Scorers: Collins (6') and then sent of in the 61st minute, Cummings (86')/Kirby(30'), Virtue (62')
H.T: 1-1
K.O: 3.00 Saturday 06/04/2019
Attendance: 10,028
Referee: Lee Collins
Luton manager: Mick Harford
Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Changes in the table: 8 points now separate Blackpool from the playoffs and Luton remain top.
Teams:
Luton XI: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Justin, Mpanzu, Berry (Cornick), Shinnie, Lee (Cummings), LuaLua (Moncur), Collins
Subs not used: Isted, Baptiste, Thorne, Sheehan
Blackpool XI: Mafoumbi, Turton, Heneghan, Tilt, Bola, Spearing, Virtue, Kirby (Thompson), Delfouneso (Long), Feeney (Pritchard), Gnanduillet
Subs not used: Nottingham, Daniels, Shaw, Evans
Match Events:
It is never easy to play against the league leaders, but when you quickly shoot yourself in the foot, it becomes doubly as difficult. It took just 7 minutes for Luton to take the lead and it was too simple. Lualua was given time and space on the left flank to pick out Collins who, from close range, swept beyond a slow to react Mafoumbi. Luton, who were already full of confidence, has the advantage and Kenilworth Road was rocking.
Luton would maintain their high levels as Blackpool were consistently on the back foot. They were getting endless set pieces and looked to be headed towards a second goal. In the 12th minute Pearson did well to rise highest in one of these set pieces, but his goal-bound header was well blocked. Luton were persistent though and were possibly not being ruthless enough. In the 23rd minute a dangerous free-kick induced a goalmouth scramble, but Blackpool would once again emerge unscathed.
For all of Luton's quality, Blackpool did look threatening on the counter, with Feeney especially being a real outlet. In the 26th minute however, when they broke with the winger, Luton were able to turn over possession once more. There was little Luton could do about what happened next though. In the 30th minute Matty Virtue lifted into the path of Nya Kirby on the edge of the box and the midfielder, making only his second start for the Seasiders, drilled into the corner and silenced Kenilworth Road.
This shock was translated throughout the Luton side, with the best chance Luton creating over the course of the remainder of the half being a cross almost looping beyond Mafoumbi, who was sharp enough to claw over in the closing seconds.
2nd half:
Despite Luton winning a couple of quick corners in the second half, it was in fact Blackpool who looked more convincing. They should have taken the lead in the 49th minute when a searching cross by Feeney was met well by Gnanduillet, but Shea did brilliantly to get something behind the header. Another chance would fall to Gnanduillet just minutes later, when Kirby lofted into the path of the striker who this time saw his effort cleared off the line. Blackpool could have even had a penalty in these frantic minutes when Bola went down under two separate challenges.
The game seemed to be returning back to its previous pattern when Tilt blocked a goal-bound effort, but soon that would dramatically change. Two quick fire cards for James Collins, one for kicking the ball away and the other for a late foul on Turton, and Collins was given his marching orders.
Things would get even better for Blackpool, as they took the lead shortly afterwards. On 62 minutes a corner would fall kindly to Virtue who slammed home from close range and turned the game completely on its head.
Luton were still deadly going forward, so when Gnanduillet had time and space on the break, only to his his right footed shot straight at the keeper, you had to feel that Blackpool would pay for not killing the game off as the Luton final push began. In the 78th minute Moncur would curl wide and just a Blackpool looked to be heading for the points, disaster.
In the 86th minute Jason Cummings was allowed to turn in the area and stroke into the bottom corner. A goal that could have ended Blackpool's playoff dream.
UTMP