by Luton did it for Tom Lockyer. They did it for themselves. They also rocked the Premier League for Christmas, delivering a deserved win to continue the Kenilworth Road saga and making Newcastle’s Eddie Howe look normal in the process.
A first-half lead from Andros Townsend’s header was enough to decide this contest and Luton didn’t have to push hard to preserve it. Newcastle representative Alexander Isak managed to have a goal disallowed, but that was very much from the visitors whose form is rapidly declining. Liverpool and Manchester City are coming up after Christmas. For the Hatters, they are two points from safety, but their conditioning, organization and confidence (not to mention their home support) mean that a big escape is still a realistic prospect.
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Tom Lockyer’s name was not far from the mouths of Luton Town supporters as they paid tribute to their captain who collapsed on the pitch a week ago, suffering a cardiac arrest. There were banners of support, including support from Newcastle, a round of applause for the fourth minute (Lockyer’s shirt number) and chants echoing his name throughout.
The effect of this commemoration was to create a lively atmosphere, but there was no sign of nervous energy at Kenilworth Road. The fans had no trouble and the players went about their jobs, to a man in possession can froid. As the opening exchanges of the game progressed it was clear that the hosts had the attitude not only to compete with their famous guests, but a plan to trouble them.
The width provided by Alfie Doughty and Issa Kaboré was, as ever, central to Luton’s threat. A second minute cross from Kaboré on the right almost connected with the toe of Jacob Brown at the near post. Doughty’s work on the left put constant pressure on Kieran Trippier.
Newcastle were being harassed and harassed. Even when they were able to keep possession, they looked lethargic on the ball. However, they should have taken the lead in the 19th minute, when Anthony Gordon found a second split across the box until Callum Wilson was unmarked on the six yard line. The England forward made the header and kept it low, but drove it straight to Kaminski.
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Six minutes later and Luton took a deserved lead. It came from Doughty’s corner, and the noise from the wing-back as he hit the ball proved as keen as expected. Driven at the height of a header to the near post, Ross Barkley hit the ball with the perfect flick, pushing past the defenders massed in the center of the goal and to the back post where Townsend was waiting. The former Newcastle player pounced to head home his first goal for the club. He then ran to the Luton bench, picked up Lockyer’s shirt and held it up to all four sides of the venerable old ground.
Barkley, who was clearing by this point, might have had the lead in the 35th minute but his 30-yard shot went wide of the underside of the bar. Martin Dubravka then had to be smart to deny Elijah Adebayo’s effort when he was one. Newcastle had chances of their own, spurred by Fabian Schär and Miguel Almirón. The telling statistic, however, was that Howe saw fit to make two substitutions before half-time, Lewis Miley and Jamaal Lascelles making way for Alexander Isak and Sven Botman.
These changes made little difference. Eddie Howe had nothing to say at half-time. Newcastle emerged for the second period just as they had left the first; one yard too slow, a pound of pressure too light. Brown had a chance to give Luton some distance four minutes after the restart but his powerful effort, just like Barkley’s, bounced off the bar.
On the hour Newcastle was almost satisfied with luck after deflecting through the ball Gordon into Isak’s path. The Swede took contact then curled Kaminski’s shot down only to be ruled out. A VAR check was carried out long after, raising expectations of a cancellation, but the decision ultimately stood.
In just the last 10 minutes Newcastle have not created anything approaching the siege conditions – perhaps a month ago – that most neutrals around the country expected. Chances could not be given, however, and in the end Howe’s side were contemplating their fifth win in the last six games.
