With the original fixture abandoned after Luton Town’s Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, the Hatters headed to Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium on Wednesday, looking to move level on points with 17th-placed Nottingham Forest by recording a statement win.
BOU: Neto; Ouattara, Zabarnyi, Mepham, Smith; Christie, Cook; Sinisterra, Scott, Semenyo; Solanke
LUT: Kaminski; Hashioka, Mengi, Burke; Doughty, Barkley, Clark, Kaboré; Chong, Ogbene; Morris
It took less than ten minutes for Luton Town to storm into the lead on the South Coast, as an unmarked Tahith Chong was left with acres of space inside the box, allowing him to latch onto a dinked cross from Jordan Clark and open the scoring.
Chong was instrumental in the buildup play as the Hatters doubled their lead on the half-hour mark, playing a one-two with Alfie Doughty, releasing the wing-back who was then able to fizz a low cross into the box – met beautifully by Chiedozie Ogbene at the far post.
Embed from Getty ImagesOn the brink of half-time, the Hatters completed their goalscoring rout, as Ross Barkley smashed a fierce effort into the roof of the net to seemingly put the game out of reach for the Cherries.
But Wednesday’s hosts emerged from the break looking like a totally different side, and it was Dominic Solanke’s goal in the 50th minute that initiated one of the best comebacks in Premier League history.
Illia Zabarnyi was able to pick out the back of the net shortly after the hour mark to reduce the deficit to just the solitary goal, before a fine brace from Antoine Semenyo saw the Cherries move level before clinching all three points in the 83rd minute.
Embed from Getty ImagesLuton Town squandered a great chance to move out of the relegation zone, and Rob Edwards’ side now remain three points behind Nottingham Forest, who they will welcome to Kenilworth Road this weekend. As for Bournemouth, they stay 13th.
