Report: Is Luton Town To Blame? The Big Question Is Chelsea.
The 3-1 loss to West Ham United meant that Nottingham Forest would very certainly not be able to catch up, even if they were defeated by a resurgent Chelsea a few hours later.
When the season comes to a close next weekend, if Luton Town wins against Fulham and Nottingham Forest loses against Burnley, we would need to create a 12-goal swing—something that is not even close to happening—in order to survive and maintain our Premier League standing.
Albert Sambi Lokonga, who scored Luton Town’s first Premier League goal, gave the Hatters an early lead yesterday at the London Stadium, making it impossible to stay up for more than fifty minutes.
Despite the Hatters’ lead, West Ham United increased their pressure, particularly in the second half, and won 3-1 with ease.
Now that our time as a top-tier team has only lasted one season, we will be back in the EFL playing Championship games next season.
We are all disappointed, of course, but we must never lose sight of what this team has accomplished in the top league in the world, what we accomplished on a shoestring, and how we made a number of critics eat their words.
I was sure that Chelsea would defeat Nottingham Forest going into the match, and they did, but I failed to account for the fact that the Hammers would be fired up to celebrate David Moyes’ final home game as manager of the team after a 5-0 thrashing.
So, for the next few days, I will be holding Chelsea responsible for our Premier League collapse, just like the article’s headline suggests!
READ MORE:
West Ham 3-1 Luton Town: Despite an early header from Sambi Lokonga, the Hatters’ relegation is all but assured.
Luton Town players by both sets of supporters at London Stadium on Saturday, following Rob Edwards’ team’s 3-1 loss to West Ham United, which put them in danger of making an instant return to the EFL Championship.
The match was David Moyes’ final home game as West Ham manager after it was previously reported that he would be leaving the team at the conclusion of the season. The Hatters were not in the mood to mark the occasion, as an early goal by Albert Sambi Lokonga silenced the home crowd.
The Hammers are still mathematically able to secure a qualifying berth for the UEFA Europa Conference League provided the remaining matchups go their way, but ultimately a second-half comeback proved to be easy for the hosts.
As it transpired
David Moyes’ farewell appearance in the London Stadium technical area took a turn for the worst in just six minutes, as Luton Town roared into an early lead that would set them up nicely for Premier League survival.
Albert Sambi Lokonga, who entered the box at the perfect time, nodded an Alfie Doughty cross beyond Alphonse Areola, igniting exhilaration among the boisterous away supporters.
However, Moyes’ team speech at halftime put an end to those cheers, and Luton Town players were moved to tears by the final whistle following a ferocious display from the hosts in the second half.
Less than ten minutes into the second half, James Ward-Prowse gave the score back to even after Thomas Kaminski had parried Jarrod Bowen’s earlier attempt into his path.
Soon after, a subpar clearing by Luton found its way to Tomas Soucek, the Czech midfielder, who sensationally volleyed the ball into the net to make things worse.
With fifteen minutes remaining, George Earthy tapped home following a cutback by the Ghanaian, scoring the third goal that Mohammed Kudus may have scored but instead struck the post.
The Hatters’ relegation will be official on the last day of the Premier League unless they can reverse a 12-goal swing in goal difference, with Nottingham Forest currently three points ahead of Luton Town.
The lineups for WHU were as follows: Areola; Ward-Prowse, Soucek; Emerson, Ogbonna, Zouma, and Coufal; Paqueta, Kudus, and Bowen; Antonio
LUT: Adebayo, Chong, Morris; Kaminski; Osho, Mengi, Burke; Doughty, Barkley, Sambi Lokonga, Onyedinma
