An horrific defensive display against Reading saw basement boys Luton dismantle the feelgood factor since the restart and signal that their lowly league position really is justified.
Since returning they’ve collected five points from three promotion-chasing sides, conceding only twice, but against a Royals side with virtually nothing to play for, the worst defence in the division reverted to type and spontaneously combusted.
Yakou Miete barely had to break sweat to score an 18-minute hat-trick. The forward could’ve had four in the first half, but Dan Potts hacked his first effort off the line. He’d eventually reach that target, but at that early stage Town were at least giving as good as they got.
James Collins should’ve put them ahead when Harry Cornick whipped in a dangerous cross, but Town’s top scorer cracked a close-range header off the crossbar. It was the first sign that, not only was nothing going to go right, but they were about to descend into territory neon lit with the word wrong.
Matty Pearson should have had a penalty when, with his eyes on Elliot Lee’s cross, Ovie Ejaria pulled him to the deck. Referee James Linington was having none of it and the centre half-turned-right-back lost his head.
To be fair, he could do nothing about Reading’s first, but it was still all too easy. George Puscas’ misjudged touch caught Town napping and sent Miete clean through to drill low beyond Simon Sluga.
The keeper – so outstanding since February – then failed to cover himself in glory as he, returned to the bad old days, fumbling a ball at the feet of Puscas. The forward blasted across the six-yard box to Pearson who, without any Royal breathing down his neck, shockingly shanked a clearance straight to the unmarked Miete who blasted back with interest.
And the striker made it game over in the 35th minute when Ejaria sliced a ball between Lee and Potts to find him and he had an age to pick his spot.
It came to something (pretty bad), when Town staggered off, dazed, at half time having had 62 per cent possession and nothing to show for it, while Reading registered only two clear-cut chances, yet notched an unasailable three-goal lead.
That became four just short of the hour mark, when Potts and James Collins were both out-jumped as Reading pumped it in the mixer with Puscas supplying the headed finish.
The forward then claimed another assist, though you could equally hand that dubious honour to Town skipper Sonny Bradley who, as the last man, was eased off the ball by Miete. The striker then had the simple task of nutmegging Sluga, who rushed off his line more in hope that expectation.
Even when Potts had a chance for a late consolation, with time and space to pick his spot, Reading keeper Rafael Cabral saved with his boot. Frankly, a Luton goal would’ve been harsh on Reading and the Hatters now must reflect on the full misery of such an inept display.
The mathematics will suggest otherwise, but after slipping five points from safety, it’s looking increasingly like a miracle will be needed to keep Luton in the Championship.
