Luton 1 Hull 0: Adebayo heads home as Hatters hold on to hit play-off places – Report and reaction

Luton Town saw off Hull City by a familiar 1-0 scoreline to move themselves up to fifth in the Championship table, courtesy of a first-half winner from Elijah Adebayo to round off a perfect week.

Hatters fans will need no reminding of the single goal victories on the way to the League One title in 2005 and the Great Escape at this level 15 months ago.

On those occasions the heroes were Ahmet Brkovic and Kazenga LuaLua and this time it was an equally as exciting Town forward who settled the score, when Adebayo headed home a pinpoint Fred Onyedinma goal on 17 minutes.

Luton boss Nathan Jones demanded a strong start from his side and was delighted with the response. “We wanted to come out of the traps and get a fast start. We did get a fast start, but we didn’t quite get the goal. Then on 17 minutes we got the goal, which was really pleasing.

“Then with the applause on the 19th minute for Jacob (Crawford – a Hatters fan who tragically died last week), it was really important. At least we gave him a fitting tribute, whereas on the weekend it was ironic that they (Derby) scored in the 19th minute.

“It’s a good day. Performance levels, we weren’t at our normal levels, but overall I’m really pleased with the win, because that’s the important thing today.”

“I thought we were the better side in the first half, and a little more composure and we might’ve scored again.

“But they’re fighting for their lives. They’re a tough side to play against. But, to take seven points from three games, I’m absolutely delighted, however they come.”

Luton were in complete control in the first period of the game but saw their rhythm halted by injuries to Luke Berry midway through the opening stanza, and Adebayo at half time.

That meant that the second half was something of a grind but despite seeing a lot more of the ball, the visitors never forced Simon Sluga into a save, with the Hull attack well marshalled by the ever dependable Tom Lockyer and Sonny Bradley and the fantastic Glen Rea in front of them.

The injury to Adebayo could have been a turning point but the Town boss offered an optimistic prognosis, saying: “It’s just a tight hamstring. It’s my own fault. I should’ve made five or six changes on Tuesday to give us a freshness, but I’ve asked the front two to really go and be aggressive.

“They were magnificent against Millwall, they gave me a shift against Derby, though not quite the same impact, and they were brilliant for the first half here.

“So, that’s my fault, I should’ve freshened it, to then come into today, but it’s just a tight hamstring, so god-willing, nothing serious.

“We lost Henri Lansbury this morning through illness, so we had to make a few changes, but I’m just pleased with the win, because that’s the most important thing.”

It was Luton who came closest to a second goal after half time when a majestic Jordan Clark ball sent Harry Cornick away late on but covering defenders just got back to deny a shooting opportunity.

Despite the failure to add to the early goal, Luton head into a week off in a wonderful position having moved up to fifth in the table after a week where they picked up seven points from nine.

Jones was understandably delighted with his charges, adding: “(We’re) fifth and joint 11th. It’s mad isn’t it? That’s how tight the Championship is, but we’ll take it. Our goal difference is good. This time last year our goal difference was poor, so any time we did get level on points with teams we’d be behind them because of the goal difference.

“To be on 21 points at this stage of the season, we believe we should have more but we’re in a real good place to be fifth, with some of the clubs behind us.

“There’s no easy games, so I’m absolutely delighted with the shape and wherever we are. They’ve really had to dig in this week and I think they’ve been excellent.

“We’ve kept another clean sheet in the league and I think that’s seven in 13 played, so that’s a magnificent haul, to be able to do that. That’s four in the last five. Our goalkeeper rarely has to do a hell of a lot, so it just shows we can defend and dig it out.

“We’ve had to dig it out today because we’ve been nowhere near the level in the second half, but there’s a lot to consider. This Championship is relentless.”

Despite the lack of fluency late on, the win was another statement that the Town belong at this level, and we all know good things happen when Luton beat Hull 1-0.