Rob Edwards, Luton Town manager, celebrates the team's victory. Photo: Getty Images/George Wood Match summary: Everton v Everton Luton Town
Luton Town's 31-year wait for a top-flight win is over. History was made with their first Premier League success.
Not since David Pleat was manager and Brian Stein as star striker have Luton enjoyed such a moment at the highest level. And they relished the fact that their euphoric fans had finally received tangible evidence that they could survive and thrive.
Rob Edwards, Luton's manager, sensed victory was approaching and, like any forward-thinking manager, focused on moving towards victory. next, rather than dwell on the joyful present.
But the more he spoke, the more emotion betrayed him after first-half goals from captain Tom Lockyer and Carlton Morris ended an agonizing wait for more than just the last three decades , but also the first seven games of this season.
“The fans deserve it. The council deserves it. They'll love it. It’s important that we give them the opportunity to celebrate,” Edwards said. «I was desperate to give the fans something to shout about.»
Say what you will about Everton — their fans invariably do after home defeats — but they are doing everything they can to prove that the gap between the Premier League and The championship may not be as huge as the prophets of doom suggest.
After 19 games, the clubs recently promoted from the second division have six points. Four of them came against Sean Dyche's side.
Luton had some early luck at Goodison Park but their second-half resilience fully deserved the triumph as they took advantage of residual panic after Everton had scored two goals. behind.
They have also recovered from the loss of both starting centre-backs, including captain Lockyer.
“I expected us to win today,” Edwards said. “I don't want this to sound arrogant. I believe that in all the games we can come and win the game. We have grown and adapted in the games and I like how we are progressing. We are developing. They (the players) will see the doubters. I understand. Our job is to get points to prove we deserve to be here.”
Edwards may have had particular reason to be optimistic during the trip to Goodison Park, given the Merseyside club's recent struggles.
Everton lost their first four league matches at home for the first time in 64 years. Photo: Getty Images/Lewis Storey
Potential owners of Everton were given full details of the recent disasters.
The senior management of 777 Partners — Josh Vander, Steve Pascoe and Don Dransfield — took the risk to go there. where previous board members never dared to tread in their final months; in the front row of the directors' box they are trying to figure out a football club that has become completely incomprehensible.
American investors specialize in distressed businesses. They are in danger of inheriting property doomed for the Championship. The result means Everton have lost their first four home league games for the first time in 64 years.
Successive away wins hint at better times ahead for Dyche. Luton were considered the first of two home games to win.
It added to the frustration, especially after several chances were converted in a more encouraging opening for the home side, with Dwight McNeil, Idrissa Gueye and Amadou Onana watching in disbelief as efforts were missed by inches.
» Today we had a golden opportunity to change history and we didn't take advantage of it,” Dyche said. “We didn’t take a step. That's what we have to change. We had 23 shots on goal. It drives me crazy.»
Luton came into the game with a standard threat. Everton were warned when captain Lockyer headed Alfie Doughty's first corner just over the crossbar.
On Doughty's second corner, Morris connected and forced Jordan Pickford to hit the crossbar. This time Lockyer was on hand to punish Ashley Young's half-hearted efforts to clear the ball.
Everton collapsed momentarily with a second in the 32nd minute after Doughty's free-kick failed to find Morris' finisher A superb volley.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin reduced the deficit just before half-time after a lengthy challenge from Ware — Everton's first home goal of the season. Only two of the last 19 goals were scored in front of their own fans.
We were expected to be in a barrage of fire for the rest of the game. This never happened, Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski defended skillfully.
“Town does not sleep,” the away fans sang in euphoria.
They will take this as three points, won against a relegation opponent. . That in itself is a damning indictment of Everton's predicament.
Line-ups: Everton v Luton Town.
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