MORRIS MAJOR
Carlton penalty wins it after Boro dive claim
CARLTON MORRIS slotted home a controversial penalty to hand Luton a comeback victory at the expense of playoff 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.
Sheffield United are all but sure to end the Hatters’ slender hopes of auto- matic 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 Middlesbrough keeper Zack Steffen had to make the first save, getting behind Elijah Adebayo’s fierce drive before Matt Crooks clipped a shot over in reply.
Luton centre-back Lockyer, named in the Championship team of the season, then took a blow to the head but was given the go-ahead to continue after some lengthy treatment.
The game needed a goal and Ethan Horvath served one up on a plate. 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 locate an empty net five minutes before the break.
Luton levelled in the 49th minute as Lockyer, No.4 again on his back after wearing the ‘blood shirt,’ 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 despite there appearing to be no contact.
Referee Graham Scott pointed to the spot despite Steffen’s claims of a dive.
And Morris sent the keeper the wrong way in the 67th minute for his 20th goal of the season.