Owls take it as red...

NOBODY wants to be in Tier Three – and that includes Wednesday.

So, on the day the city of Sheffield entered that level of Covid alert, the Owls’ gloom deepened after another setback in their bid to avoid English football’s third tier.

Rock-bottom Wednesday’s 12-point deduction for breaching spending rules, meant League One was looming before a ball was kicked this season.

And they remain on minus four points after Pelly Mpanzu made up for a first-half miss with a 74th-minute strike to seal victory for Luton – three minutes after he was fouled when Owls defender Joost van Aken was sent off (above). Hatters boss Nathan Jones said: “We’re delighted – it’s always difficult coming here and with them trying to get rid of their negative points.’’

Luton, still without striker James Collins following his positive coronavirus test, almost grabbed the lead in around 20 seconds.

Danny Hylton danced round keeper Cameron Dawson on the right, but centre-back Aden Flint headed off the line.

Wednesday finally posed a real problem for Luton six minutes into the second half when Flint’s cross set up Van Aken for a glancing header that was saved by keeper Simon Sluga.

But Van Aken was shown a straight red card by referee Geoff Eltringham for a high challenge on Mpanzu – and then the victim drilled home left-footed.

Owls boss Garry Monk said: “The red card kind of killed us – it was a big blow. But our best spell was when we went down to 10 men!’

SHEFF WED: Dawson 6; Odubajo 6, Flint 7, van Aken 5; Reach 6, Pelupessy 5 (Rhodes 80, 5), Bannan 6, Harris 6; Marriott 5 (Borner 75, 5), Paterson 5 (Windass 65, 5), Kachunga 6.

Unused subs: Wildsmith, Palmer, Dele-Bashiru, Hunt. LUTON: Sluga 7; Lockyer 6, Pearson 6, Bradley 6; Cranie 6, Morrell 5 (Tunnicliffe 90), Dewsbury-Hall 5, Norrington-Davies 6; Mpanzu 7, Lee 5 (LuaLua 69, 6); Hylton 6.

Unused subs: Shea, Berry, Moncur, Clark, Nombe.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Aden Flint. Crucial goalline block in opening moments and a surprise threat going forward. REFEREE: Geoff Eltringham 6.