Ben Fisher was at Wembley this evening. His verdict is in, and here it is. Congratulations to Luton, commiserations to Coventry, and best wishes for a speedy recovery to Tom Lockyer. Thanks for reading this MBM. Nighty night.
Coventry boss Mark Robins speaks to Sky. “This is about Luton now … congratulations to them and their supporters, they have been brilliant all season … they gave us a really tough start to the game in the first half, we didn’t get anywhere near the levels we’ve been used to … credit to them for that … second half we played much better … they were starting to rock, you could feel it … we tried to win the game in normal time with Kasey [Palmer] knowing he’s not got a great deal in the tank … maybe he’s able to get us over the line but that didn’t occur … we gave everything we could … I’ve got no complaints with the efforts … this has to be fuel for us to move forward … it takes feeling like this from time to time to make the good times feel better … while there’s pain now, we have to acknowledge that it’s been a magnificent effort from everybody … we’ve lost one game in 20 … there’s no shame in that … we had no Gus [Hamer], Kasey Palmer or Callum Doyle on the pitch and we were starting to run-out of recognised penalty takers … Fankaty [Dabo] showed the guts, determination and bravery to step up in front of their supporters … but it’s about Luton, congratulations to them.”
"Tom is OK" - Lockyer's dad tweets
Here’s some great news. A few tears from an understandably emotional Rob Edwards as Sky flash up the tweet. “I can’t speak highly enough of him. I’m really pleased he’s OK.”
Tom’s Dad here. Tom is ok. Very happy but so sad he can’t be there with his team mates. Here is the moment……. pic.twitter.com/4mxlyGqbhI
— Steve Lockyer (@sl_cardiff) May 27, 2023
Luton boss Rob Edwards speaks to Sky. “It feels incredible … I’ve got to be honest, the only thing I’m thinking about now is Tom Lockyer … he’s been immense for us this season … health is the most important thing, family, more important than football, more important than this … I don’t care right now until he’s all right … I know he’s all right … a few of the guys have spoken to him in hospital … that’s really good obviously … it felt a little bit wrong to celebrate … I’ve got to say huge credit to Mark Robins and Coventry, commiserations … the job he’s done has been incredible … he deserves so much credit … I couldn’t have done that, I know they’ll be back stronger … an unbelievable fanbase and an amazing club … it was our day, which was great, but I do feel for them as well … a lot of emotions going on now but I am incredibly proud.”
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There will be Premier League football at Kenilworth Road next season. You wouldn’t have put too much money on that when they finished seventh in the Conference Premier ten years ago.
This is our story.
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) May 27, 2023
The first club to go from non-league to the Premier League! 🧡#COVLUT | #COYH pic.twitter.com/n2NvnBiURl
Jordan Clark, Luton’s goalscoring hero, is asked by Sky how it feels to be a Premier League player. “I can’t believe it. I was thinking about it. I was trying to think how long ago I was playing at Hyde in the Conference, the bottom of the Conference. It was about 11 years ago. So I’ve done the hard yards. My family have took me everywhere. For them as well. My little boy is here as well, I can’t wait to see him!”
Greetings from Watford (via Atlantic City). “As probably the only Watford supporter in New Jersey, USA, I’d like to say how happy I am about today’s result,” writes Larry Babbin. “I always root for the sacked Watford managers. Pretty soon it will be half of the Premier League.”
An emotional interview with Luton’s Tom Potts. “We’ve had some good news and hopefully [Tom Lockyer] will be able to see us tonight. Tom, really hope you’re well, the lads are gutted for you, and we can’t wait to see you. Like the gaffer always says, health is the most important thing, and family, so we really wish you well.”
As Luton dance around and spray the champers, spare a thought for Coventry City and poor old Fankaty Dabo. The cruellest way to lose a final, and with it dreams of promotion to the big time. To be fair, Luton were the better team over the entire piece, and should have put the matter beyond question in an absurdly dominant first half. Coventry came back heroically, and were the bosses of the second period, but Luton looked more likely as extra time began running out. But we’re talking fine margins. Still, when the pain finally subsides, the Sky Blues will be proud of their season’s work. It augurs well for the future, and if they can keep this squad together, and keep hold of their excellent manager, those Premier League dreams need not be shelved for another 22 years.
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This is a phenomenal achievement by Luton Town. They were playing in the Conference Premier nine seasons ago! Now they’re heading to the Premier League, an institution they voted into existence as a member of the old First Division, only to miss out on it altogether when they were relegated in 1992. They’ve gone through the mill since then all right, but now they’re back, for the first time since the days of Mick Harford, Brian Stein and Chris Kamara!
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There is a cup to lift, even though that’s not really the point of today. Before the ceremony, the camera picks out Luton managerial legend David Pleat in the stand. A wave and a cheer. Then the team trot up and collect their medals. Peter Ridsdale, erstwhile Leeds goldfish enthusiast and now Preston owner-whisperer, hands them out. Then the trophy is handed over to Sonny Bradley, who wasn’t in the squad today but does his bit by hoisting the silverware skyward!
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The Luton players hold up Tom Lockyer’s number 4 shirt. They bop around it. Their hospitalised captain not physically here, but like Carlton Morris says, he’s here in spirit all right. The encouraging news is that Lockyer is conscious and talking to his family.
Over to the Luton celebrations, then, and here’s Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu speaking to Sky. “We won it for [Tom Lockyer]. He’s been a warrior. I feel like I’ve completed football now! I might retire!”
Carlton Morris adds: “He’s been incredible all season for us. I don’t even know what happened yet, it’s a bit of a shellshock. But the lads got behind him, and that’s how big a character he is, he’s still here in spirit. If you’re watching this at home, Locks, I love you and hope you’re all right.”
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Poor Dabo holds his head in his hands, then crumbles in tears. He’s being consoled by his team-mates. Poor chap. Someone had to miss. Eleven perfect penalties preceded it. Gyokeres lies on the floor motionless. Coventry, who were bottom of the Championship when these teams met for the first time this season, have given it everything to get this far. So close. But it’s Luton who are going up.
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RESULT: Coventry City 1-1 Luton Town (aet 1-1; Luton win 6-5 on pens)
Luton Town will play in the Premier League for the first time next season! They wheel off in delight. They’re the first team in the history of English football to drop out of the league from the top flight then climb all the way back up again!
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PENALTIES: Coventry City 5-6 Luton Town. Dabo trudges up. He looks calm. But then he blows out his cheeks … and blazes wildly high and wide right. Luton Town are going up!
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PENALTIES: Coventry City 5-6 Luton Town. Potts looks nervous … but rolls nervelessly into the bottom left!
PENALTIES: Coventry City 5-5 Luton Town. Kelly has to score. And he does, sensationally so, giving Horvath the eyes and rolling into the bottom left!
PENALTIES: Coventry City 4-5 Luton Town. Berry arrows another unstoppable penalty into the top left.
PENALTIES: Coventry City 4-4 Luton Town. What time is it? Eccles time. He slots into the right-hand side of the net, sending the keeper the wrong way.
PENALTIES: Coventry City 3-4 Luton Town. Clark scored in the first half. Now he steps up, takes a long run-up, and … whistles his kick into the left-hand side of the net.
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PENALTIES: Coventry City 3-3 Luton Town. Sheaf takes a short run-up and lifts a glorious penalty into the top left. Horvath went the right way but there was no chance of stopping that one.
PENALTIES: Coventry City 2-3 Luton Town. Nakamba whips into the bottom right, sending Wilson the wrong way. Marvellous. (Sorry, but what can you do.)
PENALTIES: Coventry City 2-2 Luton Town. Gyokeres up next. Coventry’s leading scorer absolutely roofs his effort down the middle. Absolutely unstoppable!
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PENALTIES: Coventry City 1-2 Luton Town. Taylor, who moments earlier celebrated what he thought was the winner, kisses the ball, places it on the spot and sends his kick into the bottom left. Perfectly placed, which is just as well because Wilson went the right way.
PENALTIES: Coventry City 1-1 Luton Town. Godden looks confident and lashes into the right-hand side, Horvath going the wrong way.
PENALTIES: Coventry City 0-1 Luton Town. Morris strides forward, ball tucked under arm. Wilson takes his sweet time to get into position. Morris tickles his penalty into the bottom left.
The spot kicks will be taken in front of the Luton fans. Luton will take the first kick too. Wilson and Horvath, members of the goalkeeping union, wish each other all the best. Horvath looks the more nervous, but then looks can deceive. Here we go!
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With salty eye-discharge now guaranteed somewhere, an apt choice of pre-penalty music pours out of the Wembley PA. Penalty is a doing word.
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EXTRA TIME, FULL TIME: Coventry City 1-1 Luton Town
Lucky Panzo. Penalties it is!
ET 30 min +2: Berry is skittled in the centre circle. One last chance for Luton to pump a free kick forward. In it goes. Half cleared. Morris crosses, and Berry heads wide.
ET 30 min +1: The first passes without incident.
ET 30 min: There will be two minutes of additional time.
ET 28 min: That’s the correct decision. It didn’t look intentional, but it teed up the goal. Everyone in the stadium looks drained; this is an emotional rollercoaster all right!
NO GOAL! Coventry City 1-1 Luton Town
ET 27 min: A huge let-off for Coventry, because when Taylor knocked the ball past Panzo, it reared up onto his hand! VAR rules the goal out.
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GOAL! Coventry City 1-2 Luton Town (Taylor 116)
Panzo hesitates on the ball, 25 yards out. He then toe-pokes it accidentally, and Taylor pounces. He knocks the ball past the hapless defender and slots it between Wilson’s legs. What drama here! Poor Panzo’s first touch as well!
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ET 26 min: Onyedinma embarks on a power dribble down the inside-left channel … only to be denied by a sensational sliding hook-tackle from behind by Sheaf. What an intervention, because Luton had Coventry on the back foot there.
ET 25 min: … to be replaced by Panzo.
ET 24 min: Doyle’s back up, and hopefully rehydrated, but he’s not able to continue. He slowly trudges off …
ET 23 min: Doyle goes down with cramp. On comes the physio with water and energy gel.
ET 22 min: Eccles thinks he’s picked Nakamba’s pocket in the centre circle, but as he romps towards the Luton box, the whistle goes for a fairly cheap free kick.
ET 21 min: Another Luton change. Osho makes way for Potts.
ET 19 min: The pace of the game has significantly dropped. You can’t blame them.
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ET 17 min: Some pinball and a jangling of Luton nerves, but the corner’s eventually cleared. “Did you know that, like Keith Houchen’s forehead, Gary Mabbutt’s knee has never had to buy its own pint in Coventry since 1987?” asks Justin Kavanagh. “Ben Wilson could get in on that act, if this goes to penalties.”
ET 16 min: Bidwell throws in from the left. Gyokeres spins Burke on the byline and crosses, forcing Osho to concede a corner.
Coventry get the second half of extra time underway. Luton have replaced Adebayo with Taylor. We’re 15 minutes plus stoppages away from penalty kicks.
Half-time (v2.0) reading.
EXTRA TIME, HALF TIME: Coventry City 1-1 Luton Town
It’s tense. It’s entertaining, if increasingly scrappy.
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ET 15 min +1: The first of two additional minutes. Kelly glides down the middle. He’s got Bidwell in space on the left, but tries to steer a gentle shot into the bottom-left corner. The ball apologetically trundles wide of the post.
ET 15 min: Gyokeres combines crisply with Eccles and nearly opens Luton up down the right. But the fresh Berry comes across to intercept just as a dangerous attack threatens to develop.
ET 13 min: Horvath is good to continue.
ET 12 min: While the keeper receives some running repairs, Coventry make a change … and it’s a curious one, as Palmer, not that long on the field having replaced Hamer, is hooked for Eccles. To his great credit, there’s no tantrum, just a look of disappointment. Mark Robins has a word.
ET 11 min: Horvath kicks long then goes down feeling his hamstring. On comes the physio.
ET 10 min: VAR confirms referee Michael Oliver’s view. Clark doesn’t really push the point with the referee, which probably speaks volumes.
ET 9 min: Clark chases after a speculative pass into the Coventry box down the left. Out comes Wilson. Clark gets there first, poking the ball forward, then flinging himself down. He wants a penalty, but he’s getting booked for simulation instead.
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ET 8 min: Luton replace Mpanzu with Berry.
ET 7 min: It’s end-to-end stuff now. Sheaf nicks the ball off the toe of Clark, who was preparing to shoot. Palmer goes up the other end and feeds Gyokeres, who loses control. Morris tears off down the left and is upended by McNally, who is booked for the foul. Clark’s free kick is cleared easily enough.
ET 5 min: Onyedinma wafts a cross into the Coventry box from the left. Morris knows he’s offside and doesn’t compete for it. The ball sails out for a goal kick.
ET 3 min: Palmer steals the ball from Nakamba in the centre circle and piles down the middle. With the pitch opening up, he’s cynically nudged off the ball by Onyedinma, who for some reason gets away without a booking. Bidwell chips the resulting free kick into a crowded box, but it bounces harmlessly out for a goal kick.
ET 1 min: Wilson launches a long drop kick. Gyokeres rolls Bell and stings Horvath’s hands from 25 yards. Horvath parries the vicious strike confidently and gathers the loose ball.
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Luton get the first period of extra time underway. Coventry have made a change, swapping out Norton-Cuffy for Dabo. “Coventry must be hoping that Gary Mabbutt’s knee is going to come on for Luton,” quips iconic-own-goal enthusiast Niall Mullen.
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Coventry were the better team in the second half. They weren’t as dominant as Luton were in the first, and they didn’t create half as many good chances. And yet on balance a draw after regulation time seems about right. We still don’t know who will face one of Everton, Leicester City and Leeds United in the Premier League next season. Extra time to come … followed perhaps by penalty kicks. How are your nerves? Yes, ours are in a right old state too.
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FULL TIME: Coventry City 1-1 Luton Town
Extra time it is, then!
90 min +8: Morris races past McFadzean, who had rashly committed himself to a sliding tackle. Morris bombs clear down the right. McNally comes across to block and dig his team-mate out of bother.
90 min +7: A bit of space for Sheaf, 25 yards out. He shoots. Luton block and counter. Mpanzu cuts in from the left and goes for the bottom left. Easy for Wilson.
90 min +5: Gyokeres wins a throw down the left. Bidwell takes and works it infield for Palmer, who drops a shoulder and goes for the top right. He finds the top right of the stand behind.
90 min +4: The game gets scrappy. Nerves kicking in. The tension at Wembley is palpable.
90 min +2: Clark hoicks the free kick miles over the bar. Coventry go up the other end, where Godden tries to whip an opportunistic shot over the wandering Horvath from 40 yards. High and wide. Had that been on target, the keeper might have had a problem.
90 min +1: McFadzean needlessly runs into the back of Morris, 25 yards from his own goal. There wasn’t much contact, and Morris was certainly looking for the free kick, but McFadzean’s positioning rolled out the red carpet. This is dangerous.
90 min: The corner is hit long and misses everyone in the box. There will be eight extra minutes.
89 min: Drameh crosses from the right. Onyedinma prepares to meet the ball at the far post, six yards out, but Norton-Cuffy nips in to steer the ball out for a corner.
88 min: Gyokeres spins elegantly on the edge of the Luton D and takes a shy towards the top left, but he’s crowded out by three defenders and the ball’s deflected into Horvath’s arms.
87 min: Palmer tries again and makes it into the box, but Burke comes across to step in and shepherd the ball out for a goal kick.
86 min: Palmer tries a trick or two along the left touchline but there’s no way through the Luton back line.
84 min: A Luton change: Onyedinma comes on for Doughty.
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83 min: Adebayo hassles McFadzean down the Luton left and forces the defender to give up a corner. Once again, defenders considerably outnumber attackers. Too much at stake to take too many chances.
82 min: Palmer’s first contribution is a deep cross from the left. There’s nobody in Sky Blue to attack it. Both teams now unwilling to throw too many men forward with time running out.
80 min: A distraught Hamer limps off, tears in his eyes. He covers his face with his shirt before receiving a hug from his manager. A bittersweet moment. Palmer comes on in his place.
79 min: Hamer goes down again. His race looks run.
78 min: Drameh floats in a cross from the right. Wilson claims bravely under pressure from Adebayo.
77 min: Hamer is trying to run off the injury, but he’s not moving smoothly.
76 min: It takes him a while, but the physio eventually gets Hamer back up onto his feet. But the Coventry goalscorer is limping. He really turned that right ankle while contesting a high ball with Nakamba.
74 min: Hamer is down having landed awkwardly in midfield. The physio comes on and pokes gingerly at his ankle. Time for everyone else to take on some liquid. It’s sunny and warm down Wembley Way.
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73 min: Hamer sends the free kick towards the far stick. Nobody in Sky Blue attacks it. Very strange. But Luton fail to clear their lines properly, and the ball’s returned into the box from a deep position on the left. It finds Gyokeres on the penalty spot. He leans back and lashes over. He should have hit the target at least.
72 min: Godden chases a speculative pass down the right. Osho hesitates under the high ball and allows Godden to take control of the situation, before barging him over. Free kick just outside the Luton box on the right.
70 min: The nerves are kicking in now. Adebayo nearly gets on the end of a long ball down the middle. The ball squirts through to Wilson, who mishandles and nearly tees it up for the Luton forward. Fortunately for the keeper he gathers immediately, and farce is given the bodyswerve.
68 min: That unfolded in a very similar fashion to the Luton goal. A long pass down the left, a perfectly weighted pass inside, a midfielder arriving late to score. Coventry have been the better side since the restart, and there’s their reward.
GOAL! Coventry City 1-1 Luton Town (Hamer 66)
What a goal this is! Coventry counter from the Luton corner. A long pass down the left by Doyle. Gyokeres steams down the left, drawing Bell and Osho, before cutting back between them for the in-rushing Hamer, who opens his body and steers a delightful sidefoot across Horvath and into the bottom-right corner. A lovely move!
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65 min: Adebayo wins the ball deep. Clark romps into space down the middle and sends Morris away on the right. Morris crosses. McFadzean blocks out for a corner. Just for a second there, Coventry were light at the back and exposed. Nothing comes of the corner.
63 min: Doyle strides down the middle only to be overcome by Beckenbauer Delusion. His shot from the best part of 35 yards flies 35 yards over the bar. To be fair, he has the good grace to look thoroughly embarrassed.
62 min: A reminder that Luton too the lead against Coventry three times in two matches during the regular season, and were pegged back on each occasion. So all is not lost for the Sky Blues yet.
60 min: The free kick’s curled long. Morris tries to win a header at the far stick but skittles Bidwell to the floor. The pressure on Coventry is released.
59 min: Adebayo’s hustle earns a free kick out on the Luton left. Everyone lines up on the edge of the Coventry box in anticipation.
58 min: Coventry are attempting to become the first team to turn around a losing position in the Championship play-off final since Blackpool did it against Cardiff City in 2010.
56 min: Norton-Coffey whips in from the right. With Godden lurking, Bell is forced to whack out for a corner. McNally meets that corner by sending a header harmlessly over the bar. This is a different game now.
54 min: Happily, both players are back on their feet and able to continue. “Really hope the Hatters see this one out,” begins Joe Minihane. “My first spurs game on 22 Dec 1990 (a ninth birthday present) was against Luton. Three red cards, heard the c word for the first time, got a lunch box off Santa. Shame I was also lumbered with Tottenham forever more.”
53 min: Osho and Burke both go up for the same high ball and clatter each other. Having fallen awkwardly, the Luton pair stay down. On come the medics, who are earning their corn this afternoon.
52 min: Kelly hoicks high over the bar from 25 yards. But this is much better from Coventry, who are now imposing a pressing game of their own. Luton aren’t dealing with it particularly well.
50 min: A long pass down the Coventry left. Osho and Horvath confuse each other, hesitating on the edge of the box, and allow Gyokeres to poke past them. But the ball flies away from the open goal and the Coventry striker can’t reach it to roll home.
49 min: Doyle crosses from the left. The ball pings out for a corner. Nothing comes of the set piece, but the early signs are that Coventry are responding to some half-time hairdryer treatment.
48 min: Bell gives Horvath a weak backpass, and the keeper’s closed down by Hamer. Fortunately for Luton, the ball ricochets wide right of goal.
47 min: Morris races down the left before cutting back for Adebayo, whose shot is deflected wide left. Then the flag goes up for offside.
46 min: A mere 17 seconds into the half, McNally is booked for cynically clipping a turning Adebayo.
Coventry get the second half underway. Godden comes on for Allen.
Tom Lockyer. There’s no word yet on exactly what problem befell the Luton captain. However there is some good news: Sky report that he’s “awake and conscious” and on his way to hospital. Everyone’s best wishes go with him. Godspeed.
Half-time entertainment.
HALF TIME: Coventry City 0-1 Luton Town
This scoreline seriously flatters Coventry. Luton have been the better team by some distance, although Coventry showed a few flickers of life towards the end of the half.
45 min +7: “Man City v Luton will be an interesting contrast in styles, if it comes to pass,” opines Richard Hirst. Speaking of Man City, Luton and interesting style …
45 min +5: A pause as Horvath receives some treatment after taking a knock while claiming that high ball. A hush descends on Wembley, unsurprisingly so given the earlier fate of Lockyer, but happily the keeper is back up on his feet soon enough.
45 min +3: Horvath claims the free kick, after a fashion, and the pressure on Luton is off. The last couple of minutes have been much better for Coventry, though, and may give them a little succour in the second half. Goodness knows they need some.
45 min +2: We enter a period of eight added minutes. Gyokeres makes ground down the right and is tugged back by Osho. A free kick and a chance for Coventry to load the box.
45 min: Coventry have suddenly remembered they need to contribute too. Sheaf slips Hamer into a little space down the left. Hamer should probably take a touch down the channel and buy a ticket for the raffle, but instead of shooting he cuts back infield and is surrounded. But for the first time in a good while, the Sky Blue take of the Eton Boating Song is the dominant noise at Wembley.
43 min: Bidwell bursts into space down the left and loops long. Hamer meets it at the far post but leans back and balloons over. That’s Coventry’s first goal attempt of the match, and a reminder that, for all Luton’s dominance, there’s still only one goal in this.
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41 min: Doughty is everywhere. He powers into the Coventry box from the left, after nutmegging Norton-Coffey. He shoots. The ball deflects off McFadzean and heads towards the bottom left. Doyle clears off the line. The ball pings off Adebayo’s arm and in. Luton celebrate cheekily, but sheepishly. Another Luton “goal” is disallowed.
40 min: Doyle swings one in from the Coventry left. Norton-Coffey competes, but he’s again denied by that man Doughty.
39 min: Mpanzu curls in from a deep position on the right. Morris telescopes a leg but can’t connect properly in his attempt to steer into the top-right corner. Wilson claims with ease.
37 min: Norton-Cuffy dribbles hard down the right, but despite twisting this way and that, can’t slip past Nominative Determinism’s Doughty.
36 min: Luton have had 12 touches in Coventry’s box; Coventry haven’t had a single one in Luton’s. On the touchline, Mark Robins gives his players the what-for. These two things are unlikely to be unrelated.
34 min: Drameh crosses from the Luton right. Adebayo rises and sends a header over the bar in the harmless fashion. He should have put Wilson to work at least.
33 min: Bidwell fires a backpass towards his keeper at unnecessary speed. Wilson does extremely well to control and hammer clear with Clark nanoseconds away from closing him down.
31 min: In fact, Luton could easily be four ahead. Two shots towards an unguarded net – earlier by Morris, just then by Adebayo - have bounced inches wide, while Osho was only marginally offside when he forced the ball home. Coventry are hanging on a bit here.
29 min: Luton should be two up. Another long pass down the middle. Adebayo heads down for Morris, whose shot is blocked by a combination of McNally and Doyle. The ball breaks to Adebayo, whose first-time sidefoot bounces wide left of goal.
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28 min: Hamer tries to get something going for Coventry with a quick bustle down the left, but is quickly swarmed.
27 min: There’s no initial response to falling behind from Coventry. Luton are still first to everything, still pushing Coventry back. Horvath in the Luton goal has had nothing whatsoever to do.
25 min: That goal was thoroughly deserved. It was a fine move too: a long pass creamed down the left, Adebayo twisting his opponent’s blood, Clark taking a cute first touch that allowed him to slip into the box and shoot.
GOAL! Coventry City 0-1 Luton Town (Clark 23)
… and here it is! Doughty hits long down the left. Adebayo twists McFadzean instide and out, then cuts back for Clark, who steps into the box down the inside-left channel, and roofs into the top left! Wilson surprised at his near post!
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22 min: Nothing comes of the corner, but Luton come again. Mpanzu has a whack from 20 yards, but the shot has the steam taken out of it by McFadzean and Wilson claims. A Luton goal feels on the cards.
20 min: Bidwell ships possession needlessly and gifts the ball to Mpanzu on the Luton right. Mpanzu swings it in for Morris, who fires goalwards from 12 yards. McNally does exceptionally well to deflect the shot over the bar for a corner.
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18 min: With the obvious and grim exception of losing their captain Lockyer, Luton will be happy with the way the play has gone in these early stages. They’re by far the better and more proactive side.
16 min: Wilson, having already been involved in a couple of near-fiascos, claims a Luton corner with safe hands. That may settle him down.
14 min: The resulting free kick is headed out of play needlessly by Bell for Coventry’s first corner. Luton deal with it, and again go long. McFadzean attempts to head clear while Wilson tries to claim on the edge of the box. A poor header. Morris gets to the dropping ball and hooks past them both. Fortunately for Coventry the ball bumbles past the right-hand post of the unguarded goal.
12 min: What awful luck for Lockyer. He was running backwards and mid turn when he stumbled. Did his studs catch in the turf, bending his leg awkwardly? It looks to be a serious problem. He’s carefully loaded onto a stretcher and replaced by Burke. Wembley gives Lockyer a sympathetic ovation as he leaves.
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10 min: The players are ushered away from Lockyer as the medics do their thing.
8 min: While Nakamba was busy fouling Hamer in the midfield – a garden-variety incident – Lockyer went down elsewhere, off the ball. Nobody around him. The stretcher is immediately called for.
7 min: That would have been a scruffy one from Coventry’s perspective. Lockyer beat Bidwell with ease, Norton-Cuffy was snoozing while Osho was alert, and Wilson was flapping. Promising early signs for Luton.
5 min: … Luton have a goal disallowed! The corner’s hit long by Clark. Lockyer wins a header, ten yards out, down towards the bottom right. Osho pokes home past a flailing Wilson, but the flag goes up correctly for offside. Osho by a leg. Coventry breathe again.
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4 min: Lockyer launches a free kick long. Clark busies himself down the left and wins the first corner of the game. From which …
2 min: As Mark Robins expected, Luton are on the front foot quickly, pressing hard, all over the pitch. A hectic, shapeless start to the game as a result.
Luton get the ball rolling … and immediately launch it long through Horvath. Bell drives down the left but can’t barge his way into space. Coventry get their first touch.
The teams emerge from the Wembley tunnel. One hell of an atmosphere. Both sets of fans giving it everything they have. Sky blue and orange flags fluttering all over the shop. Beautiful bedlam! Coventry wear their sky blue shirts with vertical piping, Luton orange with white flashes, kits certain to give the older demographic a proper late-70s-infused Proustian rush. Won’t be long now!
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Luton boss Rob Edwards talks to Sky. “It’s a really big game obviously … we felt that in the build-up, there’s no point hiding away from it … we have to remain calm … we have to play the way we want to play … the best version of us … it’s a different type of game, we know the stakes, but we’re only going to be successful if we do what we do and do it well.”
Coventry manager Mark Robins speaks to Sky Sports. “Hopefully it’ll be a tight game … we lost heavily to them at Kenilworth Road last year … we’ve drawn both games this season so that was a major step forward … they pose a huge threat … physicality but some really good quality as well … coached very well … this [warm and sunny] weather will dictate to a certain degree … they’re a pressing side … we have to try to impose ourselves on the game.”
On the subject of the CBS Arena, are the Coventry Building Society getting good bang for their buck? Your humble MBM hack can’t be the only one whose mind instantly drifts off to this …
… or maybe something like this? Their advertising recall metrics must be through the floor. Perhaps they should have stuck with the old Stourbridge, Lye & District Permanent Building Society branding. A bit of a mouthful perhaps, but at least you don’t go away thinking about 60 Minutes or The Byrds.
The form book makes good reading for Luton. They’re unbeaten in nine matches against Coventry, a run that stretches back to October 2017, when the Sky Blues won 3-0 at Kenilworth Road. Both teams won promotion from League Two that season, which illustrates how far these two clubs have come in a short space of time. Since then, Luton have beaten Coventry on four occasions – including a 5-0 rout in September 2021 – while five matches have ended in a draw. Both of this season’s games finished all square: a 2-2 draw at Kenilworth last September, when Luton were 18th and Coventry were rooted to the bottom of the Championship table, and a 1-1 draw at the CBS Arena in February.
Both teams are in If It Ain’t Broke mode. Having won the second leg of their play-off semi-final at Middlesbrough 1-0, Coventry select the same XI players who started that match today. Luton are also unchanged, in the wake of their 2-0 home victory over Sunderland.
The teams
Coventry City: Wilson, Norton-Cuffy, Bidwell, McNally, McFadzean, Doyle, Sheaf, Hamer, Allen, Kelly, Gyökeres.
Subs: Moore, Panzo, Wilson-Esbrand, Dabo, Godden, Eccles, Palmer.
Luton Town: Horvath, Lockyer, Bell, Osho, Drameh, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Clark, Doughty, Morris, Adebayo.
Subs: Shea, Potts, Berry, Burke, Campbell, Onyedinma, Taylor.
📋 Lining up for the Sky Blues this afternoon...#PUSB pic.twitter.com/BDgf3uzE4J
— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) May 27, 2023
Your play-off final Hatters. 🫡#COVLUT | #COYH pic.twitter.com/PHHmxlsBsQ
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) May 27, 2023
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Preamble
Coventry City and Luton Town are responsible for two of the greatest cup finals in Wembley history. In 1987, Cov did this …
… then a year later the Hatters managed to pull off this …
… so if both clubs bring their A-games to the national stadium again, we’ll be in for a treat.
There’s no cup on the line this time, of course; promotion to the Premier League is today’s big prize. Coventry are looking to return to the division after a 22-year absence; Luton meanwhile have never played in it, getting themselves relegated from the top flight at exactly the wrong moment, the summer of 1992, and thus missing out on the new competition they’d had a hand as an old First Division club in creating. Since their respective relegations, both teams have been to hell and back, via Northampton, Birmingham and Burton upon Trent in Coventry’s case, the Football Conference in Luton’s. So in one sense, while the partial will demur, it really doesn’t matter who prevails today: a feelgood bounce-back fairytale is one way or another guaranteed. The final chapter of that story begins at 4.45pm BST. Best of luck to both the Sky Blues and the Hatters. It’s on!
