Hatters hit back to deny Boro and keep faint hopes of top two alive
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CARLTON MORRIS scored his 20th goal of the season to complete Luton Town’s comeback as they edged out play-off rivals Middlesbrough.
The Hatters, unbeaten since midFebruary, were a place above Boro in third going into the game and the winners knew that victory would keep alive their slim hopes of going up automatically to the Premier League.
It had looked like it would be the visitors after a dominant opening 45 minutes. They led through Cameron Archer, only for Town to fight back, Tom Lockyer’s effort and a Morris penalty claiming all three points.
The visitors began impressively, Marc Bola firing well over the top from 25 yards.
Luton forward Elijah Adebayo tested Boro keeper Zack Steffen, the Man City loanee easily claiming his left-footed drive.
Home stopper Ethan Horvath was out well at the feet of Archer, while at the other end, Matt Crooks side-footed over the top when wellplacced
Boro took the lead five minutes
before half-time with Archer racing on to Crooks’ pass over the top and beating the attempt of Horvath to clear, the keeper completely missing his kick and allowing the forward to take it round Sonny Bradley and walk the ball into the net.
Luton came out for the second half a different side though and were level just four minutes in when Alfie Doughty’s corner was met by Lockyer who headed home.
Town completed the turnaround after 67 minutes when sub Jordan Clark picked up a ball and sent Morris away. His first touch could have
been better but he still got there ahead of Steffen who clipped him for a spot-kick.
It was Morris who assumed the responsibility, tucking away confidently into the bottom corner. Luton Town: Horvath, Lockyer, Bradley, Bell, Drameh, Mpanzu (Berry, 76), Nakamba, Campbell (Clark, 56), Doughty (Johnson, 83), Morris (J Taylor, 75), Adebayo (Freeman 84) Unused substitutes: Shea, Lansbury, Johnson.
Middlesbrough: Steffen, Dijksteel, Howson, Lenihan, Giles, Barlaser, Mowatt, Jones, Archer (Muniz, 78), Bola, Crooks. Unused substitutes: Roberts, Akpom, Hackney, Bilongo, Stott, Sykes.
Referee: Graham Scott