Matt Bloomfield saluted Luton’s Jordan Clark and Thelo Aasgaard as they netted in a rare come-from-behind away victory at Cardiff to renew hope of a Championship great escape.
Town last won on the road 178 long days ago. Six stressful, struggling months. It finally changed at the Welsh home of the team Town now need to catch – but first they first suffered.
A scruffy second half Callum Chambers strike made their future look bleak, with an eight-point gap to safety, but then Clark slammed a worldie and the tables turned, while boss Bloomfield’s second half subs paid dividends.
Milli Alli, Zack Nelson and Jacob Brown came on first and then Josh Bowler followed. The Nottingham Forest loanee had only been on the pitch for five minutes when he saw a strike blocked by Dimitrious Goutas only for it to fall into the path of Aasgaard who, could not miss from close range. Town held firm for the final ten, nervy minutes.
“It’s a really pleasing moment for us. I think the character and the personality of the victory is really important, to go a go down and still find a way,” said the Hatters manager.
“It was a big moment for Clicks. What a strike to get us back in the game. Thelo has been threatening to get goals for us. It’s been a while away from home, as you guys [media] keep reminding me. It’s nice to get one.”
Prior to kick-off, the match-winner earned his first Norwegian senior international call-up, so days might not come much sweeter, if you discount a simply turgid first half from both sides, even if the visitors slightly shaded it.
But the basement battle burst into action in the second half and, having barely any touches in Town’s box in the first 45, Chambers found the net from outside the penalty area.
“To go a goal behind for a second phase on the edge of the box was really frustrating and disappointing for us when we felt like we were fine,” Bloomfield told the BBC.
“But then we had to dig deep. And it was a nervous game, of course. That’s the time of the year when there’s a lot riding on these games.
“I’m not sure they’re all going to be free-flowing as everyone would hope to watch, but we came up with some big moments, they went in our favour and it was a big result for us.”
Carlton Morris really should have had his moment, but he tamely fired into the gloves of former Luton loan keeper Ethan Horvath. It was the only time that the skipper and his misfiring striker partner Elijah Adebayo linked up effectively and they both soon got the hook, along with Alfie Doughty.
But first game Luton’s leveller and a goal of the season contender. Clark, Town’s best player on the night, chested the ball into the air and then lashed a volley past a static Horvath.
Bloomfield said: “He’s got magic in his feet, Clicks, and he cares. One of the things I love about him, he cares. He’s living this every day and the situation, he cares about the football club. So, it’s great for him to have that moment tonight. It’s some strike.”
Substitutes were being prepared as Clark stunned the Cardiff City Stadium and buoyed by the goal, they reinvigorated the Hatters and Millenic Alli, in particular, was a bright spark.
“I think the finishers had another big impact for us today. Fresh energy on a big pitch,” said Bloomfield, adding: “Milli came on and had a real attacking intent. Brownie, who has been excellent, his endeavour and the way he plays for the team, is great. Nice for those boys to have an impact.”
They game then swung on two moments, one for each side. Chambers almost scored again for Cardiff when he hit a stunner off the bar from distance, but Town went straight up the other end made it count with Aasgaard.
His strike secured Luton’s second away victory of a dreadful season that may yet have a happy ending if they can now capitalise on a huge lifeline in their bid to beat relegation.
It claws Town to within two points of fourth-from-bottom Cardiff, knowing that a victory at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday could lift them out of the bottom three.
“We’re not getting carried away,” said Bloomfield, adding: “We’re have to enjoy this moment because football is about these moments. It’s about using this as confidence and belief, but we’ve got a tough game on Saturday against Middlesbrough and we want to use this as momentum to go into the international break.”
For now, there is hope – and hope is important.
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