A for effort from Peterborough United, but poor starts to each half cost them dear against Luton Town
Peterborough United slipped to another League One defeat as goals early in each half delivered a 2-0 win for Luton Town at the Weston Homes Stadium.
That scoreline was harsh on Posh who attacked with great spirit for 25 minutes of the second half, but just couldn’t find a goal to get them back into the game.
They suffered some unfortunate deflections with shots often ending in the hands of visiting goalkeeper James Shea. It made the killer second goal in the first minute of the second-half when Kasey Palmer’s cross was turned into his own net by Liam Kelly even more frustrating.
Palmer was also involved in the third minute strike from Jordan Clark which left Posh with a mountain to climb against powerful, and in-form opponents.
But they didn’t fold and gradually gained the upper hand. Posh ran all over Luton from the second goal onwards, until some late tactical tinkering by the hosts halted the momentum so badly Luton were the only team likely to score in the final 15 minutes.
Both teams found chances hard to create after the early goal with Ethan Williams and Kelly seeing long range shots deflected wide for corners after Liam Walsh had sent a tame 20 yarder into the hands of Posh goalkeeper Alex Bass.
Posh almost equalised when Leonard shot against the crossbar after falling to the ground following a fine Harley Mills free-kick on 34 minutes.
The nightmare start to the second period was shrugged off by Posh, helped by half-time substitutes Matt Garbett and Brandon Khela whose promptings went unanswered despite some fine wingplay from Bolu Shofowoke.
Straight after the second goal, Shofowoke did well to nick the ball between Shea and a defender. He teed up Williams whose shot lacked the power to defeat Mads Andersen on the goaline.
Khela’s shot was parried by Shea and Garbett saw a decent hit deflect to the ‘keeper rather than away from him. Garbett had a couple of efforts which threatened the goal.
Manager Robbie Savage’s final changes didn’t end up helping Posh. Hughes did well on his return to block a couple of goalbound shots, but removing full-back Mills and replacing him with winger Declan Frith didn’t work at all.
Posh kept plugging away and the effort couldn’t be faulted, but this Luton team were keeping their first clean sheet for seven games.
Posh: Alex Bass, Carl Johnston (sub Sam Hughes, 66 mins), Harley Mills (sub Declan Frith, 72 mins), Lucca Mendonca, Tom O’Connor, Liam Kelly, Harry Ashfield (sub Matt Garbett, 46 mins), Ethan Williams (sub Danny Ormerod, 66 mins), Vernon Masara (sub Brandon Khela, 46 mins), Bolu Shofowoke, Harry Leonard.
Unused substitutes: Collin Andeng Ndi, Evan Weir.
Luton: James Shea, Isiah Jones (sub Emilio Lawrence, 84 mins), Mats Andersen, Joe Johnson, George Johnston, Liam Walsh (sub Dan Gore 60 mins) Jordan Clark, Jake Richards (sub Tudor Mendel, 70 mins), Jamie Donley, Kasey Palmer (sub Harrison Ashby, 84 mins), Callum Marshall (sub Nahki Wells, 60 mins).
Unused substitutes: Josh Keeley, Benedict Benegr.
Luton goals: Clark (3 mins), Kelly (og, 46 mins).
Posh cautions: Ashfield (foul).
Luton cautions: Donley (foul), Palmer (foul).
Referee: Lee Sandoe 7.
Attendance: 8,814 (Luton to follow).