Deadbat
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Another big three points for the Blades who have now win 4 on the bounce after the set back at home to Hull. This performance was more akin to the battling and scrappy wins of Derby and Portsmouth, than the fluent and impressive showing that dismantled Boro in the week. However, the three points were the most important aspect of a game that had the potential to be a banana skin. After being second best in the first half and Luton spurning a number of chances and hitting the bar, United improved after the break. Incomers Peck and Holding helped United have more control of the game and it became more of a contest. Still, it was in the balance despite Brereton Diaz and Morris going close at both ends, until Ahmedhodzic found himself unmarked after a long throw was not cleared to steer home and win the game for the Blades. With Burnley dropping points in the lunchtime game, it was a massive three points for the red and white wizards.
There was perhaps surprisingly several changes with Gus Hamer and Tom Cannon not risked and Sydie Peck, Harrison Burrows and Callum O’Hare being used from the bench. In came Sam McCallum, Hamza Choudhury, Ben Brereton Diaz, Rhian Brewster and Tyrese Campbell. Luton restored Elijah Adebayo to pair with Carlton Morris.
Despite their lowly league position, Luton started on the front foot. The first chance came after only 2 minutes as Ahmedhodzic failed to clear the ball as Cooper came out to claim and it dropped to Aasgaard but his effort was straight at the United keeper.
Brereton Diaz tried to get on the ball but Luton were knocking it long at every opportunity and won two corners. From the second one Adebayo headed just wide. Luton came even closer on 14 minutes when Aasgaard got the ball on the edge of the box and his curling effort hit the underside of the bar. Jones should have done better with the rebound but hit it straight at Cooper.
Luton’s front two were winning everything in the air and Ahmedhodzic cynically chopped Adebayo down leading to the game’s first booking. The game was a physical one but actually any pockets of football were being played by Luton with Doughty and Aasgaard pulling the strings. The Choudhury and Souza combination was not working again – as the Blades were having little possession and even less territory in the Luton half.
The home side continued to dominate and United were at full stretch with them targeting Clarke, as well as the two centre backs, aerially. Rak Sakyi did have a run and beat his man but his low cross was cleared before Brewster tried to get in down the other side but could not find a teammate.
Souza and Clarke were both cautioned leading to free kick opportunities for the home side and Cooper had to be smart to take one effort with another into the wall. Luton created a fantastic chance on 35 minutes when poor defending saw Luton keep the ball in the corner and Morris was allowed to come inside. His cross was on a plate for Adebayo but he skied his effort from right in front of goal. Robinson had completely switched off losing his man and it was a real let off.
Walsh then had two efforts towards goal and it was incredibly 9 efforts to 0. Finally, the Blades did break out as Souza and Ahmedhodzic combined with the ball slipped through to Campbell but his effort was turned away from Kaminski. It quickly moved back to the other end as the dominant Hatters looked to make their advantage pay. Aasgaard had a curling effort from a similar position to where he hit the post but this one went over. The half time whistle came soon after and United were extremely fortunate to go in level at the break as the home fans cheered their team for an impressive showing that should have had them comfortably in the lead. For the Blades, the inconsistent team selection allied to a similar lack of cohesiveness game to game was shown again.
There was expected to be changes at the half after such a poor showing from the Blades and so it proved with Holding and Peck on for Rak Sakyi and Brewster. United went to a back 5 and seemed to want to try and stem the flow of the long balls coming forward. The Blades did settle better but Luton created the first chance as Doughty sent over a cross that Morris flicked on and Cooper pushed the ball away. The ball switched instantly to the other end and United had a great chance. Campbell stood up his man and sent over a delightful cross and led to Brereton Diaz seemed certain to score, even if it was a tight but thudded his effort against the pod from less than a yard! Despite their lacklustre performance, this was a fantastic opportunity to score.
Luton won a free kick after a soft foul on Souza but it went into the wall. The next phase of game up the hour mark was relatively scrappy. United had at least stemmed the traffic of balls coming into the final third and were also winning more of the 50-50 stuff. Holding had given some composure and given an extra body to mop things up and Peck had been his usual lively self.
Despite United now being in the game, it was still a contest lacking quality. One came on for Campell and Burrows replaced McCallum. There was another great opportunity for Brereton Diaz as the ball dropped but he blasted over the bar. The game now moved into the final 20 minutes and Souza was penalised again with the Luton fans asking for second yellow. The free kick from Doughty saw Naismith get up at the back post and head down but Cooper got down smartly to make the save.
O’Hare came on for Brereton Diaz and the Blades won a free kick on the left. As the ball came in One’s header was pushed away by Kaminski. The visitors were at least pushing Luton back and creating some chances this half and the goal came with just over 10 minutes to play. The long throw from Robinson was not properly cleared. Burrows hit an effort from outside the box and it was blocked but O’Hare hooked it back towards goal and as most of Luton came out, McGuiness was playing AHMEDHODZIC onside. The centre back kept his composure and coolly slotted home for his second goal in a week! The Blades celebrated with a pile on, in front of their fans who were packed behind the goal.
Luton had not scored at home for 3 games before this and needed to register to not create an unwanted record, that they had never done before – in failing to score in 4 straight games at Kenilworth Road. United had a chance to seal it when One helped on for O’Hare but the midfielder went too wide and his shot was blocked from McGuiness. Luton won a corner in the 89th minute but Cooper punched clear. There was 5 additional minutes of stoppage time to be played. Alli and Bowler came on for Naismith and Walsh but United saw it out professionally and Burrows smartly won a free kick just before the full-time whistle. With Burnley dropping points, it was a big win, albeit a less than convincing performance again but at this stage of the season, the results are of course all important.
There was perhaps surprisingly several changes with Gus Hamer and Tom Cannon not risked and Sydie Peck, Harrison Burrows and Callum O’Hare being used from the bench. In came Sam McCallum, Hamza Choudhury, Ben Brereton Diaz, Rhian Brewster and Tyrese Campbell. Luton restored Elijah Adebayo to pair with Carlton Morris.
Despite their lowly league position, Luton started on the front foot. The first chance came after only 2 minutes as Ahmedhodzic failed to clear the ball as Cooper came out to claim and it dropped to Aasgaard but his effort was straight at the United keeper.
Brereton Diaz tried to get on the ball but Luton were knocking it long at every opportunity and won two corners. From the second one Adebayo headed just wide. Luton came even closer on 14 minutes when Aasgaard got the ball on the edge of the box and his curling effort hit the underside of the bar. Jones should have done better with the rebound but hit it straight at Cooper.
Luton’s front two were winning everything in the air and Ahmedhodzic cynically chopped Adebayo down leading to the game’s first booking. The game was a physical one but actually any pockets of football were being played by Luton with Doughty and Aasgaard pulling the strings. The Choudhury and Souza combination was not working again – as the Blades were having little possession and even less territory in the Luton half.
The home side continued to dominate and United were at full stretch with them targeting Clarke, as well as the two centre backs, aerially. Rak Sakyi did have a run and beat his man but his low cross was cleared before Brewster tried to get in down the other side but could not find a teammate.
Souza and Clarke were both cautioned leading to free kick opportunities for the home side and Cooper had to be smart to take one effort with another into the wall. Luton created a fantastic chance on 35 minutes when poor defending saw Luton keep the ball in the corner and Morris was allowed to come inside. His cross was on a plate for Adebayo but he skied his effort from right in front of goal. Robinson had completely switched off losing his man and it was a real let off.
Walsh then had two efforts towards goal and it was incredibly 9 efforts to 0. Finally, the Blades did break out as Souza and Ahmedhodzic combined with the ball slipped through to Campbell but his effort was turned away from Kaminski. It quickly moved back to the other end as the dominant Hatters looked to make their advantage pay. Aasgaard had a curling effort from a similar position to where he hit the post but this one went over. The half time whistle came soon after and United were extremely fortunate to go in level at the break as the home fans cheered their team for an impressive showing that should have had them comfortably in the lead. For the Blades, the inconsistent team selection allied to a similar lack of cohesiveness game to game was shown again.
There was expected to be changes at the half after such a poor showing from the Blades and so it proved with Holding and Peck on for Rak Sakyi and Brewster. United went to a back 5 and seemed to want to try and stem the flow of the long balls coming forward. The Blades did settle better but Luton created the first chance as Doughty sent over a cross that Morris flicked on and Cooper pushed the ball away. The ball switched instantly to the other end and United had a great chance. Campbell stood up his man and sent over a delightful cross and led to Brereton Diaz seemed certain to score, even if it was a tight but thudded his effort against the pod from less than a yard! Despite their lacklustre performance, this was a fantastic opportunity to score.
Luton won a free kick after a soft foul on Souza but it went into the wall. The next phase of game up the hour mark was relatively scrappy. United had at least stemmed the traffic of balls coming into the final third and were also winning more of the 50-50 stuff. Holding had given some composure and given an extra body to mop things up and Peck had been his usual lively self.
Despite United now being in the game, it was still a contest lacking quality. One came on for Campell and Burrows replaced McCallum. There was another great opportunity for Brereton Diaz as the ball dropped but he blasted over the bar. The game now moved into the final 20 minutes and Souza was penalised again with the Luton fans asking for second yellow. The free kick from Doughty saw Naismith get up at the back post and head down but Cooper got down smartly to make the save.
O’Hare came on for Brereton Diaz and the Blades won a free kick on the left. As the ball came in One’s header was pushed away by Kaminski. The visitors were at least pushing Luton back and creating some chances this half and the goal came with just over 10 minutes to play. The long throw from Robinson was not properly cleared. Burrows hit an effort from outside the box and it was blocked but O’Hare hooked it back towards goal and as most of Luton came out, McGuiness was playing AHMEDHODZIC onside. The centre back kept his composure and coolly slotted home for his second goal in a week! The Blades celebrated with a pile on, in front of their fans who were packed behind the goal.
Luton had not scored at home for 3 games before this and needed to register to not create an unwanted record, that they had never done before – in failing to score in 4 straight games at Kenilworth Road. United had a chance to seal it when One helped on for O’Hare but the midfielder went too wide and his shot was blocked from McGuiness. Luton won a corner in the 89th minute but Cooper punched clear. There was 5 additional minutes of stoppage time to be played. Alli and Bowler came on for Naismith and Walsh but United saw it out professionally and Burrows smartly won a free kick just before the full-time whistle. With Burnley dropping points, it was a big win, albeit a less than convincing performance again but at this stage of the season, the results are of course all important.