ROB EDWARDS tried out a new pair of lucky undies last night – but his Luton lads are now running out of time in this Premier League relegation scrap destined for squeaky-bum time.
Elijah Adebayo cancelled out Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s penalty for Everton in a nervy Kenilworth Road affair that failed to live up to Hatters boss Edward’s expectations.
Edwards had called for the Kenny faithful to create an epic atmosphere.
Instead, nervous tension saw Luton hold on for a point against the already-safe Toffees.
Not even Edwards’ change of underwear did the trick. A huge chance missed to rise above Nottingham Forest and out of the drop zone.
They have just two games left to pull of a Great Escape.
A real let-off for the Midlands boys, who have a chance to go three points clear at Bramall Lane this weekend, and with their appeal on a four-point deduction still in the post.
This was originally billed as the ultimate six-pointer, but three straight wins before this one secured top flight football for Sean Dyche’s men, and they were unlucky not to snatch a fourth with Calvert-Lewin and Jack Harrison denied by the brilliant Thomas Kaminski late on.
There remains a lot of uncertainty in the battle at the bottom, but one thing is for sure – it is going to be mighty tight.
Luton had a welcome sight in their starting XI with Adebayo starting for the first time since February after a lengthy recovery from a hamstring injury.
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Calvert-Lewin returned as a starter for Dyche having shaken off his illness.
The 27-year-old has finally seized some form in recent weeks with three goals in his last four Premier League outings and was involved from the off in Bedfordshire.
Ashley Young – the victim of boos throughout due to his Watford connections – zipped a ball down the channel for Calvert-Lewin to chase before feeding Dwight McNeil in the box.
Down he went following a challenge by Teden Mengi.
Referee Tim Robinson was unimpressed, but replays did show McNeil’s right foot took a hefty stamping.
Mengi suffered a horror start to the game, first by diverting a McNeil cross towards his own goal but for a super reaction stop from Hatters keeper Kaminski.
But Mengi was not done there, as moments later he bizarrely decided to grapple Toffees defender Jarrad Braithwaite in a headlock during a corner for the visitors.
Braithwaite was nowhere near the ball, yet Mengi felt the need to wrestle the 6ft5in Englishman to the floor just to be safe.
Ref Robinson initially waved it away, but 40 seconds on and VAR reared its meddling head, suggesting a monitor review. It did not take long for Robinson to point to the spot.
Young acted as bouncer, marking the penalty spot with the ball before offloading to Calvert-Lewin, staying cool to bundle down the middle, clipping Kaminski’s foot on the way in with 24 minutes gone.
A fourth Premier League goal since April 2 – the Everton faithful have him to thank for helping guarantee top flight football for another term at least.
Luton’s response seven minutes later was good, and needed.
Albert Sambi Lokonga’s hopeful chip into the box allowed Adebayo to bully Young to the ground before touching and striking into Jordan Pickford’s bottom corner.
A tenth Premier League goal of the season for the Brent-born boy, and a fifth in his last five too.
The leveller also ensured Luton had both scored and conceded in 29 of their 36 Prem matches, a joint record with Swindon Town of 1993/94 and Southampton of 1994/95.
Swindon went down in 1994, but the Saints stayed up in 1995.
Who knows where it will leave Luton come judgement day, but the bleakness is beginning to appear.
Here is how the match unfolded…
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
