Pelly’s stun in a million

PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU struck a second-half stunner to send Wycombe heading into the international break pointless.

Back in 2018, the Luton midfielder (above) hit an EFL goal of the season contender against Crewe in League Two.

And he conjured up an early nomination for this year’s awards with a 25-yard beauty to open the scoring on 59 minutes.

The visitors thought they had their first-ever Championship goal when sub Scott Kashket smashed the ball into the net three-minutes from time.

But the linesman’s flag was already up to boss Gareth Ainsworth’s dismay, with his side’s fate sealed by sub Elliot Lee’s strike two minutes later.

Ainsworth later revealed the officials told him Fred Onyedinma was ruled millimetres offside.

Luton boss Nathan Jones said: “It should have been more but it could have been different as well. It would have been a travesty if they had got the goal back.

“Pelly often scores bangers, he often hits the car park too. We try to keep him level-headed and he showed great control for the goal.”

Ainsworth added: “The referee has adjudged it to be offside and as the smallest club in the Championship we seem to be getting the rough end of the calls but I am sure that will change.

“I’m gutted for the players. They gave me everything but it is a big step up.”

LUTON: Sluga 6; Cranie 7, Bradley 6, Pearson 6, NorringtonDavies 6; Berry 6, Rea 6, Mpanzu 7; Cornick 7 (Lee 80), Collins 8 (Hylton 88), Clark 6 (LuaLua 73).

Unused subs: Shea, Tunnicliffe, Moncur, Kioso.

WYCOMBE: Allsop 7; Grimmer 6, Stewart 6, Charles 6, Jacobson 6; Thompson 6, Adeniran 7; Wheeler 6 (Onyedinma 61, 6), Thompson 7, Horgan 7 (Parker 69, 6); Samuel 7 (Kashket 64, 6). Unused subs: Bloomfield, Phillips, McCarthy, Stockdale.

MAN OF THE MATCH: James Collins. Game came alive every time he touched the ball.

Referee: Graham Scott 7.