Luton Town returned to winning ways courtesy of Elijah Adebayo’s 14th goal of the season at the CBS Arena on Tuesday evening, to continue their incredible midweek league record this season. Here are our takeaways from the 1-0 win which moves the Hatters back into the play-off places.
- Terrific Tom a rock in defence
Remember those days when Luton had two first choice centre-backs? Those days are officially long gone.
You can argue all day long whether Tom Lockyer is one of the best three when everyone is fit but the argument for no lessens dramatically after performances like this. He was immense.
Playing between Dan Potts and Reece Burke, the Wales International read the game brilliantly and headed every ball within his vicinity away. Lockyer is a real character in this squad and is clearly enjoying being a part of this side and his reaction after the final whistle shows just what this win meant to him and the club.
2. Dodgy keeper? He’s anything but!
One of my takeaways from Saturday was not to be too harsh on Alex Palmer after one game. It is fair to say that thought has aged well.
Palmer was outstanding in this match pulling off two fine saves, one in each half, from Victor Gyokeres in the opening period and then Calum O’Hare later in the match. His handling was impeccable throughout and his command of his area pinpoint too.
The icing on the cake was his assist for the winning goal when he floated a delightful ball perfectly into the path of Elijah Adebayo, who duly brought the three points home! If Palmer is still between the sticks on Sunday Town fans have nothing to worry about.
3. Amazing Amari’i sparkles again
It has been clear to see that Amari’i Bell has grown in stature in this Town side in the last few weeks and he was very good again here.
After receiving a booking early on in the game and having to tread with caution thereafter, Bell didn’t put a foot wrong and regularly snuffed out danger by using his upper body strength to muscle in front of a man and shepherd the ball behind. Bell regularly carried the ball into the Coventry half and committed opposition men. Bell is in some form and long may it continue!
4. Clark class shines once again
If you had come from a different planet and been told Jordan Clark hadn’t started a game for more than a month you’d have been very confused on this evidence.
He was superb. Naturally he took a few minutes to grow into the game but when he got up to speed he ran the midfield, regularly picking the ball up either off the Town defence or the second ball off the front men.
In the second half in particular he ghosted past midfielders as if they weren’t there and it is so good to have him back in the side.
5. Captain Pelly thrives on the responsibility
The Town’s longest serving player, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, was given the captain’s armband for the night in the absence of Sonny Bradley and Kal Naismith, and he shone bright with it.
Pelly was his usual relentless, energetic self, regularly breaking up play and trying to drive the Town forward. Some of his passing went astray at times but we need to remember he has missed the last four matches so he was bound to be a little rusty. Having Pelly on the pitch makes the Town a better side and the responsibility of the captaincy adds another level to his game, it seems.
6. Perfect Potts gives Jones a headache
It would be wrong to finish off the player side of these takeaways without a mention for the second longest serving player in the Town squad, Dan Potts.
Slotted in on the left side of a three at the back for the second midweek in succession, Potts put in a very commanding performance and was key to the clean sheet and win.
What struck me most in this match was how Potts looked so comfortable on the ball in this position. We know he is great in the air and was unfortunate to have a goal chalked off in the second period. More displays like this and he might be hard to leave out.
7. Town back in the play-offs ahead of huge showdown!
The win took Luton above Middlesbrough and QPR and up to sitxh place ahead of the Londoners coming to Kenilworth Road on Sunday.
That is now a huge game as it gives the Hatters the chance to put serious distance between themselves and a real top six rival with just 10 matches to play.
We got a taste of a big occasion against West Londoners last week. Sunday is no less important. A win and the Premier League dream becomes a step closer to being reality.
Not sure what game MH was watching but did not see Pelly really play well again – giving the ball away 25 times in a game is not a good performance – would have made Bree the captain – the midfield was not really up to it again – Berry tried his best. If we had started with Jerome and Campbell we would have done a lot better – Bell also gave the ball away 23 times a good team would have thrashed us – the Luton stats were so poor compared to those at Boro on Saturday