THREE BUT NOT EASY!
Fightback gives Ismael a big scare
WEST BROM boss Valerien Ismael reckoned a 15-minute injury stoppage put a halt to his side’s momentum, as the Baggies almost squandered a three-goal lead.
Albion dominated for an hour and looked every inch promotion candidates – as Ismael declared his players to be “simply brilliant”.
But they crumbled in the latter stages as Luton staged a fightback and came close to earning an unexpected point.
An own-goal from Hatters skipper Kal Naismith after just five minutes set the tone, as he headed a Darnell Furlong throw into his own net.
Ismael’s side took control after that and saw a string of chances go begging, before Callum Robinson nodded in from close range as Luton failed to deal with Alex Mowatt’s inswinging corner.
It looked all over after 66 minutes when Karlan Grant scored his first Hawthorns goal after holding off Naismith.
But then the game was held up so Luton’s
Jordan
Clark could have extensive treatment following a clash with returning Albion keeper Sam Johnstone.
It was a full 15 minutes before play could restart as
JUBILANT
Clark was taken off on a stretcher suffering from concussion. Luton boss Nathan
Jones said: “He was too brave for his own good.”
But that sparked a Hatters revival and they made the most of two errors. An attempted clearance by Conor Townsend was charged down by Allan WEST BROM: Johnstone 7, Bartley 6, Clarke 8 (Ajayi 84), O’Shea 7, Furlong 8, Livermore 7, Mowatt 7, Townsend 6, Diangana 7, Robinson 7 (Phillips 71, 6), Grant 7 (Zohore 71, 6). Unused subs:
Ajayi, Reach, Kipre, Button, Tulloch. LUTON: Sluga 5, Bree 5, Osho 5, Naismith 4, Bell 5, Clark 6 (Muskwe
62, 7), Campbell 6 (Kioso 74, 7), Mpanzu 7, Cornick 7, Adebayo 5 (Jerome, 89), Onyedinma 4 (Lansbury 45, 7).
Unused subs: Shea, Mendes Gomes, Pereira, Kioso, Muskwe, Jerome.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Darnell Furlong. proved to be the difference and caused Luton problems right from the start.
REFEREE: Tim Robinson 7
Campbell and the ball fell to Harry Connick, who netted with ease. Then a mix-up between Johnstone and Kyle Bartley let in Pelly Mpanzu to grab Luton’s second.
Ismael said: “The injury stoppage killed our momentum. When you have half-time, then another 15-minute break, it stops you.
“We had to embrace the battle and we didn’t. After the restart, we made a mistake and it was another game.
“But, for an hour, it was simply brilliant. This is what I want.”
Jones added: “Imagine if we’d played like we did at the end for the 90 minutes!”