Bowyer’s brimming

By JON WEST at Kenilworth Road

LEE BOWYER hailed his Birmingham buccaneers for putting in the best performance of his managerial career.

The Hatters were left hurting thanks to Scott Hogan’s brace plus goals from Marc Roberts and subs Gary Gardner (above) and Chuks Aneke.

Blues boss Bowyer said: “That’s the best performance I have ever witnessed from any of my teams since I have been a manager.

“It was a complete 90 minutes. It ticked every box that you could possibly want from a manager – and it was away from home.

“That was a whole performance.” Roberts headed home Jeremie

Bela’s corner for Birmingam’s opener and Hogan nodded in a copycat second from Tahith Chong cross.

Luton found themselves 3-0 down after the break from another corner – one of their own. Sub Glen Rea’s delivery was cleared easily and Manchester United loanee Chong gave Pelly-ruddock Mpanzu the slip to go charging all the way to the Hatters box.

Ruddock just managed to get a foot in on the chase as Simon Sluga came off his line and Hogan latched in the right place for a simple finish.

Sub Fred Onyedinma saw an acrobatic volley fly wide and another effort scoot across the goalmouth before Gardner grabbed a super fourth with a curler into the top corner.

And there was still time for Aneke to stab home a fifth from close range.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones said: “I’m really disappointed and a little bit embarrassed by the scoreline.”

LUTON TOWN: Sluga 6; Kioso 5 (Rea 28, 6) Lockyer 6, Naismith 6; Bree 6, Mpanzu 5, Campbell 6 (Onyedinma 46, 6), Bell 5; Muskwe 5; Cornick 6 (Jerome 57, 6), Adebayo 5.

Unused Subs: Isted, Lee, Gomes, Osho.

BIRMINGHAM CITY: Sarkic 7; Roberts 8, Dean 7, Pedersen 7; Colin 7, Woods 7, Sunjic 7, Bela 7; Chong 8 (Sanchez 69, 5), Jutkiewicz 7 (Gardner 81), Hogan 7 (Aneke 61, 6).

Unused Subs: Trueman, Friend, Leko, Castillo.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Tahith Chong. Not needed by Manchester United but stars at this level.

REFEREE: John Busby 7.