Two own goals turned defeat into victory for Luton at Sheffield United in a pulsating Boxing Day clash at Bramall Lane.
Although outplayed for most of the first half, Chris Wilder will be bitterly disappointed at the defeat against their relegation rivals given all of Luton’s goals came in fortuitous circumstances.
Firstly, Alfie Doughty’s weak shot at the near post somehow squirmed between the legs of Wes Foderingham and into the net.
Reverting to a back three, the Blades were far better in the second half and value for their lead when first a driving run from James McAtee set up Oliver McBurnie to turn home and then Anel Ahmedhodzic netted after a goalmouth scramble.
Substitute Carlton Morris soon came on and set up both the Hatters’ goals. His inswinging cross from the right flank was flicked into his own net by Jack Robinson and then his pull back inside the penalty area hit the retreating Anis Ben Slimane and flew unstoppably inside Foderingham’s top left corner.
The result sees the Hatters move within a point of fourth-bottom Everton, while the Blades remain at the bottom, seven points adrift of safety.
Talking Point – Luton get their share of luck – and then some
The Hatters were within their rights to bemoan their fortunes when Arsenal stole all three points in the pulsating encounter at Kenilworth Road earlier this month. Any claims top be hard done by will now fall on deaf ears. Even though they were by far the better in the first half, the statistics ended with the Blades having the xG advantage of 2.99 vs 0.62. Added to this, Foderingham could have almosty sat on Doughty’s shot in the first half and then, while the first own goal was reward for Morris’ superb cross, the second was as freaky as you would ever see. Quality-wise barring the first 20 minutes where the Blades were poor, this did not look like a battle of relegation sides. It was only a month or so ago when could was pondered whether the three sides up could be the poorest promoted sides in recent memory, but now all three have shown themselves well capable of competing. Indeed both sides here have enough quality going forward to threaten all teams they face in the division and barring the top sides should not feel inferior whoever they come up against.
Player of the Match
Albert Lokonga (Luton Town) – There was no real standout in a game which saw plenty of good performances from each side. Morris was the gamechanger when he came into the fray, but Lokonga probably just shaded things controlling the first half with central midfield partner Ross Barkley and doggedly limiting the Blades when they took command. He also produced an incredible goal-line clearance denying two players a goal, before Ahmedhodzic netted the hosts’ second.
Player Ratings
Sheffield United: Foderingham 5; Baldock 6, Robinson 7, Ahmedhodzic 8, Trusty 7; Vini Souza 6, Brooks 6, Hamer 7; McAtee 7, Archer 6; McBurnie 7.
Subs: Lowe 6, Slimane 6, Norwood 6, Osula 6, Brewster 6.
Luton: Kaminski 7; Mengi 7, Osho 7, Bell 7; Giles 6, Lokonga 8*, Barkley 7, Doughty 7; Townsend 7, Brown 6; Adebayo 7.
Subs: Morris 7, Ogbene 6, Andersen 6, Mpanzu 6.
Match Highlights
17′ GOAL FOR LUTON! Awful error from Foderingham. Doughty beats his man on the right and then shoots fairly tamely straight at the Blades stopper but he let it slip through his legs.
39′ BARKLEY NOT FAR AWAY WITH HEADER He meets the corner at the front post and it flies just over the bar.
45′ BROOKS SO CLOSE TO AN EQUALISER Robinson’s long throw caused havoc and was only cleared to Brooks on the edge of the box and it deflects just wide off Adebayo.
45+1′ OFF THE BAR! Trusty meets the corner at the front post with a powerful header which bounces off the angle of bar and post.
61′ GOAL FOR SHEFFIELD UNITED! McAtee bursts through the middle and then is brought down by a couple of Luton players, fairly, but is bright enough to flick the ball a sitting position to McBurnie in the box and he guides the ball past Kaminski.
69′ GOAL FOR SHEFFIELD UNITED! An almighty goalmouth scramble after McBurnie squared the ball into the six-yard box ended with the centre back slotting the ball into the net. Lokonga did incredibly with a sliding challenge on the block which stopped McAtee and Archer from scoring on the line, only for the ball to fall for the defender to net.
77‘ GOAL FOR LUTON! Morris with a fantastic job retrieving a corner from Doughty at the back post and he puts in a difficult curling cross to deal with and the ball deflects off Robinson and drifts inside the far post.
81′ GOAL FOR LUTON! How unlucky for the Blades. Morris turns very well on the by-line and pulls the ball across the area but it smacks into Slimane who was tracking Townsend and flies into the top far corner.
Key Stat
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