MORRIS Hatters ace finds HITS SPOT
THIS was the day Luton should have ended a 31-year wait for a first top-flight win and not just celebrated Carlton Morris delivering a first Premier League point.
There was plenty of controversy about the penalty awarded against Joao Gomes as the ball deflected up off his leg before hitting his raised arm.
The draw means Luton have failed to take three points in any of their opening five games – just as they did when they were relegated from the old Division One back in 1992.
They looked nailed on for victory when Wolves were reduced to 10 men on 39 minutes.
Jean-ricner Bellegarde was sent off in only his second game since joining from Strasbourg after kicking out at Tom Lockyer on the floor.
In mitigation the wily Wales centrehalf had locked his legs around Bellegarde to prevent him getting up but there was no excuse for his reaction.
The main reason why Luton were unable to push home their man advantage was a flash of inspiration from Pedro Neto in the 50th minute which was every bit as devastating as Bellegarde’s contribution was daft.
The Portuguese flyer made up a three-yard gap on Lockyer to muscle him off the ball, then cut inside from the right edge of the box and unleashed a left-foot shot past Thomas Kaminski.
It was rough on the hosts who had dominated the first half.
Morris was denied by the post then got in the way of Alfie Doughty’s goalbound shot.
Just when it looked as if Gary O’neil’s side had weathered the storm, Bellegarde got himself sent off to ensure a backs-to-the-wall second half.
That looked to be the theme as the driving force of Marvelous Nakamba in midfield ensured the visitors were penned in.
That was until Doughty’s loose pass allowed Gomes to break out and send a hopeful pass which Neto turned into a golden goal.
Mario Lemina almost added a second soon after with a far-post header which came back off the post.
It would be the last time Wolves threatened as Luton piled on the pressure but lacked the guile to break down the visitors’ five-man backline.
There was an element of fortune to the leveller.
The ball clearly struck Gomes’ arm which was in a very unnatural position, but only after Issa Kabore’s cross had struck his leg first.
That did not bother Morris (right) who coolly sent Jose Sa the wrong way.
Incredibly that saw the decibel levels inside Kenilworth Road raised even higher.
Nakambi fired wastefully wide from 12 yards from a corner soon after but
the heart and desire of the Hatters players was not matched by a level of quality and composure required to open Wolves.
Chiedozie Ogbene thought he had slotted in a 90thminute winner but he was immediately flagged offside after Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu’s shot fell to him.
Despite everything seemingly going their way, it was not to be a historic day.