ADE LOCKED AND LOADED
RAMPANT Luton were inspired first by skipper Tom Lockyer pre-match – and then hat-trick hero Elijah Adebayo.
It was Lockyer’s first match back watching since suffering a cardiac arrest at Bournemouth last month – and what an evening he enjoyed after taking the fans’ ovation.
Adebayo ran a hapless Brighton defence ragged – scoring his first after just 18 seconds.
Chiedozie Ogbene added a second for the Hatters within three minutes.
Almost hard to believe these were Luton’s first two goals in the opening 15 minutes of any match during this league campaign. And it felt like a season-defining statement.
Adebayo added
Luton’s third before the break – then completed his treble 11 minutes after the restart.
Just a third win at home this term gives Rob Edwards’ men real hope of avoiding the drop as they moved out of the bottom three – and it puts huge pressure on others in and around the relegation zone.
And what an astonishing turnaround from the opening day, when the Hatters were thrashed 4-1 by the same opponents at the Amex.
New Luton signing, Japan’s Daiki Hashioka, was paraded at half-time – and it is hard to imagine what was going through the defender’s head.
Had he really signed up for a relegation scrap? But it was a disastrous evening for Brighton, unrecognisable from the team that has progressed to the Europa League’s last 16 – and that is also now a third league match in a row without a goal.
With fans still taking their seats Ogbene crossed from the right, and Carlton Morris’ header was on target – but Adebayo sneaked in to glance the ball home.
Two minutes later and Luton were in dreamland. Albert Sambi Lokonga sent Ogbene clear, and Jason Steele raced out but fluffed his kick – and the winger walked the ball into the empty net.
Brighton looked shellshocked – and it got worse with the hosts three up before the break. Adebayo played a one-two with Ross Barkley, before beating Steele at his near post.
Adebayo then struck again on 56 minutes after Alfie Doughty’s corner flicked off a Seagulls defender. LUTON: Kaminski 6, Burke 7, Osho 7, Bell 7, Ogbene 8, Lokonga 7 (Mpanzu 68, 6), Barkley 7 (Berry 83), Doughty 7, Clark 7 (Townsend 68, 6), Adebayo 9 (Chong 71), Morris 7 (Woodrow 83)
BRIGHTON: Steele 4, Van Hecke 5, Dunk 5, Julio 4, Milner 5 (Hinshelwood 20, 6), Gross 6, Gilmour 5 (Baleba 61, 6), Estupinan 5 (Lamptey 46, 6), Buonanotte 6 (Ferguson
46, 6), Joao Pedro 5
(Moder 71), Welbeck 5