Luton Town vs Bournemouth. Premier League.
Kenilworth RoadAttendance11,797.
Report and free match highlights as Luton boosted their Premier League survival hopes; Marcus Tavernier's strike looked to be sending Luton towards a third straight league defeat; but goals from Jordan Clark and Carlton Morris sealed what could prove to be a crucial win
Saturday 6 April 2024 20:30, UK
Luton breathed new life into their bid to stay in the Premier League as Carlton Morris’ dramatic late goal saw them come from a goal down to complete a 2-1 comeback victory against in-form Bournemouth.
Marcus Tavernier's low strike gave Bournemouth the lead in the 52nd minute and looked to be consigning Luton to a third straight defeat in the league, but Rob Edwards' side showed their fighting spirit.
With time starting to run out and desperation creeping in for Luton, Jordan Clark came to their rescue as he thumped home an equaliser in the 73rd minute.
The momentum was with Edwards' side and they completed a stunning comeback victory when Morris poked home Cauley Woodrow's cross in the 90th minute to spark wild celebrations at Kenilworth Road.
The win sees Luton move level on points with Nottingham Forest, who travel to Spurs on Sunday evening, live on Sky Sports. Edwards' side stay in the bottom three but have renewed hope following a first league win since January 30.
Speaking after the game, Edwards admitted he felt drained after a "big" moment for his side.
"I'm quite drained," said Edwards. "It's been a tough period and it's going to continue to be that way.
"It feels great. It's hard to win a Premier League game, especially for us. We've got to find more in the remaining games.
"We put pressure on the lads after [losing against] Tottenham and Arsenal, but I thought we deserved it. We showed character and quality after going 1-0 down."
He added: "It's big. It's hard at the moment with the number of key players missing. But that's why I love those lads in there. They've given us everything, they've tried so hard.
"Jordan Clark, who's got his first Premier League goal today, is like so many of our lads who have fought really hard over their footballing journey so far to get here. They don't want to give this up.
"Just because we've won the game today, we're not out of it, clearly. There's a long, long way to go, but we're still in the fight."
Luton boss Edwards warned in his pre-match programme notes that his side were going to go for it against Bournemouth and that there would be some "nerve-racking moments and difficult moments" for his side in the game.
He was right. Luton were wide open at times during the first half, but Bournemouth couldn't capitalise.
Marcus Tavernier's free-kick struck the crossbar before both Tavernier and Justin Kluivert fired wide at the end of quick Bournemouth counter-attacks as the visitors pushed for an opener.
Luton's best chance of the half fell to Tahith Chong, who turned and fired over the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the Bournemouth penalty area.
The first half lacked quality in the final third from both sides and they both got the message at the break.
Luton came out with a renewed tempo. Three times in the first five minutes of the second period Neto was called upon to save, most impressively when Morris was denied with a fine fingertip reach.
It proved to be a crucial moment as Bournemouth went up the other end and took the lead. Kluivert teed up Tavernier, who arrowed the ball past Thomas Kaminski's reach and into the bottom corner.
However, Luton showed plenty of fighting spirit. Morris' low strike left Neto rooted to the spot but the ball thumped against the foot of the post, with Clark's ferocious follow-up blocked, before Alfie Doughty's weak effort was comfortably saved.
They did eventually grab a deserved equaliser with 17 minutes to go as Clark started and finished the move himself. After initially being dispossessed, the ball broke kindly for Clark who had gambled and continued his run into the box and his reward was Luton's leveller as he powered a low shot into the bottom corner.
The momentum was with the hosts and there looked to be only one winner. With time ticking towards the end of 90 minutes, Morris got himself on the end of Woodrow's cross to steal a stunning Luton victory.
Luton boss Rob Edwards:
"We spoke before the game about how important it was. You can guarantee effort, try to be organised and carry out a gameplan, but you can't guarantee a win.
"The character we showed, we found the result when it as really important to do so.
"I thought the second-half performance was really good. There was a belief there. The subs made an impact. I'm really pleased.
"I feel we've had one and a half really difficult games against Bournemouth - the Tom [Lockyer] situation first time and then we were 3-0 up and lost 4-3. It's a nice feeling to turn that round and grind that win."
On his plans tonight: "I'll probably start losing sleep about Man City and trying to think about how to stop them."
Sky Sports' Oliver Yew:
"It's been a tough period," Rob Edwards admitted after Luton's brilliant' comeback win. You could sense the relief for Edwards and his team after they secured their first Premier League win since January.
For any team, as is being proved up and down the country with injuries hurting a lot of clubs at the moment, being without at least 10 key players would be tough. For Luton, it's tougher as they look to beat all the odds and stay in the Premier League.
But that's where their character comes in. After difficult defeats at Spurs and Arsenal, and going a goal down to Bournemouth, heads could have dropped. However, backed by the tremendous Kenilworth Road home fans, Luton, who are still in the bottom three but level on points with Nottingham Forest, never gave up hope.
Ahead of the game, Edwards spoke about belief and how you usually need results, and specifically wins, to build it. He sensed that Luton still had belief despite not having a league win in 11 games and he was right.
Now they have that win and, with seven games remaining, they have given themselves a fighting chance to complete a remarkable season by staying in the top flight.
Luton picked up their first win in 11 Premier League matches (drawn three, lost seven) also going unbeaten in back-to-back home Premier League games for the first time.
Luton's victory is the first time that they have won a Premier League match after conceding first.
Bournemouth remain without a league double over Luton since 2007/08. This late defeat also ended their five match unbeaten run in the Premier League.
Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola:
"It's a hard one [to take]. It's happened in the opposite way for us where we've won games in the last minute. We should have been more ruthless in the first half.
"The wind was key. It was in our favour in the first half. We had chances. The second half we couldn't play like that because of the wind. They pushed and in the end, they won the game.
"It [wind] affected the game. It was very good for us in the first half and very bad in the second half. We were feeling comfortable but not realising [the difference of the] second half against the wind.
"The subs didn't give us the spark they have in other games. We weren't finding the spaces with the long balls like in the first half."
On Marcus Tavernier going off: "Yeah I think it's a hamstring injury and he'll be out for some time."
Luton play again on Saturday as they take on Manchester City in the Premier League; kick-off 3pm.
Bournemouth also play on Saturday Night Football as they host Manchester United live on Sky Sports; kick-off 5.30pm.
