Lazy Lee is golden boy
LEE TOMLIN contributed the square root of not a lot until he scored the only goal of the game – and Cardiff boss Neil Harris couldn’t be happier.
The playmaker struck in the 73rd minute to move the Bluebirds to within four points of the play-offs and leave the rock bottom Hatters smarting from a 21st league reverse of a painful Championship return.
Harris said: “Lee couldn’t get in the game for the first 45 minutes, or even for the first hour.
“He was starved of the ball until the goal. We talked at half-time about getting the ball to him in deeper areas and that moment changed the game thanks to his quality round the box.”
The Bluebirds began with a barrage of corners as Luton gave debutant Albert Adomah, the on-loan Nottingham Forest winger, and full-back Jazz Richards too much space.
Matty Pearson nodded Marlon Pack’s header off the line before Luton at last got going through
LUTON playmaker Izzy Brown. The on-loan Chelsea man pinged two free-kicks into the wall and then slipped in Harry Cornick.
The striker, previously guilty of failing to connect with Ryan Tunnicliffe’s inviting cross, fired across goal and wide however.
The Hatters’ play was urgent rather than sophisticated but they continued to create chances before the break.
Pelly-ruddock Mpanzu volleyed just wide after Cardiff failed to clear and the half ended with Pack blocking Brown’s drive.
Callum Paterson had been waiting more than an hour for a decent chance and Pearson eventually presented him with just that with a botched effort to get the ball back to his keeper.
The striker nipped in and tried to lob Hatters keeper Simon Sluga, who saved it.
Tomlin had hardly had a touch either but showed his class with a 73rd-minute winner. Adomah set him up for a curling effort from just outside the box that Sluga couldn’t get to.
Luton toiled in search of an equaliser but when Smithies fumbled in stoppage time, James Collins couldn’t capitalise and that was that.
The Hatters are now nine points adrift of safety and manager Graeme Jones said: “The difference was that we didn’t take our chances and they took their one chance.”
CARDIFF