Match Report | Luton Town 1-0 Cardiff City
City were defeated by Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday evening.
Omer Riza made two changes to the side that defeated Norwich City last time out, with Perry Ng and Callum Robinson coming into the starting XI.
City made a bright start and went close to taking the lead inside three minutes, as Anwar El Ghazi showed positive movement in the box, before heading just wide from a corner. At the other end, Hatters striker Jacob Brown found space on the edge of the area to fire at goal, forcing Jak Alnwick to save. The Bluebirds reacted well, with El Ghazi again involved, finding Robinson free on the left, who struck just over the woodwork.
Whilst continuing to pose a danger going forward, City showed a great appetite off the ball, with a keen willingness to press and win the ball back. Late in the first half, El Ghazi had an opportunity to strike at goal from a free-kick, which was saved by Thomas Kaminski. The hosts also had an effort before the interval, with striker Carlton Morris heading over from close-range.
At the half time break, winger Yakou Méïté was introduced and almost made an immediate goal-scoring impact, as his header goalwards was tipped just over the woodwork by Kaminski. Despite a positive start to the second period, the hosts took the lead in the 57th minute, as Brown headed home from close-range.
As the second half went on, the Bluebirds pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with David Turnbull striking at goal, only for his effort to be blocked into the hands of Kaminski. In added time, Méïté delivered a dangerous cross into the area, which was almost turned in by a Hatters defender, but City couldn’t find a leveller.
The Bluebirds return to action on Saturday afternoon, hosting Blackburn Rovers.
FINAL SCORE: LUTON TOWN 1-0 CARDIFF CITY
Luton Town: Kaminski, Bell, McGuinness, Krauß (Nakamba 88’), Morris, Chong (Baptiste 65’), Mengi, Clark, Brown (Adebayo 60’), Hashioka, Doughty. Subs not used: Krul, Moses, Woodrow, Mpanzu, Walsh, Holmes.
Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng, Goutas, Chambers, O’Dowda, Siopis (Kanga 83’, Turnbull, R Colwill, Tanner (Méïté 46’), El Ghazi (Willock 70’), Robinson (Ashford 70’). Subs not used: Horvath, Fish, Daland, Bagan, Rinomhota.