Kompany glee at winning battle of Kenilworth Road
BURNLEY manager Vincent Kompany saw his runaway league leaders win ugly and insisted it was a battle he would have loved to play in.
Ashley Barnes put the champions-elect 11 points clear at the top with a 78th-minute penalty after Gabriel Osho handled.
But defeat was tough on the play-offs chasing Hatters who pushed their opponents all the way even after having captain Tom Lockyer sent off for two dissent bookings after the spot-kick award.
Kompany said: “I love the clean sheet, the duels, the guys coming off bruised and hurt and limping off and dusting themselves off.
“I would have loved to play in this game.
“It was a real battle, it needed to be and it wasn’t going to be any other way. I don’t mind these types of games, these wins are massive.
“I take a lot of pride and pleasure in winning a game like this, if that is what it demands.
“We have faced physical sides all season but this is extreme.”
Kompany started the game knowing nearest challengers Sheffield United had lost to Millwall.
Barnes, who can look after himself, was left limping within minutes after coming off worst in a goalmouth melee.
And then Elijah Adebayo went close, bringing a full-length diving save from Aro Muric.
Luton keeper Ethan Horvath flung himself to his right to paw away a freekick from Johann Berg Gudmundsson on the halfhour.
And with the hosts back on the front foot, Pellyruddock Mpanzu saw his drive saved by Muric.
The Hatters should have taken the lead after 37 minutes when, after great work by Mpanzu on the left, an unmarked Adebayo scooped the ball over the bar from just five yards out.
After half-time Nathan Tella saw claims for a penalty waved away by official Jeremy Simpson and Barnes fired wide.
Lockyer got in a heroic block to deny sub Vitinho but Burnley broke through after 78 minutes.
Osho flicked the ball with his hand to concede a penalty and Barnes coolly scored from the penalty spot.
Lockyer was booked for dissent just after the penalty award and was then sent off when his remarks to the referee brought a second
yellow.
Luton boss Rob Edwards said: “I am so proud of the lads. We went up against comfortably the best team in the league and put on a performance like that.
“There were very few mistakes and the lads gave everything.”
LUTON: Horvath 7; Burke 7, Lockyer 7, Osho 6; Drameh 6 (Doughty (32) 6), Nakamba 7 (Campbell (68) 6), Mpanzu 7, Bell 6; Clark 7; Morris 6 (Woodrow (57) 6), Adebayo 7 BURNLEY: Muric 7; Roberts 6, Ekdal, 7 Taylor 7, Maatsen 6; Cullen 6, Cork 6; Tella 6 (Vitinho (61) 6), Brownhill 6, Gudmundsson 6 (Zaroury (54) 6); Barnes 7 STAR MAN: Pelly-ruddock Mpanzu – Put in an epic double shift and really did not deserve to be on losing side.
Jeremy Simpson 5