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.