It was a point apiece for the two beaten play-off semi-final sides on Friday night under the lights at Kenilworth Road. Luton led thanks to Carlton Morris’ flicked header but United responded with Oli McBurnie’s strike in the second half breaking his goal jinx. The Blades suffered more injuries before and during the game and in the end, will take a hard-fought point when once again away from home they were not at their best against a direct and physical Luton side. United struggled to be as fluent as they have been and Luton were able to do what they are good at but in the end, the Blades who finished with Jordan Amissah in goal, were able to take a valuable point back up to S2.
Manager Heckingbottom made three changes rewarding the impact of Iliman Ndiaye who got the start ahead of Reda Khadra, supporting Oli McBurnie who kept his place despite his profligacy in front of goal in the previous game, with the manager rewarding his overall performance for the team. John Fleck was out with a fractured leg and replaced by James McAtee. Also, in a surprise move Chris Basham got the start ahead of Anel Ahmedhodzic with the assumption that the impressive new signing was perhaps not fully fit but was on the bench.
Luton began with Carlton Morris rewarded for his performance last week from the bench at Swansea and he partnered Elijah Adebayo. Former Blade Luke Freeman started the game for the Hatters.
Luton Town 1-1 Sheffield United
Friday, 27th August 2022
SkyBet Championship
Report by Deadbat
The game began with McAtee’s poor ball that led to a Luton break and then after another giveaway from the same man as the loanee slipped, the ball came in and Morris fired wide after he took it off Freeman’s toes. There was a period of tussling between several players with Norrington Davies and Morris going down and then Ndiaye also wrestling back possession.
McAtee’s errant start continued, and he gave the ball away and Egan was perhaps fortunate neither official spotted a possible handball as he also slipped in running back. United had lots of possession with Ndiaye threatening but was struggling to create and Luton’s direct tactics offered a striking comparison in styles. Indeed, the goal came from a set play but was actually well executed as the throw from Bell was cleared right back into his path and with no one going to the ball, the cross came over and MORRIS was first to it and expertly flicked it into the corner with Basham and Egan statuesque and not attacking the danger, the ball!
United tried to react but Ndiaye was crowded out with men constantly around him and could not get his shot away. On 15 minutes Baldock was cautioned for a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge that seemed very harsh. The referee was very inconsistent with what he was accepting and not accepting and was infuriating many United players. Luton had drawn United into a physical game and stopped any kind of momentum at all.
Baldock got down the right when Ndiaye fed him, but his ball pulled back and saw McAtee’ shot lack power. From a corner from the left, the ball was played to Norwood, and he hit a firm shot that hit his own man Berge when it looked likely it may have worried the Luton keeper. McAtee was involved constantly but sadly not in a positive way and was cautioned for a drag back.
The next period continued to be niggle and Norrington Davies battled with Morris, the time on the floor and the referee continued to struggle with what was deemed excessive letting a lot go and then pulling up minimal contact. Baldock got in a great position, but his cross was overhit before McBurnie ended up in a rugby tackle with the defender as United broke.
Luton was having little of the ball, but the long direct clearance was worrying the Blades although McBurnie pulled a shot wide after a ball over from the right. Lowe then shot well over, and it was Luton who still looked the more dangerous with Freeman having a decent game against his former employer, and having a firm shot at Foderingham.
Morris then did well out on the right and the cross from Bree saw Foderingham completely miss the ball but fortunately so did Adebayo and United survived. The same man then fired over after more build-up down the right saw the defence fail to react.
Luton continued to deny United space and time and quickly turned the ball into areas which forced United back. Ndiaye and McBurnie were working hard but Berge and Norwood were getting pressed behind them and with little else of creativity, United had not forced Horvath into a single save as the half-time whistle went.
McAtee was not surprisingly withdrawn after a poor game where he was cautioned and gave the ball away constantly. Doyle, his teammate at Man City, came on.
Ndiaye showed quick feet and skill to win a free kick and then a corner after he drifted inside down the right, but the corner pinballed around and was cleared. Not long after United were level. Berge was offside in the build-up after McBurnie headed down and then Ndiaye had a shot blocked leading to a corner. The ball came in and was not perfectly cleared after Norwood sent a cross over and then Doyle was able to head it on before Egan helped it further on its way. The ball landed at the far post to MCBURNIE who hit a tremendous, controlled volley into the far corner of the net. He celebrated wildly with the United fans behind the goal and was booked for his efforts but clearly meant a lot to him after 43 goals without a goal.
Soon after the goal Foderingham needed attention and seemed to be either unwell or concussed and was clearly struggling but United opted to continue with him remaining on the field. After this Luton had a good spell as United could not build on the momentum of the start of the second half. Berge was struggling to be an influence and United could not keep the ball. Two dangerous crosses came in and United had to be on alert.
Basham and Baldock combined, and the former sent a decent cross-over that was cleared and then Doyle combined with Norrington Davies down the other side to win a corner. However United could not build any momentum and Luton continued to nip in and win the loose ball. Campbell was industrious and seemed to be a key man and he helped set up a chance for Morris that Foderingham had to turn behind although it may have been drifting side.
Nidaye had not been as influential but did well to wrestle possession and find Baldock who in turn played it back to Norwood who whizzed one over before at the other end Adebayo headed off target with the aerial ball still causing United problems. Jerome came on for Morris in a like-for-like change.
It was a game that seemed like it could go either way but United’s cause was not helped when Foderingham clearly could not continue and he had to be helped off in some distress and Amissah came on for his league debut.
Doyle had a shot that dipped into the keepers’ hands at the other end but Luton was looking the more likely in terms of forcing the play and won a corner before Amissah took his first high ball confidently. Luton continued to probe, and Berry came on for Freeman, and Ahmedhodzic and Brewster replaced Norrington Davies and Ndiaye. United was not able to keep any kind of controlled possession with Berge and Norwood quite passive and little from the wing backs in terms of attacking threat as they were forced back. Norrington Davies was the next man to go down for treatment and then Egan, McBurnie and Baldock all were limping in surreal scenes as the walking wounded situation for the Blades continued!
Luton had a chance when the ball dropped for Bell but the ball was blocked before Basham made a great tackle to deny Berry who looked to dribble in towards goals. Doyle and Brewster combined for a corner at the other end and the striker then had a run and shot but it lacked power as the game drifted into 7 minutes of stoppage time.
Luton continued to force the game perhaps more as the home side and United was content to clear their lines but one chance arose when the ball was played down the side and Jerome got in but Amissah did well to push behind. The corner was cleared and United in the end saw it out to pick up a vital point after more disruption and injuries did not help but in another away performance where they were not at their best and had to dig deep to get anything.