Sloppy defending means Luton's comeback is in vain at Reading

Sloppy defending cost Luton Town dearly once again this evening as they let a point slip needlessly out of their grasp at Reading, falling to a 3-2 defeat.

The visitors had trailed 2-0 with 52 minutes on the clock only to hit back to draw level at 2-2 thanks to goals from Jordan Clark and Nigel Lonwijk. But just as thoughts turned to a comeback victory, Town’s brittle defence was sliced open for the third time in the game as Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan was able to beat Josh Keeley to ensure it was the Royals who claimed all three points.

Hatters, who made three changes from the 2-2 draw with Port Vale, Jordan Clark, Nahki Wells and Lamine Fanne in for Jacob Brown. George Saville and Milli Alli, dominated possession in the opening stages as they had the majority of the ball early on, fashioning one good chance when Gideon Kodua might have shot himself, only to tee up Cohen Bramall instead who dragged his effort wide of the target.

However, boss Jack Wilshere had spoken in the build-up at his concerns that Town were the worst in the division for conceding goals in transition moments, but that’s exactly what happened on eight minutes, when Liam Walsh’s free kick dropped to Fanne, who tried to tee up Clark just outside the box.

His pass was picked off allowing the Royals to go for the jugular, which they did, as although Town had players racing back, the ball rebounded to Daniel Kyerewaa who took a touch in the area, Keeley unwisely deciding to come racing off his line, only ending up catching the attacker for a penalty that Lewis Wing had no problem in tucking home. Town still remained patient in their efforts to get back into the game, as on 16 minutes they produced a good move on their right with a deft flick from Clark finding Kodua who eventually had a crack, deflecting behind.

From Kal Naismith’s corner, goalscorer Wing stuck out a leg and could only divert it towards his own goal, Joel Pereira making a save that looked very much for the benefit of the Sky cameras. With his tail up, Wing had another go from range which bounced wide, as although Luton continued to have all the ball, they couldn’t create anything, which is becoming a depressingly familiar tale, Reading looking dangerous when the ball was played in behind, as their pace was a threat to Town’s rather laboured back-line.

The visitors did then get possession in and around the area as Wells had a go, swerving a shot straight at Pereira, who was then extended on 35 minutes when a corner was cleared out to Cohen Bramall and his low daisycutter was well handled by the stopper who was able to gather the loose ball before it squirmed clear. Town were forced into a change on the stroke of half time, Naismith going off holding his calf and Shayden Morris coming on, with Bramall heading to left back, and Kodua over to the left flank, allowing the sub to take up a position on the right.

After the break, Luton’s poor passing hindered them again with a heavy touch from Kodua and Fanne passing straight out of play, but they did go close on 50 minutes, winning the ball back high up as Liam Walsh found Morris whose shot was cleared away by a sliding defender. Kamari Doyle went for goal at the other end, getting too much on his effort, before a carbon copy of the first half saw Mengi’s pass seized upon by the hosts with 52 minutes gone, and showed the Hatters how it’s done, ex-Luton forward Jack Marriott driving forward and hammering a terrific effort into the corner of the net.

Town had their chance to do something similar, but the final ball to Morris was poor and cut out. They did finally find the winger on the hour mark who was able to skip past his man and send over a low cross that saw Wing get his clearance all wrong, Clark stationed a few yards out to swivel and toepoke the ball over the line, giving Wilshere’s men a lifeline. Reading almost restored their two-goal advantage when the ball rebounded out to Derrick Williams on the edge of the box whose shot beat Keeley but was inches wide of the target.

Wilshere looked to his bench again, bringing on Jerry Yates and Brown for Wells and Clark, as Yates played a good ball into the feet of Kodua but his difficult night continued as he took the wrong option yet again and the opportunity went begging. Luton then looked to have rescued a point on 76 minutes when Walsh showed some neat close control, with Yates also involved, as the ball reached Lonwijk of all people who simply drew back his right foot some 25 yards from goal and hammered the ball first time beyond the dive of Pereira and into the net for his first ever Town goal.

His and the Hatters' joy was incredibly short-lived though as Town’s thoughts of finding a winner went up in smoke just two minutes later, Bramall missing his header, which saw the visitors’ defence sliced open way too easily and there was substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan to tap beyond the onrushing Keeley and over the line.

Luton brought on Saville and Zack Nelson for the final five minutes as Town were almost level when a good move saw Bramall dink over a cross that Morris took on first time only to fire well over the bar. Although the Hatters had seven minutes of injury time to play with, it wasn’t until the final minute that they threatened an equaliser, Saville cutting into the box only to miss the bottom corner by a fraction, as Town’s four game unbeaten run in the league was ended.

Royals: Joe Periera, Jeriel Dorsett (Kelvin Abrefa 71), Jack Marriott (Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan 65), Charlie Savage, Lewis Wing (C), Daniel Kyerewaa (Liam Fraser 86) , Paudie O’Connor, Andy Yiadom (Finley Burns 86), Randell Williams, Kamari Doyle (Mark O’Mahony 86), Derrick Williams. Subs not used: Jack Stevens, Andre Garcia.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Nigel Lonwijk, Kal Naismith (Shayden Morris 45), Teden Mengi, Mads Andersen, Lamine Fanne (Zack Nelson 86), Liam Walsh (George Saville 86), Jordan Clark (Jacob Brown 64), Gideon Kodua, Cohen Bramall, Nahki Wells (Jerry Yates 64). Subs not used: James Shea, Christ Makosso. Booked: Yiadom 72, Brown 77, Ehibhatiomhan 90. Referee: Edward Duckworth. Attendance: 9,252 (1,101 Hatters).