Set-pieces prove key once more as Hatters hold off Grecians

Luton Town kept their faint play-off hopes alive by recording back-to-back victories when defeating Exeter City 3-2 at Kenilworth Road this evening.

Going into a season-defining run of fixtures, with four of their next five league outings on home soil, it was imperative that Hatters picked up all three points if they want to maintain any kind of ambitions of a top six finish in their first contest, and they did so in a game that was far closer than it should have been at the end.

Boss Jack Wilshere made one change from the 2-1 victory at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, Devante Cole in for the injured Nahki Wells, while Sverre Sandal was on the bench for the first time since arriving in the January transfer window. Luton made a decent enough start, bossing possession in the early stages, as Kasey Palmer sent Jordan Clark away on the left who advanced to just inside the area, firing a low shot that Joe Whitworth parried away.

Town took the lead on 14 minutes with yet another goal from a corner as following on from two at Adams Park, Liam Walsh's delivery was spot on again, met by Palmer whose downward header beat Whitworth for his third goal in three games. The Hatters tried to get an immediate second, Emilio Lawrence having a 20-yard crack that was easy for Whitworth.

However, Exeter then absolutely dominated the ball for a good five minutes, looking far better than a struggling team who were on a nine-game winless run themselves and got their reward on 25 minutes, Kal Naismith beaten too easily in the box by Josh Magennis, whose low cross was only half cleared by Nigel Lonwijk, Reece Cole slamming home the leveller.

Parity wasn’t restored for too long though, four minutes in fact, as Town were handed the opportunity to lead again, quite literally, Lawrence charging down a clearance and Cole pressurising Jack Aitchison, who knocked the ball behind with his arms as he fell, spotted by eagle-eyed referee Alex Chilowicz, who immediately whistled for a penalty.

Clark stepped up to send Whitworth the wrong way and roll into the far corner for his 11th of the campaign, but still the Grecians refused to go quietly, as they should have equalised again, Ilmari Niskanen picking out Jack McMillan who was denied by Keeley’s outstretched legs and then hit the post with his follow up.

Luton almost extended their advantage in first half stoppage time when Walsh threaded a pass through to Palmer who raced into the box and tried to dink the advancing Whitworth, only seeing the keeper react well to parry. Wilshere’s side did ultimately have their third before the break, as Reece Cole unwisely fouled Lawrence in a dangerous position, Saville sending in the free kick perfectly for Hakeem Odoffin to stretch out a leg and convert from close range for his first Hatters goal.

After Town came out for the second period and saw two Walsh corners punched away by Whitworth, the visitors pulled one back on 49 minutes, when Timur Tutierov got away from Odoffin with ease and then simply waltzed past a weak attempt to tackle by Lonwijk in the area, squaring for Niskanen to tap in.

Thankfully, Luton didn’t try to protect their advantage though, playing their best football over the next 25 minutes or so, as they could and should have retaken a two-goal lead, Cole pouncing on a poor backpass from the visitors only to fire tamely at Whitworth, for what was at least a first shot on target on his ninth appearance since signing for the club in January.

Clark hammered over on his left foot before he went even closer just before the hour mark, able to pick up a loose ball and let fly, unluckily seeing his attempt crash against the point of post and bar. The long-serving midfielder continued to spark, having one of his best games in recent weeks, as he took to the air to spectacularly meet Walsh’s dinked free kick into the box with an acrobatic volley that flew across goal, Naismith just unable to reach it at the far post.

Having come off the bench at Wycombe on Saturday, striker Elijah Adebayo then made his Kenilworth Road return in the closing stages, replacing Cole with 15 minutes to go, while Town’s set-pieces were almost rewarded once more on 77 minutes, when another Saville delivery was met by Naismith at the far post, who could only send it wide.

Late on, Luton came under some unnecessary pressure as their second half efforts should have seen the result sewn up long before the three extra minutes were added, Naismith with a magnificent challenge on Jayden Wareham and then Sonny Cox taking a heavy touch to send the ball behind, as Sandal was introduced for his first taste of English football. Thankfully there was no repeat of the recent late setbacks against Burton and Reading, as Town picked up another welcome three points ahead of Saturday’s crunch clash with fellow Vertu Trophy finalists Stockport County.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Nigel Lonwijk, Hakeem Odoffin, Kal Naismith (C), Gideon Kodua, George Saville (Sverre Sandal 90), Liam Walsh, Kasey Palmer (Jake Richards 75), Emilio Lawrence, Jordan Clark (Davy van den Berg 90), Devante Cole (Elijah Adebayo 75). Subs not used: James Shea, Joe Johnson.

Chairboys: Joe Whitworth, Jack McMillan, Ethan Brierley (Kevin McDonald 80), Jack Aitchinson, Reece Cole (Akeel Higgins 65), Ilmari Niskanen, Johnly Yfeko (Danny Andrew 55), Luca Woodouse, Pierce Sweeney ©, Josh Magennis (Jayden Wareham 55), Timur Tutierov (Sonny Cox 80). Subs not used: Jack Bycroft, Charlie Cummins. Booked: R Cole 45, Lawrence 72, McMillan 82. Referee: Alex Chilowicz. Attendance: 9,216 (471 Grecians).