Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu turned from fall-guy to hero to fired Luton to a deserved victory at ten-man Sheffield Wednesday after smashing the winner to cancel out the miss of the season, in a performance that showed him at his best and worst.
His first half low point was steam-coming-out-of-your-ears stuff after Elliot Lee had played him clean through and, under no pressure, he passed it wide.
Yet, though it was compounded by a first touch that had been left back in Luton, the midfielder did so many other things well, while he was also involved in the game’s other big moment, taking a clattering from Joost van Aken that saw the Owl dismissed with a straight red card.
Mpanzu’s winner, so soon after that, was chalk and cheese to his first half indiscretion, as he dipped a shoulder to slink past two defenders and drill confidently into the bottom corner.
It was a reward for application and endeavour that saw him embark on lung-bursting runs, time and again, to stretch Sheffield and get beyond the impressive Danny Hylton.
The striker can also look back on a big chance missed to open his Championship account, but his was a performance that should at least begin to persuade any ‘keyboard warriors’ that he’ll be an asset in this division.
There are still areas to improve all-round for Town, who may be slightly disappointed that they didn’t fill their boots at Hillsborough, but they were comfortably the better side, except for the final 20 minutes, when they had a man advantage.
But they created the better chances and, at times, played with real attacking fluency and, even when under the cosh late on, Rhys Norrington-Davies and substitute Ryan Tunnicliffe hit the woodwork.
But with three full league debutants – Tom Lockyer, Joe Morrell and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – in a changed starting line-up, Luton looked a different side from their disappointing display at Millwall on Tuesday.
The signs were the from the start as Hylton saw Aden Flint head an early effort off the line, while Lockyer fizzed a volley just wide before Mpanzu’s gaffe.
But rather than hoping the ground would’ve opened up and swallowed him whole, the midfielder – playing in a more advanced role, with the benefit of Morrell and Dewsbury-Hall behind him – proved a driving force.
As boss Nathan Jones said afterwards, if can improve his composure, Luton will have “some player”. Particularly as Town do not lose when he scored. Of his 18 goals for the club, the Hatters have won 17 times and drawn once.
But the manager has to take some credit for changing personnel and formation, with the five at the back really lending itself to the talents of Sonny Bradley – on his 100th appearance – Lockyer and Pearson.
It was a surprise that the latter kept his place, but he was able to do what he does well, head it, kick it and defend. And a third clean sheet of the campaign was the icing on the cake of this victory, for the Yorkshireman and for Town.
Jones declared himself “absolutely delighted” after the victory, adding: “What we said at half-time, I said one word – ‘Stoke’. First half we were far better than Stoke, we should have gone ahead and we didn’t. With them scoring straight after it was a real killer blow. But today, they didn’t.
“We started better second half, got into the flow, they had little spells in the game but I felt we were well worth the win. I’m disappointed we didn’t go in ahead at half-time, at least two, because we had two glorious chances.
“You really, really need to take them at this level, but 1-0 away from home is possibly the best result and you know when you come to Hillsborough, you will have a difficult time.
“We always say about progression. We came here in my last game in my first spell and we drew 0-0 and we were excellent. So, it is a progression, because we were excellent today and we won the game.”
PLAYER RATINGS:
SIMON SLUGA – 7
Barely called upon in the first half but kept out Joost van Aken’s header in the second half. An assured presence when Wednesday got into his box.
RHYS NORRINGTON-DAVIES – 7
After a few wayward crosses the full back, on loan from Wednesday’s Premier League neighbours, fired in the ball that eventually found its way to Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu for the opener. He also hit the crossbar with another dinked cross-cum-shot late on.
SONNY BRADLEY – 7.5
More signs that the skipper has come on leaps and bounds with the ball at his feet and he was always willing to burst forward, but he coped admirably with some of Sheffield’s more direct, aerial play.
MATTY PEARSON – 7
The formation with Tom Lockyer and Sonny Bradley either side him, allowed him to get back to basics and he did them well.
TOM LOCKYER – 7.5
On his full league debut for the Hatters, the Wales international looked comfortable on the ball and went close with a first half effort on goal.
MARTIN CRANIE – 7
Had a tough start to the game, but he got to grips with Wednesday after that. Good saving header in the second half when Wednesday countered, he was solid and dependable.
JOE MORRELL – 7.5
Looked comfortable on his full Championship debut, stepping in for the injured Glen Rea, who broke his nose at Millwall. He showed promising early signs of a good partnership with Kieran Dewsbury-Hall. Replaced late on by Ryan Tunnicliffe.
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL – 7.5
Another full league debut for Luton and he marked it with a good passing range and a drive to get forward, which contributed to Town’s midfield playing much closer to Danny Hylton than on Tuesday. A very good start.
PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU – 8.5 (star man)
He produced, quite simply, the miss of the season, but then cropped up with a blast to win. He was as good as he was frustrating. His first touch was often poor but, despite this, he was always in the game, consistently probing. His application and perseverance were commendable. He took a clattering from Joost van Aken, which saw the Owl dismissed and then responded with a fine match-winning strike.
ELLIOT LEE – 7
Played well and looked sharp, linking up the play in the first half. He picked up a perfect ball through to Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, only to see the midfielder produce an unbelievable miss. Replaced by Kazenga LuaLua.
DANNY HYLTON – 8
The striker looked like he had something to prove after online criticism about his performances so far this season. He came so close to a first goal in the Championship inside the first minute, but saw his effort headed off the line. He showed that he can still link the play well, as long as there are players around him to do so. A clever performance.
SUBS:
KAZENGA LUALUA – 6
Gave Luton an outlet but could perhaps have made more of some space to counter.
RYAN TUNNICLIFFE – N/A
Came on to add to grit to the final stages and help the Hatters see out victory and nearly netted, but his long range effort hit the base of the post. Not on long enough for a rating.
Unused subs: James Shea, Luke Berry, George Moncur, Sam Nome
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