In a game of no goals, but where Luton were the better side against promotion-chasing Bournemouth and should’ve won, it’s only fitting to tell you about Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
You might usually focus on a late chance gone begging for substitute Sam Nombe, which Hatters boss Nathan Jones felt was a penalty, after he as impeded.
You might also applaud a fine save from Asmir Begovic in the first half to deny Danny Hylton his first ever Championship strike.
But in the absence of a goal, Dewsbury-Hall’s star continues to shine brightest.
There is no doubt that stocks of superlatives are starting to run dry for this midfielder on loan from Leicester City but the 22-year-old maestro’s performance was superb.
“Who recruited him?” boss Nathan Jones said afterwards, when I asked him about Dewsbury-Hall’s performance.
There was a moment’s hesitation as I pondered, whether that was a trick question. “You,” came the tentative reply.
“Great recruitment. That’s all I can say,” he joked.
“He’s doing what we thought he’d do. He’s an outstanding young player, one we’re very happy to have, coupled with Pelly-Ruddock (Mpanzu). Pelly-Ruddock was outstanding today.
“You’ve got to remember, their midfield of (David) Brooks, (Phil) Billing, (Lewis) Cook; there’s £20-30million of talent there. There was no difference between ours and theirs. No difference.”
It’s true. It would be remiss not to mention the midfield performances put in by Mpanzu and Luke Berry. They were excellent too, while Rhys Norrington-Davies, pushed further up the field is looking back to his early-season sharpness.
Nor, should Town’s defence be overlooked, as they rarely looked troubled on their way to a third clean sheet in the last four contests.
They won’t have been aware of the tougher Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions imposed on Luton and the south-east of England by the Prime Minister around the hour mark of this match. But they were doing a fine job of imposing their own no-go zone around James Shea’s box.
The Hatters stopper had virtually nothing to do. The same couldn’t be said for his opposite number.
It was Begovic’s big, experienced, outstretched glove that denied Hylton and, late on, the Bosnian denied Nome his maiden strike in the division. Though that was made markedly easier by Steve Cook impeding the striker from converting Berry’s through-ball, moments after coming on for James Collins.
Referee Dean Whitestone, infuriating all game, saw nothing wrong that – but Jones did.
“As he’s going through, he’s (Cook) just grabbed him and thrown him off balance, so it’s a foul,” said the Town manager, adding: “If that goes to VAR, it’s a foul and a sending off and it’s not a penalty, its a foul outside the box, but we had the better of the opportunities.”
But still Town finished the stronger and Jack Simpson was close to turning Dewsbury-Hall’s cross into his own net. It would’ve been the icing on the cake for a near omnipotent afternoon for the Leicester loan man.
You’d be forgiven for thinking he was a seasoned Championship performer. In fact, this was only his 12th ever appearance. A growing number of those have been as Luton’s best player and this was no difference.
PLAYER RATINGS:
JAMES SHEA – 7
A relative spectator, which is no mean feat against this Bournemouth side. He made one comfortable save in the second half from Rodrigo Riquelme, but with Simon Sluga back on the bench, a third clean sheet in four games in statement enough that he wants to remain the first choice.
MARTIN CRANIE – 7
His first appearance since the victory over Norwich. Before that, he’d been one of Town’s most consistent performers and he served up more of the same assuredness.
SONNY BRADLEY – 7
The turnaround from last season continues apace as the captain put in another commanding performance .
TOM LOCKYER – 7
He’s thoroughly establishing himself now in this Luton side, and forming a very effective partnership with Sonny Bradley.
DAN POTTS – 7
Did all the basics to a very high degree, as he has done, on the whole, since he made his delayed start to the campaign at the start of the month. Replaced by Matty Pearson late on after taking a knock. With his injury record he’ll hope it’s only minor.
PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU – 8
Totally on it in both boxes and a particular threat going forward. On any other day, he’d had been the best player on the park.
RHYS NORRINGTON-DAVIES – 7
Usually a left back, he was played further forward and was the quietest of Town’s midfielders int he first half, but that’s more a testament to the outstanding efforts of the other three alongside him. But he looks sharper since his return.
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL – 8.5 (star man)
Whether sniping around in front of his back four and nicking the ball off Bournemouth toes, or and bursting forward and dictating the play, he was outstanding. He’s fabulously strong on the ball and very hard to muscle off, so there’s always a sense that something can happen when in possession and he almost forced a late own goal.
LUKE BERRY – 7.5
Really productive in linking the play and always making himself available, he played the ball that lit up Sam Nombe’s eyes late on. He gets through so much work and, considering Bournemouth’s assistant manager didn’t fancy him for parts of last season when he was charge of Town, he’s most definitely a Championship player.
DANNY HYLTON – 7
Seemed to take the brunt of Nathan Jones’ ire for his work off the ball in the early stages, but he has missed two months of football. Must’ve thought he’d broken his Championship duck with Town’s best chance in the first half, but for Asmir Begovic’s save. Replaced by Harry Cornick on 71 minuets.
JAMES COLLINS – 7
Spent too much time out wide, with Mick Harford yelling at him from the makeshift dugout in the Main Stand: “Collo, get in the box!” Had a chance to slip in Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu on the counter but opted to shoot and saw that blocked. Not his day and he was replaced by Sam Nombe on 89 minutes.
SUBSTITUTES:
HARRY CORNICK – 5
Dropped for Danny Hylton and couldn’t get into the game when introduced.
SAM NOMBE – 6
Saw his best chance of a Championship goal stolen away from him with a foul when clean through.
MATTY PEARSON – N/A
Made way for Martin Cranie in the starting line-up, but not on long enough for a rating.
UNUSED SUBS: Ryan Tunnicliffe, Simon Sluga, George Moncur, Jordan Clark, Brendan Galloway, Joe Morrell
