Adebayo earns Luton valuable point to keep survival hopes alive

LUTON kept alive their hopes of Premier League survival as Elijah Adebayo’s excellent first-half equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw against Everton at Kenilworth Road.

Having not started a game since February Luton’s top scorer announced his return from injury in spectacular fashion, collecting a high ball on his chest and bamboozling Ashley Young before dispatching a finish beyond Jordan Pickford to earn a valuable point.

It moved Rob Edwards’ side level on points with 17th-place Nottingham Forest ahead of their relegation rivals’ meeting with Sheffield United today.

It took until midway through the first half for either side to threaten, Dwight McNeil’s fizzing cross turned in the direction of his own goal by Mengi, the defender bailed out by a point-blank save from Kaminski. Mengi would yet be the architect of his team’s downfall. Grappling with Branthwaite at an Everton corner, he wrestled his opponent to the ground as the ball was floated over, though neither player was anywhere near the play.

VAR called referee Tim Robinson to the monitor and the award was a penalty from which Calvert-Lewin slotted coolly home.

The reply from Luton was imminent. Albert Sambi Lokonga started it, hitting a raking pass high towards Adebayo who was being closely attended by Young. The Luton striker took the ball on his chest and as he did so the over-balanced Young crumpled to the ground, leaving Adebayo unimpeded eight yards out as he swept the equaliser in leftfooted past Pickford.

The second half brought an onslaught of Luton pressure.

However, it was Everton who nearly stole in front after 68 minutes, Jack Harrison letting fly towards the top corner only to be denied by the finger-tips of Kaminski.

Luke Berry’s spectacular overhead kick in stoppage time was deflected wide, as Luton were made to settle for what yet might be a critical point.