Cauley Woodrow Scores Last Minute Equaliser as Luton End Losing Run at Crystal Palace

Cauley Woodrow netted his first Premier League goal in almost 10 years as Luton left it until the 96th minute to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace. 

Jean-Phillipe Mateta had given the Eagles an 11th-minute lead with a skilful flick after Daniel Muñoz capitalised on Alfie Doughty’s loose pass and rounded Town goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski. 

Odsonne Édouard hit the crossbar late on as Palace missed a host of chances to put the result beyond all doubt, and Woodrow made them pay when he headed in fellow substitute and former Eagles winger Andros Townsend’s cross with seconds remaining.

Rob Edwards’ Hatters, who had lost four consecutive Premier League matches before Saturday’s game at Selhurst Park, made the worst possible start when Doughty passed beyond Gabriel Osho and short of Kaminski. Muñoz stepped in and dribbled past Kaminski, passing to Mateta who cleverly backheeled past Teden Mengi and into the net. 

As the Frenchman celebrated by kicking the corner flag, greeted by the bellowing ‘boom’ from the home fans, Luton’s supporters were reacquainted with that familiar sinking feeling.

Luton had shown promising signs in the opening minutes when Ross Barkley headed over and took a whack to the face for his troubles, but Town were fortunate not to concede more than one goal in the first half. First Issa Kaboré dived to clear Jordan Ayew’s low cross behind for a corner. Then Joel Ward headed over from Jefferson Lerma’s cross.

The Hatters briefly ventured into the Palace half and had an attempt on goal when Jordan Clark volleyed wildly into the Holmesdale Road stand following Doughty’s corner. Regular service resumed when Eberechi Eze’s inswinging free-kick from the left was flicked on by Andersen and headed over by the overworked Mengi. From the resulting corner, Mateta put his free header over from six yards. 

Town were almost architects of their own downfall yet again when Osho dived to intercept Joachim Andersen’s probing pass. With no sign of danger, Clark controlled the loose ball and passed lazily towards Kaminski. Mateta anticipated the pass and tried to round Kaminski, chipping over the Belgian and into the side netting, much to the relief of Clark. 

The half-time interval was made memorable by a penalty shootout competition between two junior Crystal Palace fans and two junior Luton fans, with one Palace fan doing his best Robin Friday impression and flicking the V sign at the Town support after scoring the first spot kick. With the Town fans suddenly engaged, those in the away end cheered on the Luton youths and shamelessly booed the six-year-old Palace fan as he ran up to take a penalty. He missed and Luton prevailed, prompting sarcastic celebrations in the away section.

When the first team action restarted, Luton earned a sight of goal when Chiedozie Ogbene headed Kaboré’s deflected delivery wide. Town then finally put Sam Johnstone to the test when Doughty tried to make amends for his earlier error by crossing for Carlton Morris, whose firm side-foot volley was well held by the home goalkeeper.

Kaminski then kept Luton in the game by making an excellent save from Mateta. The forward met Tryick Mitchell’s left-wing cross with his head but was denied from point blank range by the right leg of the Luton keeper. Substitute Naouirou Ahamada then sliced wide on the follow up. 

It was the first of many second-half chances Palace should have converted to wrap up Oliver Glasner’s second win since taking the reins. Eze almost doubled the lead with a stunning effort from just inside the Luton half, spotting Kaminski off his line before attempting a spectacular lob, grazing the roof of the net and missing the target by a matter of inches. 

As Town committed more bodies forward, Kabore had to race back to block a Mitchell shot after Luke Berry had clattered into Hughes on the halfway line. Substitute Édouard then had Kaminski beaten after tying Townsend in knots on the edge of the box, firing against the crossbar in the fourth minute of six added on. 

In one final roll of the dice, Luton’s injury-hit side surged forwards with Townsend dribbling down the right flank before cutting in on his left foot and delivering an in-swinging cross which Woodrow flicked on with the top of his head. From my vantage point in the away section, the ball disappeared from a split second behind a pillar and re-emerged as it kissed the post on its way into the net, beating the sprawling Johnstone. 

The goal sparked pandemonium amongst the away fans who had seen their injury-ravaged team fight until the end and pick up an unlikely point, reinvigorating the club ahead of two critical matches in the Premier League relegation battle against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.