You will quickly forget 94 dreary minutes of survival scrapping, but you will always remember a truly world-class stoppage-time save from Luton keeper Simon Sluga.
The Croatian club record signing earned Luton what could be a vital point in their Championship relegation fight as, one lightning quick act of defiance, saw Town’s international goalie rubber-stamp his recent revival from calamity to cult hero.
So scarce was the quality on show from the outfield players, it’s not worth mentioning, beyond a first half Luton penalty claim waved away. Matty Pearson was chief inquisitor of the frustratingly fussy and inconsistent referee Gavin Ward, who did his best to stifle the emergence of excitement.
It would be fitting to wax lyrical about Sluga’s game-saving moment, even if both sides had put on a performance plucked from paradise. They didn’t, though Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Martin Cranie kicked, fought, headed and blocked for all their worth, to help lift Luton off the foot of the table.
Yet, as the classic 1997 hit, Bittersweet Symphony – from Wigan Britrock royalty, The Verve – rang around the DW Stadium after the game’s conclusion, it was apt tune to describe how the result simultaneously improved Town’s Championship placing, but put them one point further adrift, to six.
But, back to the task in hand because, on the one occasion Wigan broke free of the obdurate attentions of Luton’s back four, Sluga saved the day. Literally.
As Glen Rea blocked and the ball dropped invitingly for substitute Michael Jacobs in the second minute of four added on, the odds were stacked in favour of a heartbreaking Wigan win.
The Latic had what seemed an age to pick his spot from eight yards, but Sluga had read his mind. Still, with speed and agility he threw himself to the turf, whipped out a paw and pushed it, sensationally, to safety. It was every bit as thrilling as any top corner screamer.
Time and nostalgia dictate that Gordon Banks’ legendary stop to deny Pele in the 1970 World Cup has had half a century of hero worship behind it, but Sluga’s stop was cut from the same ‘how-did-he-do-that?’ cloth, make no mistake.
His own celebrations at the final – and the confirmation of a second clean sheet out of the last three away games – suggested the relief of a man that has put behind him the tribulations of a tough first five months in English football, with the same commanding dexterity he turned Jacobs’ shot behind his goal.
Sluga was the last to leave the pitch as he deservedly soaked up the applause and appreciation of the 1,312 travelling Town fans.
And the young supporter, who he jumped the hoardings to hand his shirt to, may just have a major memento of Hatters history on his hands. Time will tell, but it felt like a massive moment, both for Sluga and for Luton.
Sluga displayed the same agility as Banks for that save so why not compare the two. What is it about the Banks Save that is so vastly superior.
Here is Bank’s save for those that want to compare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngE9RCAdWaE
Other than getting from one side of the goal to the other corner and then getting to a ball that bounced well in front of him and pushing it over the bar from a horizontal position – in a world cup game you mean?
Behave James! Same cloth as Banksie!
It was superb for sure but not in the Brazil game mould.
Won us the point certainly. Very encouraging he seems to have turned a corner. Long may it last