Luton Town Relegated as Fulham Score Four on Premier League Final Day

Luton Town’s relegation to the Championship was mathematically confirmed on the final day of the Premier League season as Fulham coasted to a 4-2 victory at Kenilworth Road. 

Adama Traore opened the scoring on 43 minutes with just his second goal of the season. Then Chiedozie Ogbene was fouled in the box and Carlton Morris equalised from the penalty spot in stoppage time, only for Town to sloppily concede a second goal – scored by Raul Jimenez – two minutes later.

Jimenez headed in his second goal and Fulham’s third only four minutes after the restart, before Alfie Doughty’s low free-kick trickled in to reduce the deficit on 55 minutes. But Harry Wilson sealed Fulham’s fourth and final away win of the Premier League season on 69 minutes, condemning Luton to an immediate return to the second tier.

Luton required victory over Fulham, a Burnley win over Nottingham Forest, and an almost impossible 12-goal swing to stay up on the final day. The Hatters had accepted their fate, but were once again given relentless support by those in the stands. 

Fulham dominated the ball in the early stages, however Luton came closest to scoring when Morris controlled Daiki Hashioka’s cross and attempted to chip over the onrushing Bernd Leno, but the German stopper made himself big and pawed the ball away with his right hand. 

Elijah Adebayo was the next Luton player to find himself through on goal when he controlled Jordan Clark’s clever pass, however the Town forward squandered the chance by shooting straight towards Leno who blocked with his legs. 

The Hatters were made to pay for their wastefulness when Fulham intercepted Thomas Kaminski’s loose kick in midfield, with Harry Wilson passing to Traore who volleyed emphatically into the bottom right corner with a thunderous volley from the edge of the box. 

Town responded immediately when Kaminski made amends with a long ball over the top of the Fulham defence to the pacey Ogbene. The winger saw his shot blocked by the floored Antonee Robinson, and as the ball rebounded to the Republic of Ireland international, Calvin Bassey took him down and conceded a penalty.

Hatters captain Morris rolled into the bottom right corner and led Leno the wrong way from the penalty spot, but Luton immediately exhibited the defensive frailty that has blighted their season to concede a second Fulham goal in the third minute of stoppage time. 

Harrison Reed passed in behind the Luton back line to Wilson on the right flank. He raced beyond Town teenager Joe Johnson – who had come on for the injured Teden Mengi – and served the ball on a platter to Jimenez who stroked into the bottom left corner from just inside the box. 

Jimenez doubled his tally four minutes into the second half when he met Reed’s free kick with a glancing header which bounced into the net via the inside of the left post. No Luton player took responsibility for marking the Mexican as he wandered into the box, an all too common occurrence during the second half of Town’s season. 

Doughty made the scoreline three-two when his wide free-kick skidded past Robinson and then Leno to give the home crowd something to cheer. But Fulham possessed too much attacking firepower to be pegged back. 

Wilson went within inches of scoring a tremendous goal when he whipped a free-kick against the crossbar. Then the Welshman scored a goal worthy of his excellent performance. Luton lost the ball in midfield and the consequent counter attack resulted in Traore laying off to Wilson who majestically stroked into the top left corner with the inside of his left foot. 

Having accepted defeat and relegation, Luton manager Rob Edwards withdrew Kaminski and replaced him with reserve goalkeeper James Shea, who was greeted with chants of “Luton’s number one.” Shea has now represented Luton in all four professional divisions, and marked his Premier League debut with a save, tipping over Tom Cairney’s goalbound effort. 

After the full-time whistle, Luton’s players were serenaded one at a time by the home crowd who thanked them for their efforts during the club’s first season in the Premier League. In a campaign that promised plenty but was blighted by injuries and recurring mistakes, the Hatters fought valiantly but consistently fell short. The club will now return to the Championship, but will undoubtedly be stronger for the experience.

Luton All-but Relegated from Premier League as David Moyes Triumphs in Final Home Game as West Ham Manager

Luton Town relinquished an early lead to fall to a 3-1 defeat at West Ham in David Moyes’ last game as Irons boss – a result which effectively condemned the Hatters to Premier League relegation. 

Albert Sambi Lokonga gave Luton a dream start at the London Stadium when he headed in unmarked from Alfie Doughty’s cross, and Town held on to their lead until half time. 

But the Hammers regrouped in the second half and put Luton to the sword, with James Ward-Prowse sweeping into the bottom corner, Tomas Soucek volleying in, and 19-year-old George Earthy scoring his first senior goal.

Elijah Adebayo made a goalscoring return to the Luton lineup in the 1-1 draw at home to Everton, and the striker caused West Ham problems in the early stages with his direct running. 

In the sixth minute, Adebayo saw his shot blocked by Vladimir Coufal and Doughty retrieved the ball on the left flank. The full-back took one touch before expertly curling a cross onto the head of Lokonga, who drifted to the edge of the six-yard box and planted a header past Alphonse Areola and into the bottom left corner. 

The Hammers appeared low on confidence following the 5-0 defeat by Chelsea, but began to control possession shortly after Town took the lead. Jarrod Bowen first struck the outside of the post when he connected with Lucas Paqueta’s left-wing cross, then saw his low effort booted clear by the sliding Teden Mengi. 

Luton’s defence cracked under the pressure nine minutes into the second half when Bowen dribbled down the right wing and fired a low cross into the danger zone. Luton keeper Thomas Kaminski stuck out a foot which diverted the ball back into the danger zone where Ward-Prowse was waiting. The Hammers number seven fired clinically into the bottom left corner, evading the litany of Luton players who threw their bodies at the ball in desperation. 

With heads bowed and shoulders slumped, Luton’s players toiled through the rest of the match, visibly beginning to accept their fate. Kaminski made a fine save to keep the match level when the exciting Mohammed Kudus crossed from the left and Michail Antonio headed back across goal. The Belgian shuffled across his goal before changing direction and acrobatically pawing the ball away with his right hand. Bowen could only drag his follow-up attempt into the side-netting.

West Ham’s second goal arrived on 65 minutes when Town failed to clear their lines from a corner and Ward-Prowse delivered into the box from the right wing. Lokonga headed to the edge of the box where Soucek slammed a powerful left-footed volley into the bottom right corner, giving Kaminski no chance.

Earthy made his Premier League debut in the 2-0 defeat at Fulham back in April, and the midfielder was handed his second appearance in the final 15 minutes against Luton. The teenager celebrated winning the Mark Noble Young Hammer of the Year Award by scoring his maiden goal just seconds after coming on, tapping in at the near post from three yards once Kudus had dribbled to the byline. 

After a slow start, West Ham’s players had given Moyes a fitting London Stadium send-off. The Scotsman won the Europa Conference League with the Hammers in 2022/23 but will be replaced with Julen Lopetegui after a turbulent 2023/24 campaign. 

Meanwhile Luton had nothing left to give after Earthy’s goal. And once the full-time whistle blew, the Hatters staff and players – including ailing captain Tom Lockyer – congregated in front of their 3,000 fans in the away end. 

For approximately 10 minutes, players, staff and fans applauded each other as the Premier League survival dream faded. Town manager Rob Edwards shed a tear as supporters sang his name and unfurled a banner which read “we’re proud of you”. 

Once the players eventually turned and walked towards the tunnel after throwing their shirts into the crowd, they were applauded by the home supporters too. Edwards praised the fans in his post-match press conference. “It’s unique. I don’t think you see it in football very often. We’re in a world where it’s all about results, but I think what our supporters have shown is an unbelievable understanding, intelligence, compassion, and just total support, which in this day and age is pretty unique. 

“There is a connection there between the players, staff and board. It doesn’t happen very often. We’ve grown and improved so much. Where we’ve come from and where we are now. This club’s only going in one direction.”

Luton require a win over Fulham, a Burnley victory over Nottingham Forest, and a 12-goal swing to survive on the final day. Agonisingly, Town have consistently fallen short in a season that promised to be one of the greatest in Hatters history, but everyone associated with the club can be proud of its rise and valiant attempts to stay seated at the top table.

Luton Miss Golden Opportunity to Escape Premier League Relegation Zone in Everton Draw

Luton Town moved ever closer to Premier League relegation on Friday evening by failing to beat an already-safe Everton side in a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road. 

Dominic Calvert-Lewin gave the Toffees the lead from the penalty spot after VAR identified Teden Mengi had wrestled Jarrad Branthwaite to the ground as Dwight McNeil swung in a corner kick. 

The returning Elijah Adebayo scored the equaliser for the Hatters, controlling expertly on his chest before lashing past Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal. Town threw everything at the visitors in pursuit of a winning goal, and were denied with the last kick of the game when Andros Townsend’s goalbound effort was blocked by Branthwaite.

Everton secured Premier League safety last week by winning three games in a row, and the Toffees made a positive start in Bedfordshire when McNeil crossed from the left flank and Mengi stretched to inadvertently poke towards his own goal. Town keeper Thomas Kaminski showed sharp reflexes to swat the ball away, and Mengi redeemed himself by blocking James Garner’s follow-up attempt. 

Sean Dyche’s side were awarded a penalty on 24 minutes when Mengi crudely blocked Branthwaite’s run towards the six-yard box. The corner was initially cleared and play continued until referee Tim Robinson was called to the pitchside monitor by Nottingham-born VAR David Coote. 

With the penalty awarded, Calvert-Lewin struck low and down the middle from the spot. Kaminski – who dived to his right – got a foot to the ball but was unable to keep it out. 

Adebayo was starting a Premier League game for the first time since withdrawing from the warm-up before the 2-1 home defeat to Manchester United on May 18th. And the imposing forward proved just how much the Hatters have missed him by controlling Albert Sambi Lokonga’s chipped pass on his chest, fending off Ashley Young and firing past Pickford with his left foot. 

Inspired by Adebayo’s 10th Premier League goal of an injury-hit season, Luton strived for a swift second goal, and almost scored when Alfie Doughty crossed from the left and Morris headed across goal from the back post, seeing his effort headed off the line by Ben Godfrey. 

Kaminski has been one of the stars of Luton’s season, and he made an excellent save early on in the second half when Jack Harrison’s effort from the edge of the box deflected off Gabriel Osho and spun towards the top corner. The Belgian flung himself to his right and tipped behind for a corner. 

Luton had Kaminski to thank once again on 78 minutes when Harrison crossed from the right, and McNeil rose at the back post to centre for Calvert-Lewin, whose powerful header was pawed over the bar acrobatically by the Luton goalkeeper. 

Rob Edwards’ side had dominated the ball in the second half without placing the Everton defence under significant pressure. As the clock ticked into the final 10 minutes, Ross Barkley – who played 150 Premier League games for Everton – let fly with a volley from 25 yards that Pickford patted down and claimed. 

With Luton still one point inside the relegation zone and Nottingham Forest facing some favourable fixtures, Town knew they had to throw everything at Everton to find a winning goal. Deep into six minutes of stoppage time, substitute Cauley Woodrow crossed from the left to fellow game-changer Luke Berry who flicked a header towards the far corner. Pickford arrived at the ball in plenty of time, but took the extra safe option of stooping to his left and parrying behind for a corner. 

Doughty took the resulting corner as Town committed all eleven players to the Everton box. Mengi won a header and Berry rose to execute an overhead kick. The sublime effort would have brought the house down if it had gone in, however Harrison was standing in the way and blocked the ball behind for another corner. 

The Hatters had one final opportunity to score a dramatic winning goal when Doughty whipped in a free kick from the left in the eighth minute of stoppage time. The delivery was headed to the edge of the box where substitute Townsend thrashed towards the bottom left corner, but Branthwaite stuck out a defiant right leg to divert wide. 

As the impressive Everton defender celebrated his point-saving block, Robinson initially awarded a corner before opting to blow his whistle for full time. Meanwhile, tensions boiled over as Berry responded to an unnecessary nudge and pushed Pickford in the chest, with players from both sides stumbling into the net. 

On the touchline, Edwards stood distressed with his head in his hands. Luton now have just two games to escape Premier League relegation, a task made even more difficult on Saturday afternoon, as Nottingham Forest moved three points clear of the Hatters with a 3-1 win over already-relegated Sheffield United.