Abysmal Hatters fall to shocking defeat at Wigan Athletic

Luton slumped to one of their lowest points in their more recent history as they produced an absolutely pathetic display to lose for a maddening sixth successive game on the road, beaten 1-0 at relegation threatened Wigan Athletic.

Going into the contest, the Latics had lost their last five in all competitions, shipping 15 goals in that time, as manager Ryan Lowe lost his job following the 6-1 debacle at Peterborough United. Yes, they appointed Exeter boss Gary Caldwell on Monday, but he only had around 48 hours to work with a group of players that were devoid of confidence, conceding four goals inside half an hour in the FA Cup at Premier League Arsenal on Sunday.

Wigan also hadn’t won a league game on home soil since December 2, over two months ago, or posted three points in the calendar year to date, but make no mistake, the hosts deserved this victory, given to them by ex-Hatter Joe Taylor’s 73rd minute strike, as Town’s bafflingly bad performances on the road showed absolutely no signs of ending, although this one was probably the most embarrassing of those previous reverses.

Prior to kick-off, Hatters manager Jack Wilshere made two changes to the team that lost 3-1 at Cardiff on Saturday, Ali Al-Hamadi in for his full debut, while skipper Kal Naismith returned against his former side, Gideon Kodua and Joe Johnson dropping to the bench. Town went with two upfront in Al-Hamadi and Devante Cole, but bar the odd eyecatching pass early on, couldn’t get any meaningful attacks going, thankful to Mads Andersen for making a vital header at the back post after Will Aimson had nodded one delivery into a dangerous area.

Luton went close on 20 minutes, Jake Richards winning the ball back high up, his cross well cleared before Al-Hamadi could pounce and turn the ball over the line, while Izzy Jones was soon brought down on the very edge of the area as Kasey Palmer did well to get his free kick up and down in time, Sam Tickle palming away well. Al-Hamadi had another effort charged down after tenacious work from Cole, while Josh Keeley had an easy first shot to deal with, Jensen Weir’s tame 25-yarder straight into his midriff.

A first half which was a poor advert for League One football ended with Town at least in some kind of ascendancy, Naismith breaking away and finding Jones whose shot was headed behind for a corner that Tickle claimed commandingly. After the interval, having taken five minutes to get going in their customary slow start, Luton enjoyed some tiny moments of joy, but frustratingly their final ball or cross went astray as they never put Tickle under any kind of pressure.

In fact it increasingly looked like Wigan were the side most likely to break the deadlock, Keeley springing to his right to ungainly shovel Morgan Fox’s 25-yard free kick behind for a corner. With the visitors’ passing nothing short of abysmal, as time and time they failed to find a team-mate or put the ball straight out of play, another set-piece pumped into the box led to Joe Taylor’s shot forcing Keeley into a smart save.

The Town stopper was called into action again midway through the half when a ball forward when Taylor tried to beat him at his near post, but the goal, which had definitely been coming, arrived on 73 minutes. Naismith’s clearance was charged down and rebounded favourably for Dara Costelloe to get to the ball and with Wigan having a three on one situation, kept their heads to play Taylor clean through and he calmly dinked the ball over Keeley.

Clark put a corner straight out which summed up the Hatters’ efforts, before Morris cross was straight into Tickle’s gloves, as Luton delayed and delayed making a triple substitution, eventually bringing on Nahki Wells, Davy van den Berg and Kodua with just eight minutes to go.

As time ran out, Luton did have a brief moment of quality, Clark finding some space and letting fly on his left, narrowly missing the far corner. Seven minutes were then added on but still it was Wigan pushing, Costelloe prodding Joe Hungbo’s cross over. With seconds left, Wells had his penalty appeals turned down, before the visitors were somehow denied in the final seconds, as Wigan showed the desire needed to keep the ball out of the net, blocking from Kodua and Palmer, before van den Berg’s attempt struck his own player and Nigel Lonwijk’s attempt was cleared to huge roars from the home faithful, who were cheering even louder moments later having recorded an utterly deserved success.

Latics: Sam Tickle, Morgan Fox, Will Aimson, Jensen Weir (Matt Smith 59), Fraser Murray, Callum Wright, Christian Saydee (Dara Costelloe 59), Joe Taylor (Harrison Bettoni 79), Jason Kerr ©, Raphael Borges Rodrigues (Joe Hungbo 44), Owen Moxon (Steve Sessegnon 80). Subs not used: Toby Savin, Callum McManaman.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Nigel Lonwijk, Mads Andersen, Teden Mengi (Davy van den Berg 83), Kal Naismith, Kasey Palmer, Jordan Clark (C), Izzy Jones (Gideon Kodua 83), Jake Richards (Shayden Morris 60), Ali Al-Hamadi (Nahki Wells 83), Devante Cole. Subs not used: James Shea, Joe Johnson George Saville. Booked: Aimson 22, Rodrigues 27, Richards 35, Moxon 37, Lonwijk 63, Sessegnon 89. Referee: Jamie O’Connor. Attendance: 8440 (618 Hatters).