Everton’s pain has been to Luton’s gain. There was still a desperate need to start winning and after a hard-fought lead had been surrendered in seconds, Rob Edwards, their manager, looked to the Bedfordshire skies in desolation. Teden Mengi’s goal had blown the roof off but the celebrations were barely finished when Michael Olise scored a brilliant equaliser. In his first start of the season, with a goal that was all his own work, Olise had franked his reputation as one of English football’s prime talents. “I felt flat,” admitted Edwards.
But there was still plenty of time to locate a winner, for the outstanding Chiedozie Ogbene to find space to ping the ball in. Jacob Brown, a second-half substitute, slid across Joachim Anderson to score and snatch a first ever Premier League home win.
“Delighted,” said Edwards. “Relieved, I feel drained, it was the longest game I have ever been part of that didn’t go to extra time.”
After 12 minutes of time added on were seen out, Everton are no longer the sole team beaten by the Hatters since their top-flight return. Edwards left the field punching the air in unison with fans in the Oak Stand. This was the type of win his team have too often let slip during their three months in the Premier League. “It’s a mad feeling,” said Brown.
A benevolent Roy Hodgson said: “Congratulations to Luton for holding on. For their spirited performance.”
Palace, who have beaten only Burnley in two months and lost four from their last five league games, have an over-reliance on their speedy, skilful forwards. Hodgson’s team do not try to pass their way through their opposition. They looked incapable of doing so, especially after the loss of Eberechi Eze and Cheick Doucouré to injury.
Moments of quality had been in limited supply in the first half until Eze’s shot was saved wonderfully well by the outstanding Thomas Kaminski, who immediately made an even better stop from Jeffrey Schlupp. That served to set home fires burning, fans and team alike galvanised.
As half-time approached, Luton’s energy output was the greater but there was still thin gruel for Carlton Morris, their lone striker, to feed on. Meanwhile, Eze’s drifting, weaving runs and slick interchanges were causing them severe trouble.
It wasn’t to last. Palace’s second half began with that double injury blow. Eze lasted barely seconds, limping off with a knock sustained before the break. Doucouré was tearfully carried off after crumpling to the floor with no opponent within touching distance. “Hopefully it’s not too serious,” lamented Joel Ward, Palace’s captain. “We gave ourselves an uphill battle.”
“He’s damaged his ankle,” said Hodgson of Eze, sighing that Doucouré’s was a “bad injury”.
Could Luton take advantage? Kenilworth Road gasped as Ogbene rose to head a cross wide before attacking reinforcements were sent on in the form of Tahith Chong and Jordan Clark, Andros Townsend taking his leave. Ogbene, down the left flank, forever in the vanguard, took the game to Palace though the Ireland international often suffered for a lack of company.
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Luton appeared to have paid the price of increased adventure when Odsonne Éduoard tapped the ball in the net at the second attempt only for VAR to reveal – correctly – the forward’s hand had played its part. Luton quickly profited; Alfie Doughty’s corner arrowed in, Ross Barkley’s run and leap caused havoc and the ball dropped to Mengi to control and score.
The celebrations lasted seconds before Olise delivered his moment of brilliance. Edwards was aghast. His team had passed up the chance to swoop on beatable, visibly vulnerable opposition. It called for Ogbene and Brown to intervene and supply that golden, historic moment. “The players deserved a lot of credit,” said their manager. “They could have been very flat, it’s a beautiful counterattacking goal.”
There was still time for Kaminski to make another save, with his foot, from Anderson as stoppages prolonged the agony. “Horrible,” said Edwards. “But the defenders stood up to it.”
In the very last seconds, Kaminski had a post rattled from Jefferson Lerma’s header. The ball came back out and gasps of relief were soon followed by the raucous celebrations of a team giving themselves a fighting, credible chance of survival.
