Crystal Palace 1 Luton Town 1
The Eagles welcomed Luton Town to Selhurst Park with the visitors desperate for points. Time is fast running out for Rob Edwards’ side as they look to try and save their Premier League status. You don’t get points for good performances and The Hatters were struggling.
Edwards is fully aware of how tough things can be at the top. If you switch off at any point at this level, you are likely to be punished. The visitors did just this as Munoz ran clear and rounded the keeper. The angle was far too tight for him to get a shot off at goal.
Instead, he looked to find a teammate in the box and a sublime flick from Mateta saw the ball nestle in the far corner. This summed up Luton Town’s season perfectly. Things looking so good and then going pear-shaped in an instant.
Kabore was shown a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Lerma. The free kick was fizzed in and deflected off a Luton head as it narrowly went over the crossbar. Mateta met the following corner but could not keep his header down.
Credit: @CPFC
Clark then inexplicably passed the ball back to his keeper, not seeing Mateta lurking. He took it around Kaminski but as he lifted a shot over the scrambling keeper, he could only find the side-netting when the Palace fans were expecting them to double their lead.
It was one of those games where Glasner could be forgiven for expecting his side to be ahead by more. You know that a single goal lead can be dangerous in this league, as you leave yourselves open to the sucker punch from your opponents.
That moment almost came as Doughty clipped a cross into the box which picked out Morris perfectly. His volley was straight at Johnstone, either side of him and The Hatters would have had their equaliser. It was a warning to The Eagles.
Crystal Palace were still flexing their muscle up top. Mitchell managed to pick out Mateta in the box but only a brilliant stop by Kaminski could deny the hosts their second. The keeper had very much kept his side in this game by this point.
Eze picked the ball up and strode into the visitors’ half. He spotted Kaminski off his line and tried an audacious effort. As the ball sailed over the keeper it seemed to be heading in until it drifted over the bar, clipping the top of the net on its way through.
Edouard received the ball outside the box and showed some quick feet to skip past the defenders. Once he had gained some space, he unleashed a shot at goal which hit the crossbar, so close to sealing the victory for Oliver Glasner’s side.
Credit: @LutonTown
All Palace needed to do deep into the 96th minute was to retain possession. That seemed beyond them as Luton worked the ball out wide to Townsend. He cut inside onto his left foot and sent a hopeful cross into the penalty area.
Woodrow flicked the ball on and it went all the way through a sea of players and into the bottom corner. The away end erupted as their side got the most unlikely of points with what proved to be the last kick, or head, of the game.
Wins are going to be what keep Luton Town up, if anything. But when it comes to totting up the points at the end of the season, it could be that close that this result proves pivotal. Palace paid the price for poor game management in not seeing this one out.
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