Carlton Morris was back in the goals as Luton hit three for only the second time this season to beat play-off chasing Bristol City giving the Hatters a real shot at Championship survival, though boss Matt Bloomfield said “there’s more work to be done.”
Thelo Aasgaard and Isaiah Jones scored either side of a long-awaited first goal of 2025 for skipper Carlton Morris in a hugely impressive second half showing that ensured back-to-back Easter victories and the first set of consecutive wins since September.
It was also the first time Town had notched two or more at home under boss Matt Bloomfield where goals have been in short supply and while results elsewhere kept the Hatters in the bottom three on goal difference next week’s relegation six-pointer between Derby and Hull means Luton’s fate is now in their hands.
“The momentum has been growing. I’ve really been proud of the way the players have taken some big punches on the nose at times and really responded, and there’s more work to be done. We’ve done nothing yet,” said Bloomfield.
“Obviously, we want to get above that line and we haven’t done it yet. So and we’ve got to turn up and, prepare right for Saturday against Coventry, another very good team and we’ve got to put on another performance.”
Against Bristol City, Luton shaded a cagey opening half, coming closest to an opener, while restricting the visitors to zero shots on target, but the match exploded into life after the break where almost everything went right for Luton.
“I’m really proud of the players, really pleased with the support, and the way our supporters were right behind the players and roared us on,” said the manager who enjoyed a series of enthusiastically cheered fist pumps in front of the fans.
“Second half, we really wanted to attack. and I think we’ve been quite good going that way. Probably more in our first halves, in home games recently, and second half today, I thought we were we were excellent.
“We created some good opportunities and pressed at the right moments, had a nice variety in our play, which was probably the most pleasing aspect, a bit like the first half at Derby on Friday. So yeah, some real good aspects to our play and we’re really pleased. The result is crucial today, but the manner in which we did it is very pleasing.”
Confidence has been growing and results have started to follow and while a long-awaited glut of goals appears to be the final piece of the puzzle for the lowest scorers in the division this resurgence has all been built on strong foundations. Bloomfield has turned one of the leakiest defences in the Championship into a solid proposition that was only breached by George Tanner’s unstoppable volley, three minutes after Aasgaard had lashed Luton into the lead from 20 yards, just after half time.
But the Robins were only on terms for seven minutes as Town rallied and a penalty box scramble saw Morris hook home a close range volley. It was the striker’s first goal since December 29 and his celebration was extremely muted but the relief on his face said everything.
Bloomfield said: “I’m so pleased for Carlton. We’ve discussed him a number of times. He’s been playing through injuries. He’s a real warrior for us, a real leader and for him to have the goal that puts us ahead, I’m so pleased for him. I’m really, really proud of him.”
Bristol were no pushovers but they got little change out of Luton’s defence, though hearts were in mouths when Teden Mengi tangled with Sinclair Armstrong who was through on goal. The forward tumbled in the box and Kenilworth Road went silent, perhaps expecting erratic referee John Busby to point to the spot and reach for a red card. That he didn’t was a huge slice of fortune, for a Town team that has rarely had any this term.
And there was more of the lucky stuff for Luton just before when the City defence seemed to part like the Red Sea, allowing Jones to race on to a ball, and thwack his shot in off the bar and post. And after the nerve-shredding tension to see out the Good Friday victory at relegation rivals Derby, the Luton fans were able to enjoy a relatively nerveless finale.
That may be a rare feeling in the two colossal final games of the season but, crucially, the Hatters have some momentum when it matters most.
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