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Jamie Jackson was at Turf Moor. His verdict is in. Thanks for reading this MBM.
… but like all great pros, Kompany finishes with a couple of jokes. “I do appreciate apologies, though. I gotta be honest, I respect that! I have a pile like this!” He pinches an imaginary stack between thumb and forefinger and laughs heartily. Then he’s asked whether Chelsea striker David Fofana, in the stadium tonight, will be joining on loan. “I hope the refereeing has not messed that one up! He’s seen it and said: I’m not getting involved in that!” He’s here all week, try the Haffners Pie.
12 Jan 202417.19 ESTMore from the quietly simmering Kompany. “I want people to understand how it is against my nature to complain about such things … I want to get on with the game and play football … I want to tell my lads when they’ve done a bad job and a good job … but here, what do I go and tell them? … I don’t understand what’s happened to them a couple of weeks ago, and what’s happened to them now … what’s happened to them earlier in the season … I don’t know any more how to say it to them … it’s very difficult to hide it, to digest it … but tomorrow I’ll look at what my team can do better, always … we’re a resilient team … we’ll be ready to go in the next game … but now you have to allow us to feel the frustration … we’ll get a couple of lines in a newspaper but we won’t make the headlines because it didn’t make the headlines when it happened to us earlier in the season … no consequences for no-one … tomorrow we will be positive again.”
12 Jan 202417.15 ESTVincent Kompany gives, well, an explosive interview to TNT. “I was laughing a little bit about it the last time it happened to us against Aston Villa when we got the softest ever penalty given against us … we were already down to ten men for two soft yellow cards … it happened to us against Forest as well with a hand ball, we get the apology … it happened to us against Bournemouth again, a defender who does a hand ball right in front of his goal, it should be a penalty, last minute … so now it happens here against Luton, I don’t get it any more … so is it, if we get a penalty against us that is as soft as it was against Villa, then what is this here? … a clear attempt to stop the goalkeeper getting up … it doesn’t take anything away from Luton who were incredible … but the referee has got to get it right … any ex-pro will say the striker has been clearing the room for the other striker … and what now? … I expect the referee to see it, it was that obvious, none of the Luton players have celebrated … fouls are collisions … what is [VAR] looking at? … to be honest, I’m absolutely fine if we concede this goal and it’s consistent that this is allowed … I’ll tell my strikers to go and do it … we’ve just dropped points at Villa after an unbelievable performance on the softest red card and the softest penalty … it just keeps happening.”
12 Jan 202417.03 ESTThe ever-gentlemanly Rob Edwards talks to TNT Sports. “[The equaliser] is one of those … emotions are quite high now … it’s difficult to speak about it … maybe I could be more fair … I know that’s a big moment in the game but I feel we deserved that at least … if that one’s gone for us tonight, I do feel for Vinny tonight if it is a foul … I’ll look at it back proper and I will be honest … but it’s something we deserved in the end … we changed shape a few times to try to find a way … it was a hopeful cross and we got something from it … [Ross Barkley] has brought us a really good arrogance … he’s been really humble … but he’s got a real hunger and desire … he’s allowed us to evolve … the quieter [the January window] the better for us … I’m pretty confident we’ll come out of this window in a stronger position.”
12 Jan 202416.52 ESTRoss Barkley, named player of the match on TNT, says the point is “massive … they’ve put in a difficult performance for us … but we showed great character and the big man got the goal in the end.”
The goalscorer Carlton Morris adds with a saucy grin: “When needs must, put the two big fellows up top and we’ll cause a bit of carnage!”
12 Jan 202416.50 ESTA controversial end to an entertaining game. A point was the very least Luton Town deserved – they were the better side over the entire piece – but should their dramatic late equaliser have stood? Different factions on your super soaraway internet will doubtless have strident views, but you can make a case for it both ways: nine times out of ten, goalkeepers get the benefit of the doubt in such situations. Not this time, though, and when Trafford ran into Adebayo, who simply stood his ground, you can see why the referee wasn’t minded to blow his whistle. For the record, PGMOL say it was “just a coming together of two players” and that’s why the goal wasn’t overturned. A much more satisfactory point for Luton than Burnley, who still look the more likely to battle their way out of relegation bother.
Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|
16 | Brentford | 19 | -5 | 19 |
17 | Everton | 20 | -4 | 16 |
18 | Luton | 20 | -14 | 16 |
19 | Burnley | 21 | -21 | 12 |
20 | Sheff Utd | 20 | -34 | 9 |
FULL TIME: Burnley 1-1 Luton Town
One point apiece in this relegation six-pointer. Luton relieved; Burnley simply gutted.
90 min +7: Turf Moor is a bubbling cauldron of resentment. Thing is, the collision between keeper and attacker wasn’t enough for the referee to blow for a foul … and Luton surely deserve a point. So here we are.
12 Jan 202416.42 EST90 min +6: Cork comes on for Ekdal. Meanwhile Trafford was booked for critiquing the referee’s part in the equaliser.
12 Jan 202416.41 EST90 min +5: The goal stands! You often see keepers getting the benefit of the doubt in those circumstances. But it looked six of one, and half a dozen of the other. Trafford, who had a good game otherwise, clumsily clanked into his man, and Morris tidied up. Kompany is furious … but Adebayo didn’t do enough to make it a clear and obvious error!
12 Jan 202416.39 EST90 min +4: A long look!
12 Jan 202416.39 EST90 min +3: … but do they have the right to be? Vincent Kompany is fuming on the touchline, and says his piece to the fourth official. VAR will have a look.
12 Jan 202416.39 ESTGOAL! Burnley 1-1 Luton Town (Morris 90+2)
Burnley are sitting back. Two banks of five, pretty much. The hosts inviting trouble. And here it comes. Doughty crosses from the right. Trafford comes out to collect. He runs slap-bang into Adebayo and falls. Morris rises behind and guides a header into the empty net. No foul! Burnley are livid!
90 min: There will be five additional minutes. An age for Burnley. For Luton, they’ll go like that.
12 Jan 202416.35 EST89 min: Chong finds Doughty out on the left. Doughty is caught offside. Doughty launches a volley of abuse in the direction of Chong, who had delayed the pass that spilt second too long.
12 Jan 202416.33 EST87 min: There was also a suggestion that the ball had brushed Brownhill’s arm, but VAR has had a look and isn’t interested. Meanwhile Sambi Lokonga is replaced by Berry.
12 Jan 202416.32 EST86 min: Some head tennis in the Burnley box. Morris attempts a bicycle kick only to accidentally toe-punt Brownhill in the face. Free kick, and the pressure’s off the hosts.
85 min: Luton pass. Luton probe. Burnley hold their shape. Turf Moor bubbles away with tension.
12 Jan 202416.29 EST83 min: A double change for Burnley, as the goalscorer Amdouni and the exciting Odobert are replaced by Tresor and Bruun Larsen.
12 Jan 202416.27 EST81 min: Doughty is caught offside. Burnley take the free kick quickly and Odobert is sent scampering into the space left by the full-back. Odobert enters the box, performs a couple of stepovers, then creams a shot towards the bottom right. Kaminski shovels a save around the post, and nothing comes of the resulting corner.
12 Jan 202416.26 EST80 min: O’Shea and Al Dakhil take turns to confuse each other, just outside their own box. Sambi Lokonga nearly takes advantage but is brushed to the floor as he attempts to nip in between the defenders and away with the ball. He wants a free kick, but the contact was minimal and he’s not getting one. You’ve seen them given, mind you.
12 Jan 202416.24 EST78 min: A loose ball bouncing on the edge of the Burnley box. Morris spins and shoots, but wildly. High and wide left. A decent half-chance, but the sub snatched at it.
12 Jan 202416.23 EST77 min: Amdouni has the opportunity to release Vitinho into the box down the left, but seriously overcooks the pass. Vitinho has no chance of catching it, and it’s a goal kick. He should have been sent through on goal.
12 Jan 202416.22 EST76 min: On the edge of the Luton box, Foster latches onto a dropping ball and whistles a volley straight at Kaminski. A rare shot in anger.
12 Jan 202416.21 EST74 min: Odobert turns into space and sends Gudmundsson away down the right. Gudmundsson has Foster free in the Luton box, but his centre is overhit. Goal kick. What a waste. That’s Gudmundsson’s last act of the evening; he’s replaced by Roberts. Meanwhile Luton swap out Clark for Morris.
12 Jan 202416.18 EST72 min: Luton press Burnley back, with Chong at the hub of most of the harrying, but the home side hold their nerve and their shape.
12 Jan 202416.16 EST70 min: … in a very scrappy style. No wonder: a big 20 minutes plus stoppages coming up in this year’s relegation battle.
12 Jan 202416.15 EST69 min: We go again.
12 Jan 202416.13 EST68 min: Trafford looks like he’s fine to continue. But while he gets checked over and lifted back to his feet, both Vincent Kompany and Rob Edwards take the opportunity to give their men a pep-talk.
12 Jan 202416.12 EST66 min: Doughty takes long. Trafford, backpedaling desperately, claims excellently. But he lands awkwardly as he falls backwards and on comes the trainer.
65 min: Ogbene and Chong combine down the right and tee up Barkley, who opens his body and shapes a shot towards the right-hand side of the goal. It deflects wide. Corner.
12 Jan 202416.10 EST64 min: Chong comes on for Townsend.
12 Jan 202416.09 EST63 min: Foster slips a pass down the left for Odobert, who nips inside and shoots. The ball balloons off Mengi and threatens to loop over Kaminski and into the top left. The keeper claws out for a corner, which he then deals with himself. He doesn’t inspire too much confidence, Kaminski, but he’s kept his team in the match there.
12 Jan 202416.07 EST61 min: Ogbene crosses from a deep position on the right. Adebayo, racing into the box down the middle, can’t connect with an extended leg. Luton come again, and this time it’s Adebayo crossing from the wing. Trafford flops onto the ball to claim.
12 Jan 202416.06 EST60 min: Luton were excellent up until the Burnley goal. They’ve not been their same effervescent selves since.
12 Jan 202416.04 EST58 min: Ogbene crosses from the right. The ball hits Al Dakhil on the elbow. Luton claim a penalty, but not with much conviction, given the defender had both arms tucked behind his back. No penalty.
12 Jan 202416.02 EST57 min: … Trafford punches confidently clear. That’s fine goalkeeping, given just about every outfield player was right up in his grille.
56 min: Barkley somehow launches a counter attack while falling over backwards, pinging a pass upfield to start a move that ends with Townsend crossing from the left, Adebayo heading goalwards, and Trafford tipping over the bar. Luton crowd the Burnley six-yard box. One corner leads to another, then …
12 Jan 202416.01 EST55 min: For the nth time tonight, Kaminski slices a dreadful clearance straight out of play under no pressure whatsoever.
12 Jan 202416.00 EST54 min: The pace drops a bit.
12 Jan 202415.58 EST52 min: Gudmundsson passes infield from the right to Cullen, who pings a glorious first-time ball down the channel. Vitinho takes up possession and cuts infield, before firing a curling shot just wide and high of the top-left corner. Fine effort, though should he have rolled a cross to Foster instead?
12 Jan 202415.57 EST50 min: Ogbene scuffs a shot straight at Trafford. Luton’s first, low-octane, attack of the half. Ogbene was almost certainly offside anyway.
12 Jan 202415.55 EST49 min: Foster sprays a lovely ball wide left for Odobert, who wriggles in from the wing and slips the ball back to Foster. On the edge of the box, Foster has the right to shoot, but attempts to tee up Amdouni just to his right instead. The pass is inaccurate, and it’s a goal kick. Had Foster found his man, Amdouni would have been clear, 12 yards out.
12 Jan 202415.53 EST48 min: … but otherwise, it’s a fairly nondescript start to the second half.
12 Jan 202415.52 EST46 min: Vitinho sashays in from the right and aims a curler goalwards. Straight at Kaminski, who saves with ease.
12 Jan 202415.51 ESTLuton get the second half underway. No changes.
12 Jan 202415.48 ESTAmdouni or Gudmundsson: clarification for the nation. A TNT slow-mo shows Gudmundsson standing right next to Kaminski. Amdouni’s shot whistles past the Burnley man. The ball is fingertipped by the keeper who can’t stop its forward momentum. It brushes off the toe of the line-bound Doughty and in. Amdouni’s goal.
12 Jan 202415.35 ESTHalf-time entertainment. Made for you with Saturday and Sunday very much in mind.
HALF TIME: Burnley 1-0 Luton Town
Luton have been the better side, but look at the scoreline. Meanwhile it’s apparently been confirmed that Amdouni scored the goal, and that Gudmundsson didn’t get any nick that would have claimed it. So there you have it.
12 Jan 202415.33 EST45 min +2: Ogbene crosses from a deep position on the right. Adebayo goes up with Trafford and claps the keeper in the chops with his forearm. Free kick.
45 min: There will be three additional first-half minutes.
12 Jan 202415.31 EST44 min: Ogbene once again romps down the right. He’s got nobody up with him, though, and the move, such as it is, eventually breaks down. The Irish winger continues to carry Luton’s greatest threat.
12 Jan 202415.28 EST42 min: Ogbene pelts down the right before finding Clark in the middle. Clark should shoot first time but takes a couple of touches instead, hoping to make room for a better opportunity. It doesn’t come. His eventual effort is blocked, and from the resulting corner, nothing comes.
12 Jan 202415.27 EST40 min: Odobert twists and turns to make space down the left. He reaches the byline and cuts back for Amdouni, who shovels a shot over the bar while in the process of falling backwards.
12 Jan 202415.26 EST38 min: Amdouni drops a shoulder down the left and buys a free kick off Townsend. The resulting set piece isn’t up to much, but suddenly Luton are rocking. How quickly the prevailing wind can change.
12 Jan 202415.24 ESTGOAL! Burnley 1-0 Luton Town (Amdouni 36)
They’re into the game now all right! Foster spins and turns into space down the middle, before releasing Odobert along the left touchline. Odobert bursts into the box, reaches the byline, and cuts back for Amdouni, who smashes goalwards from ten yards. The ball takes a little flick off Gudmundsson, standing in front of Kaminski. That flick deceives the keeper and sails into the net. Burnley lead against the run of play!
35 min: Odobert strides in from the left and curls towards the top-right corner. Always high, always wide, and Kaminski had it covered, but again, that’s better from Burnley, who are slowly coming into the game for the first time.
12 Jan 202415.19 EST33 min: Burnley continue to enjoy a bit of possession in the Luton half, but in truth there’s not much going on. Luton hold their shape confidently.
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