LOCKYER: I’M VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE
His double sinks Hatters
was an open invitation for Hojlund to round keeper Thomas Kaminski and slot home.
And it got even better for United with a second goal inside seven minutes – the fastest they have been 2-0 up in an away match in the Premier League era.
This time, United’s corner was only cleared as far as Garnacho. His fierce volley was going wide before Hojlund showed a goalscorer’s instinct, as he quickly improvised to deliberately deflect the ball into the net off his chest.
That could have been curtains for Luton. But they refused to give up.
Ex-united trainee Tahith Chong’s shot was deflected up into the air, Carlton Morris raced in and headed past keeper Andre Onana to give the home fans hope. It was game on again after just 14 minutes.
United had to patch up their defence but they had big chances to score a third only for Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes and Garnacho to waste openings.
And, by the end, United were hanging on, and Barkley was so close to making them pay. was be clinical. We could have scored five goals, easily.
“But we are very happy that we recruited the right character with Rasmus, because he can perform under stress and when things go against him, like in the first half of the season.
“He is resilient and determined to score goals, and that is what we saw when we scouted him.
“Of course he needed support, it was not so easy,
PREMIER TABLE
Liverpool Arsenal Man City Aston Villa Tottenham but in general he kept calm and now you see his abilities.”
Ten Hag revealed he took off Brazil midfielder Casemiro and Harry Maguire at half-time to stop them each getting a second yellow card.
He added: “The game was going in that direction – there was a lot of pressure on the referee – they were both at risk of another booking.
“We had replacements in Scott Mctominay and Jonny Evans, so that’s why we took
P W D 25 17 6 25 17 4 24 16 5 25 15 4 25 14 5
L 2 4 3 6 6
F A Pts 59 24 57 58 22 55 57 26 53 52 33 49 52 38 47
Brighton 25 10 8 7 48 40 38 Newcastle 25 11 4 10 53 41 37 West Ham 25 10 6 9 36 44 36 Chelsea 25 10 5 10 42 41 35 Wolves 25 10 5 10 39 40 35 Fulham 25 8 5 12 34 41 29 Bournemouth 24 7 7 10 33 46 28 Brentford 24 7 4 13 35 43 25 Nottm Forest 25 6 6 13 32 44 24 Crystal Palace 24 6 6 12 27 43 24
Everton Burnley Sheff Utd
24 8 25 3 25 3
5 4 4
11 26 32 18 25 55 18 22 65
19 13 13 them off, because we didn’t want that risk.
“Even when Casemiro is not touching opponents, he gets booked. Often on the first offence as well.”
Luton saw Elijah Adebayo pick up an injury in the pre-match warm-up and boss Rob Edwards (left) said: “Losing your No.9 and going 1-0 down after 40 seconds is not ideal. Going 2-0 down makes you fear the worst.
“But credit to the players for the way they came back, but we just could not find the second goal.”
TOM LOCKYER has relived the instant he came round after his cardiac arrest on the pitch, thinking: “I could be dying here.”
Speaking for the first time since his collapse at Bournemouth 65 days ago (above), the Luton Town captain revealed his heart stopped for 2min 40sec and needed an electric shock from a defibrillator to restart it.
Lockyer, 29, thanked paramedics and medical staff for saving his life and said he still hoped to resume his career.
Lockyer had collapsed at Wembley, during the early stages of Luton’s Championship play-off final against Coventry last May, following an atrial fibrillation.
But this time his heart stopped and, speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I’m incredibly lucky to be stood here and in good spirits.
“It’s not something that happens every day and the eyes of the world were on it, but I think everyone deserves to know I’m doing well. It has been a tough couple of months.
“I wish I could tell you exactly what happened because I’ve been looking back since, but it was just a normal day. I felt completely fine. I’ve been searching for answers but it was just another day at the office.
“I was running up towards the halfway line and feeling light-headed, thinking ‘I’ll be all right in a few seconds’ – but eventually I wasn’t.
“I remember waking up and everyone was everywhere. It’s well documented what happened at Wembley last May, but I knew instantly this time was different.
“Last time I woke up from what was almost a dream, but this time I woke up from a nothingness and I could see straight away from the physios, paramedics and club doc that there was more panic.
He said: “After what happened in May, I have a little recording device under my chest. I was out for 2min 40sec and I had to have a defib to shock me back.
“I owe a massive thanks to the paramedics, club docs and everyone who was involved that day.
“That’s because without them I wouldn’t be standing here.”
SEE PAGE 41