Report | Luton Town 2-2 Millwall

1 Mar 2023
Luton Town vs Millwall

The Hatters fought back from two down to earn a deserved and valuable point in the Championship play-off battle with Millwall at a packed Kenilworth Road.

Elijah Adebayo and substitute Luke Berry, with a stunning 87th-minute equaliser, pulled the Town back from conceding early goals in each half from Zian Flemming and Tom Bradshaw in a pulsating match between the fifth and sixth placed teams in the table.

Manager Rob Edwards made one change from Saturday's 1-0 away win against Birmingham City with Reece Burke, who suffered an injury at the weekend, replaced by Tom Lockyer as the Welshman returned from his one-match suspension as skipper.

Morris was also forced off but was good to start alongside Adebayo, just three days after scoring his 13th goal of the season at St Andrew's.

Club captain Sonny Bradley was back amongst the substitutes for the first time since November as Luton Town go in search of a second successive league victory.

The Hatters couldn't have got off to a worse start, as Millwall took the lead with their first attack in the fourth minute, Tom Bradshaw flicking on a long ball forward and Flemming letting fly with a first timer that slipped through Ethan Horvath's grasp and agonisingly crossed the line.

Adebayo headed over from a Doughty corner as Town responded, then referee Geoff Eltringham waved away appeals for a penalty for handball against Flemming, instead awarding Millwall a free-kick for a foul by Osho that caused the Dutchman to fall and handle as he went down.

The Hatters were making all the running, and after Millwall midfielder Ryan Leonard had become the first into the book for a foul from behind on Morris, Clark quickly had two efforts.

The first one the midfielder hit over the bar from the edge of the box after Mpanzu and Adebayo had combined well to set him up, then he saw George Long save a cross-shot at his near post as the midway point of the half approached.

Town were playing some lovely football, Clark and Adebayo instrumental in trying to prise an opening while Mpanzu twice sent in crosses that were an inch too high to put a real chance on a plate for Doughty and then Morris.

Millwall survived another penalty shout on 36 minutes when Clark got to a bouncing ball ahead of Leonard, only to be felled by the Lions midfielder kicking his boot.

Two minutes later Drameh zipping an inviting ball across the Millwall six-yard box, with Mpanzu just missing a connection as he slid in at the near post with Long.

Town were dominating with wave after wave of attacks, but couldn't find the final touch to bring the scores level before the break.

They came close within four minutes of the restart as Doughty's inswinging corner came back off the crossbar with Long grasping at thin air.

Town had come flying out of the traps, but by the 52nd minute the Lions doubled their advantage as Andreas Voglsammer's scuffed shot was helped on by Bradshaw to McNamara, who slid the ball across the six-yard box for Bradshaw to tap in as the Hatters' defence appealed for offside against the right-back.

Town were deservedly back in it in the 58th minute when Bell's cross from the left angle of the box found Cody Drameh, whose first time effort was somehow tipped onto the bar by Long, only for Adebayo to be in the right place at the right time to flick the loose ball home with the outside of his right boot.

Millwall's attacks were few and far between, and after Flemming had hit a 40-yard free-kick high over the bar, Edwards made his sceond sub, bringing Cauley Woodrow on for Mpanzu after introducing ex-Lion Fred Onyedinma for Drameh moments earlier.

Millwall had the ball in the net with 15 minutes to go, but Jake Cooper's finish was ruled out with Flemming - who had been denied by a brilliant Horvath save - flagged offside from the initial free-kick delivery.

Woodrow skimmed a 30-yard shot straight at Long on 78 minutes, then Millwall sub Oliver Burke headed wide five minutes later as the visitors tried to ease the pressure.

They broke in the 87th minute when, after a spell of Town possession, Clark found Berry in the D on the edge of the box and the midfielder span and hit a left footed shot that was perfectly placed into the bottom corner to send the Kenny into raptures.

Goals:

LT - Adebayo 58', Berry 87'

M - Flemming 4', Bradshaw 52

Att: 10,060 (1,032 away)

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