by Police in South Yorkshire are investigating a racial slur allegedly directed at Carlton Morris during Luton Town’s Premier League win over Sheffield United.
The visiting representative reported the comment to referee Sam Allison who, in turn, spoke to competition managers Chris Wilder and Rob Edwards. Both confirmed the subject of their conversation with Allison – the first black referee to oversee a Premier League game since 2008 – after the final whistle.
“It was an alleged racist comment,” Edwards said. “The police are dealing with it now. It is in his hands. The police spoke to Carlton and got his take on things. Carlton, at the time, was very angry as you would expect. But it’s okay.
“They [the police] gone and they are dealing with it now. That’s what happened and that’s how the talk was.”
Luton were 2-1 down and looked destined for victory when Morris, who were United’s former neighbors Barnsley and Rotherham, produced two late crosses which led first to Jack Robinson and then Anis Ben Slimane the ball into his own net. The dramatic save silenced the home crowd and left Wilder, who condemned the incident involving Morris and the spectators, distraught.
“A comment was made and the ref came over to talk to me and Rob, to tell us what happened and what Carlton said to him,” said Wilder, whose team are still bottom of the table.
“Yes [the comment] It was a racist attitude, which, of course, is not great, if that’s the case. It’s not something anyone wants to hear about.”
Sheffield United canceled by two own goals and Luton snatch victory
By James Shield
Luton Town’s defiant celebrations after a breathless, tiring and at times chaotic game confirmed the importance of their victory over relegation rivals Sheffield United.
The contrast in emotions between the two benches could not have been stronger as, after seeing two late own goals move the visitors to within a point of safety and six clear of their opponents who remain bottom, the usual phlegmatic Rob Edwards with his players on the field to wake up the stalemate of the traveling support.
Bereaved manager Chris Wilder instead quickly retreated down the tunnel before admitting that, despite insisting United stay in contention, the result is likely to color the rest of the campaign.
“I asked the players to be aggressive and we were,” said a jubilant Edwards. “I really liked it in the first half and then I showed great character to come back like we did, because United are always in danger.”
Given their respective positions in the table, it was perhaps no surprise to see two defensive errors settle a contest officiated by Sam Allison – the first black referee to oversee a Premier League match since 2008. But before Jack Robinson and Anis Ben Slimane converted United’s final. ball into his own net, there were also moments of real quality.
The majority came from Luton, whose decision to hand Andros Townsend a mobile forward role was a masterstroke and Carlton Morris, who delivered the two centers that forced those United mistakes, also made a significant impact after come in.
Following Alfie Doughty’s strike, United thought they had staged a dramatic comeback as Oli McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic responded before Alfie Doughty opened the scoring. But, with Wilder lamenting their decisions on the pitch later, a deflection from Robinson and Slimane criticized United for what he admitted was a “real step backwards”.
“We put it away,” he said. “Don’t take this as a dig against our opponents, our attitude towards that expense was to protect ourselves.”
As well as trying to lead his side out of the bottom three, Wilder has also been fighting fires off the pitch since returning to take charge earlier this month. After learning there was a behind-the-scenes mole leaking United’s options, the 56-year-old made four changes to the starting XI that drew with Aston Villa before Christmas and just one of those being executed; defender Ahmedhodzic returning to suspended Jayden Bogle. Edwards, whose side went into the game on the back of a shock win over Newcastle, would almost certainly have predicted the other switches when McBurnie, Gustavo Hamer and James McAtee were recalled.
Bogle’s absence ended up being more costly than Wilder had imagined with substitute Auston Trusty constantly being pulled out of position by Townsend’s presence which created space for Doughty to destroy without him.
“I really liked it in the first half,” Edwards said. “Then we showed character and faith.”
Despite the importance of the fixture, neither United nor Luton took a safety-first approach. The visitors were a threat from set pieces in the opening exchanges but also came under pressure at the other end of the pitch with Vini Souza and Cameron Archer both looking to have shots blocked.
Having seen defensive frailties undermine the work of his predecessor Paul Heckingbottom, Wilder’s exasperation was almost palpable when two errors at the back handed Luton the lead. Hamer could have done more to prevent Doughty from entering the box before the midfielder threaded the ball neatly through Wes Foderingham’s legs and into the goal.
“It was a poor give away,” Wilder said. “We were too passive and didn’t have the control we needed.”
Although they changed formation after the interval, United had McAtee’s skill and tenacity to thank for his equalizer with the midfielder getting back to his feet after being laid down in the area before handing possession to McBurnie who duly discharged home. Wilder was still composing in the technical area when Ahmedhodzic claimed United’s second after an almighty next door scramble in front of Thomas Kaminski.
Morris’s introduction, coupled with some indecisive defending, changed the course of the fixture though. First, the striker saw a cross cross against Robinson before Slimane deflected another past Foderingham.
“There is faith and unity,” Edwards said. “He showed that and that’s what will help drive us forward.”
