Stoppage time heartbreak for Hatters as Millwall rescue a point

Luton were hit by a late heartbreak at Kenilworth Road this evening as they conceded an injury time leveller against Millwall.

With the officials somehow finding six minutes of stoppage time to play, it was in the very last one that the Lions struck, a hopeful cross met by substitute Matt Smith, with George Evans stealing into nod beyond Simon Sluga and rescue a point.

The result was harsh on the Hatters who had looked like they were about to enjoy a confidence-boosting first home win of 2021.

However, unable to grab a second goal and attempting to try and run the clock down from well before the final whistle, they were always in danger of failing to finish off a visiting side on an eight game unbeaten run and who had the imposing Smith on by now, as sadly so it proved.

Hatters boss Nathan Jones was ruthless in his selection, making sweeping changes, five in total, from the side who were hopelessly beaten 3-0 at Stoke City on Saturday.

Out went Glen Rea, James Collins, Danny Hylton, Harry Cornick and James Bree, with Elijah Adebayo and Tom Ince in for their first starts, while Joe Morrell, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Kal Naismith returned too, Morrell for the first time since early December.

It meant Jones went with a team that had just four goals between them in the Championship this term, as Town looked to improve that statistic early on, Tunnicliffe dragging wide from 20 yards.

Ince then won a free kick just outside the area after being hauled down, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's set-piece going straight into the wall, Morrell's spectacular 3o-yard volley gathered by Bartosz Bialkowski.

The early stages showed that new signing Adebayo was enjoying his first taste of life in the second tier, with some excellent and intelligent hold-up play, always giving his team-mates an outlet.

Town were then almost undone on 25 minutes as Sonny Bradley was caught on the ball, giving Tom Bradshaw a clear run on Simon Sluga.

Fortunately for Luton, the striker's touch was way too heavy allowing the Croatian to sprint off his line and gather.

Kjust before the half hour, Hatters created their best chance, Morrell's skimming cross chested down and volleyed goalwards instinctively by Jordan Clark, Bialkowski saving low down.

Millwall should really have done better on 34 minutes, Jed Wallace's cross not cleared properly as Bradshaw teed up Ben Thompson on the edge of the area who fired wildly off target.

The Lions midfielder then did so again when another ball dropped to him from a similar range, but the half finished with neither side able to break the deadlock.

That was to change just 10 minutes after the restart though, with Luton finally seriously testing Bialkowski, a neat move forward seeing Ince's effort flipped over.

From the corner, the ball was cleared out to Tunnicliffe, whose cross flicked to Adebayo, Town's deadline day signing diverting the ball past Bialkowski, who was caught out badly by his low effort, for a first Hatters goal.

Adebayo could and should have given Luton some breathing space just after the hour mark, Clark doing wonderfully on the right wing to beat his man and stand up a cross to the far post that the striker could only head over.

Naismith, confidence boosted after the first half, whacked a volley into the stands as Jones brought on Rea for Morrell to combat the extra height of Lions sub Matt Smith.

A left wing cross by Scott Malone almost caught out keeper Sluga, who managed to tip it on to the bar and then behind for a corner, which the hosts defended valiantly.

Sluga was then to the rescue on 78 minutes, as Mason Bennett got the better of Clark, with the Town bench screaming for a foul, referee Graham Scott waving play on and the Hatters stopper stood up excellently to block.

He then kept his position by the post to tip Wallace's free kick behind, while Town made a triple sub with seven to go, Collins, Cornick and Luke Berry all on to give the hosts some extra legs in the closing stages.

With time running out, Smith hooked a volley over at the back post following a deep cross, but with the pressure intensifying, Town just couldn't cling on, Evans snatching a point with virtually the last kick.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie, Kal Naismith, Sonny Bradley ©, Dan Potts, Joe Morrell (Glen Rea 64), Ryan Tunnicliffe (Luke Berry 83), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Harry Cornick 83), Jordan Clark, Tom Ince (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 75), Elijah Adebayo (James Collins 83).

Subs not used: James Shea, Danny Hylton, George Moncur, James Bree.

Lions: Bartosz Bialkowski, Shaun Hutchinson, Jed Wallace, Ben Thompson (Mason Bennett 60), Tom Bradshaw (Matt Smith 60), Mahlon Romeo, Scott Malone, Alex Pearce (C), Ryan Woods (Shaun Williams 74), Jon Daoi Boovarsson, (Tyler Burey 74) George Evans.

Subs not used: Frank Fielding, Shane Ferguson, Dan McNamara, Billy Mitchell, Junior Tiensia.

Bookings: Hutchinson 15, Tunnicliffe 49.

Referee: Graham Scott.