield is now put to bed, even if we lose the next 2 away league games (Chelsea is now back to being a shot to nothing).
It was never a red though. A yellow card for being slightly reckless was more than enough. Don’t ever lose control of you arms in the air (which he possibly did instinctively to try and win a free kick). He got unlucky that he cut Lockyer. Tindall was right, the blood influenced the ref – but I do think it’s fair to consider the impact on a player of a challenge when deciding what to do.
For the rest of the game, you’d have no idea we had a man advantage and I think Tindall should look less at the sending off and more at why with so much possession and so many more shots they weren’t fluent enough to win. Sluga was my man of the match for us (begovic for them too), followed by Berry and Bradley. DH was pretty poor until the second half. But when you score a winner you deserve the praise given.
As a final thought I felt it was a really odd choice to bring Naismith on instead of Pearson. I’m guessing after isolating Pearson has lost some fitness? Naismith couldn’t have trained properly either though, especially not with his teammates. I’ll take it from Jones that a lot better will come from him and hopefully he will be great when he knows his new colleagues by name. But yesterday he was unnecessarily thrown in at the deep end when there was a better option on paper. It was more Peter Thompson’s debut than Jean-Louis Valois’.
Following Tuesday’s shocker I suggested we might upset the odds again on Saturday – and so we did. I also banged on about loan players – but, as NJ might say, thank the Lord for Kiernan D-H. The subject’s done and dusted – and the roller-coaster goes on! Best wishes to Tom Lockyer for a speedy recovery – and welcome Kai Naismith.
Lots of slating of RND from NJ in his post match interviewing without saying his name! Be interesting to see the reception he’ll get when visiting next season with Sheff U if fans are allowed back by then.