Luton Town 2 Chelsea 3
Rob Edwards’ side were hoping they could continue their current run of form as they welcomed an inconsistent Chelsea to Kenilworth Road. Victory would take Luton out of the bottom three, with Everton playing later in the day.
Madueke created the first opening as he fed the ball to Gallagher, whose shot was saved by the feet of Kaminski. The ball rebounded to the Chelsea skipper but he could not get enough power on his header to cause any problems with the follow up.
The Hatters were struggling to find a final pass in their attacks and were making it all too easy for Chelsea’s questionable defence to keep them out. They did not so much look a solid unit but were facing a side incapable of exploiting their defensive line.
Jackson then cut in from the left and headed towards goal but had an almost impossible angle as he looked to get a shot away. It was an easy save for the Luton Town keeper to block. Edwards’ side failed to clear the ball and then Kabore gave the ball away to Palmer in the box.
Credit: @ChelseaFC
The Chelsea youngster drilled a shot into the bottom corner, giving Kaminski no chance of a save. The Pochettino era has failed to take flight so far but the one shining light of this team of individuals is Cole Palmer who seems a shrewd signing.
The business model in West London never seems to afford managers time to impart their vision, but whether that changes for Mauricio Pochettino remains to be seen. They have edged their way into the top half of the table of late, so maybe a revival is on the cards.
Palmer then fouled Brown just outside the box. Former Chelsea player, Ross Barkley, shot from the resulting free kick but his effort fizzed over the crossbar with Petrovic at full stretch. Close but no cigar for The Hatters.
The Blues then dealt the killer blow as Luton’s defence stood off Madueke, who lashed a right-footed shot past Kaminski at his near post to double their lead. It seemed a big ask of Rob Edwards’ side to come back from this much of a deficit.
Luton brought on Tahith Chong at half time and he seemed to add impetus to their midfield and an energy they had been missing in the centre of the park. His lung-bursting runs began to stretch the Chelsea defence and cause problems.
Things then went pear-shaped when Jackson slotted in Palmer, who calmly took the ball around the keeper to slot it past the two defenders on the goal line and seemingly put this game to bed. For a 21-year-old he has a mature head on his shoulders and his finishing is more akin to Cold-Palmer.
Credit: @ChelseaFC
Doughty then crossed to find the head of Adebayo to give the home fans something to celebrate but VAR was to rob them of their moment. As the replay showed the Luton Town striker had just strayed offside before the ball was crossed to him.
Moments later Ogbene picked him out with a cross but he managed to thunder it against the crossbar from a couple of yards out. As a corner was clipped in, Barkley flicked his head at it and the ball nestled in the bottom corner.
Luton started to pile on the pressure and Morris got his head to a cross at the back post, only to see Petrovic tip the effort onto the bar. Deep into added time Ogbene’s cross found Doughty whose header was clawed out by the Chelsea keeper.
As he saved it, the ball looped into the air at the back post and Adebayo volleyed it home. At this stage Pochettino must have been reaching for his prescribed meds as his side once again caused his blood pressure to soar like Lurpak prices.
The dangerous Chong almost created the equaliser as he got down the left and whipped in a cross that only needed a touch to convert. Neither defender nor attacker could get anywhere near it and Rob Edwards showed his frustrations on the touchline.
Chelsea just about held on for the three points and moved to within three points of the three sides above them. Luton will continue to work to try and find a way out of the bottom three but of all the newly promoted sides, they look the most likely to survive, if any.
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