The season will not be easy at all Luton Town. Last night showed why. With the full voice of the crowd, they matched West Ham United in terms of effort and dynamism every step of the way.
However, after suffering their third Premier League defeat in three games – albeit not by three goals this time – they lack the finer attributes of table mainstays such as their visitors: street guile, match management and, most importantly, It’s all, sliver. It is a quality that can extract something from nothing.
So, nothing is left of Luton, though Mads AndersenA late header indicates another quality: this is a team that won’t drop its head. West Ham manager David Moyes noted that his team had won more games, but he praised Luton.
“We had to defend really well tonight. Luton’s style is going to cause problems.”
Andersen’s consolation on the championship field to a team full of championship players was a rule of the game at the tournament. A long free kick headed over the goal Carlton Morris And Anderson nodded home. But teams managed to survive with less than that and it was an occasion not without joy.
The last time Kenilworth Road hosted a first-class match, in 1992, Mark Pembridge and Brian Stein scored for Luton’s side featuring newcomer Darren Salton. Aston Villa. Unusually for Luton that year, and unusually for almost any season during a trip that would take them to exotic locations such as Histon, Hyde and Hayes & Yeading United, crowds rose to five figures. A sold-out Premier League season would overcome that hurdle, but only that.
Lawton uses the combination of advantages he has masterfully. They have that narrow ground, too far from the wide open steppe of West Ham in London. They have a fiercely partisan crowd, some within striking distance of the players, and they have a passionate but well-coached team that Morris will score goals for and with. Ross Barclay Perhaps it will revive a moribund profession.
Luton manager Rob Edwards said: “We have to do better, but I’ve seen enough to make me believe we can survive.” “We had nothing to fear tonight and no one can say it wasn’t a tough game. I’ve seen a team that’s tenacious, aggressive and creates chances. We’re on the right track.”
No stranger to hustle and bustle, West Ham bided their time. And with the well-educated Mexican Edson Alvarez, cutting straight ahead of the back four, they had their own fulcrum in midfield that ensured that Declan Rice’s absence was not felt too much. But when overlapping Alfie Doty As we began to beat Emerson, there were signs that something surprising might be afoot. Lawton’s hopes, like their dreams, will soon fade away.
Despite a best effort from both sides and Jarrod Bowen’s shot wide as the visitors cemented themselves in the advantage, neither goalkeeper was called upon to do meaningful work until West Ham scored a simple goal in the 37th minute.
Prepared by Alvarez Lucas Paqueta About 20 yards, however Wonderful Nakamba It was very slow to close it. Paqueta crossed deep and Bowen wedged in between Giles and Amari Bell to score his third goal in three away matches with a flat footed shot. Thomas Kaminsky.
The best teams can turn the difference, but with West Ham tightening the screws, imposing their dominance in the midfield, and Bowen increasing their dominance, spurring forwards in search of a second, match-clinching goal, it proved beyond City’s first in the Premier League since Huddersfield’s relegation. In 2019. When Kurt Zouma powerfully headed James Ward-Prowse’s corner past Kaminski, West Ham were ready to go.
Andersen’s header killed that notion, but West Ham were deserved winners and a team that started last season so sluggishly topped the table, for a few hours at least. “I love the sound of that,” Moyes smiled. “We took a lot of positivity from winning the European Championship: I hope it lasts a long time.”