HATTS OFF TO MORRIS
Carlton spot on to boost Luton Prem dream
Luton 2 Middlesbrough 1 CARLTON MORRIS slotted home a controversial penalty to hand Luton a comeback victory at the expense of play-off rivals Middlesbrough.
The Hatters – play-off semi-final losers last season – kept hold of third place after striker Morris added to Tom Lockyer’s equaliser.
That overturned Cameron Archer’s opener for Michael Carrick’s visitors, who remain fourth.
The two sides hope to meet again, of course – at Wembley in the Championship play-off final on May 27.
Sheffield United are all but sure to end the Hatters’ slender hopes of automatic promotion and can do so once and for all tomorrow when they play West Brom.
Boro began with Chuba Akpom on the bench after the 29-goal forward was named Championship Player of the Season on Sunday.
Marc Bola blasted over the Luton bar early on but it was Boro keeper Zack Steffen who was required to make the game’s first save, getting behind Elijah Adebayo’s fierce drive.
Matt Crooks clipped a shot over in reply but the tempo was slow from both sides.
Luton centre-back Lockyer took a blow to the head but was given the go-ahead to continue following some lengthy treatment.
The game needed a goal and Ethan Horvath served one up on a plate for Archer. On-loan Aston Villa forward Archer outpaced Sonny Bradley chasing a ball upfield from Crooks and the keeper came rushing out to intervene.
The American was second to the bouncing ball however and Archer, after swerving to evade Bradley’s slide, jogged on to located an empty net.
But Luton were level in the 49th minute when Lockyer headed in via a post from Alfie Doughty’s corner.
Crooks was inches away from firing Boro back ahead with a first-time effort from Ryan Giles’ pass that flashed past Horvath’s right-hand upright.
Boro had kept Morris quiet for an hour but a pass from substitute Jordan Clark had him sprinting towards goal and Steffen rushing out to meet him.
Morris got a toe to the ball first and went down (above) despite there appearing to be no contact. Referee Graham Scott pointed to the spot despite Steffen’s claims of a dive.
Morris took the penalty himself and sent the keeper the wrong way in the 67th minute for his 20th goal of the season.
LUTON: Horvath 5, Lockyer 7, Bradley 6, Bell 7, Drameh 6, Nakamba 7, Mpanzu 7 (Berry 76, 4), Doughty 7 (Johnson 83), Campbell 6 (Clark 56, 6), Morris 7 (Taylor 76, 4), Adebayo 6 (Freeman 84)
BORO: Steffen 7, Dijksteel 7, Howson 6, Lenihan 7, Giles 6, Barlaser 6, Mowatt 6, Jones 7, Crooks 7, Bola 6, Archer 7 (Muniz 78)