Luke Berry scores a last-minute equalizer to secure a point for Rob Edwards’ side as both teams battle for Premier League survival
There’s a reason why Luton Town is becoming many people’s second team in the Premier League, Will Pickworth reports for Mail Online.
Whether it be the general rags-to-riches story, the quaint old stadium, how they dealt with and united after captain Tom Lockyer’s cardiac arrest on the pitch, or Rob Edwards’ inspirational leadership, the Hatters are a team that never gives up.
Yet, when a lengthy list of absentees extended to 11 in a crunch relegation clash with Nottingham Forest, they would have been forgiven for lying down for once.
But that’s not what this team does, and when Luke Berry fired home in the 89th minute to cancel out Chris Wood’s opener, Kenilworth Road erupted to their heroes in what felt like a seismic moment to prevent the Hatters from being cut adrift in the relegation battle.
‘The way the game was going, I’m pleased,’ Edwards reflected. ‘It’s been a challenging week.
‘This group showed that’s how you react. No matter what’s thrown at us, we will always keep going and fighting, and I love them for that.’
The magnitude of the clash was only added to by the pending outcome of Forest’s charges for breaching Profit and Sustainability rules on Monday. Still, neither side showed any evidence of nerves as the contest began at breathtaking intensity.
Forest’s attackers were causing plenty of problems to Luton’s makeshift defense, and Divock Origi saw an effort by Reece Burke that was improbably cleared off the line.
It was a sign of things to come, though, and when Wood aptly finished Morgan Gibbs-White’s pinpoint cross, it was first blood to Forest as the New Zealander netted his seventh goal in 10 games under Nuno.
Luton roared back and thought they had equalized, but Mengi’s bright finish was disallowed for handball.
The ding-dong nature of the affair continued, although Forest had the better of the chances as Gibbs-White went close before Mengi somehow cleared Anthony Elanga’s effort off the line.
Rob Edwards admitted he was left ‘numb’ by the midweek collapse to Bournemouth, but Luton roared back and thought they had equalized before Mengi’s effort was disallowed
It was Berry who provided Luton Town with an equaliser in the 89th minute of the game
Berry has become the first player to score a goal for Luton in the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two
Luton huffed and puffed, yet their threadbare squad looked set to leave them short. But when Burke headed down an 89th-minute corner, Berry was there to turn home to ensure the midfielder maintained his incredible scoring record for the club in every division and kept the Hatters alive in the relegation battle.
‘We dominated and controlled the game,’ Nuno lamented after the match. ‘We created many chances, and the problem is up for.
‘It should’ve been over much earlier. There were too many chances without finishing. I’m slightly frustrated.’
Edwards added: ‘Wherwould’veld’ve been if we lost the game would’ve been a blow. With the manner of our performance, the lads have shown a lot of character, and we can go into the break on a little ‘high.’
