The wait is over. Teden Mengi’s goal early in the first half together with two crucial late saves from Thomas Kaminski got the Hatters’ season up and running with their first win of the campaign at The Den.
Without a win stretching back to 6th April and a run of one victory in 23 games, manager Rob Edwards spoke beforehand about the Town’s confidence despite talk of a ‘losing habit’ following relegation to the Premier League.
Here, basking in the September sunshine, the Hatters looked anything but a side lacking in belief, as they secured their first win on the road of the calendar year.
That was achieved thanks to centre-half Teden Mengi’s fine strike as early as the 10th minute and those vital pieces of Kaminski goalkeeping – but more on that later.
Showing three changes to the side that lost to QPR last time out, including a first start for Marvelous Nakamba in league action since December, the Town’s enterprising start was rewarded thanks to the former Manchester United centre-half.
Alfie Doughty, employed in the right-wing-back role in the absence of the ill Reuell Walters, saw his shot saved. The Hatters remained patient when receiving the ball back, Liam Walsh – making his first start for the club – laying the ball off to Mengi on the edge of the penalty area. The defender took aim early and his firm strike gave the unsighted Lukas Jensen no chance.
Ahead, the Town comfortably kept the Lions at arms’ length and it was almost 2-0 on 22 minutes when Tahith Chong’s wonderful shot on the turn back across goal rebounded off the post.
Whenever Millwall push forward the Hatters defence coped easily with the Lions’ threat and moments before half-time Mengi came close to doubling his tally when his low shot following a Town corner was kept out well by Jensen.
It was end-to-end stuff at the start of the second half without clear-cut chances for either side. Walsh shooting at Jensen and Chong finding the side-netting in the early moments after the restart.
With Elijah Adebayo battling well in attack against the Millwall defence on his own, he was replaced with 20 minutes to go for Carlton Morris to make his 100th appearance in Luton colours and moments later Walsh spurned a good chance for 2-0, shooting straight down Jensen’s throat.
That would prove to the Hatters’ final chance of the afternoon as Kaminski took centre stage. With nine minutes to go Macaulay Longstaff raced clear of the Town defence with only Kaminski to beat. With 1-1 at his mercy the Millwall substitute’s low shot was denied by the outstretched right boot of the Hatters’ Belgian international and the Hatters’ lead stayed intact.
As time ticked down into five additional minutes it looked as though the Hatters had done enough – but there was to be one final chance for the hosts.
In the sixth added minute, a left-wing corner was met by a towering header from Lions sub Shaun Hutchinson. The ball flew towards the top corner – but just when you thought the Town would be deflated by a last-gasp equaliser, Kaminski stuck out a strong right hand to turn the ball away to safety and seconds later the referee blew for full-time. Victory.
There was celebrations and relief for the Town at the end, with Edwards returning with the much-missed fist-bumps.
The Hatters are up and running with a victory in the Championship at the fifth time of asking – and now let’s get this season started.
Next up is a return to Kenilworth Road for the visit of Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday. We’ll see you then.
UTT.
Town: Kaminski; Doughty, Bell, McGuinness, Burke, Mengi; Nakamba (sub Mpanzu 68), Clark, Walsh (sub Holmes 90+3), Chong; Adebayo (sub Morris 67).
Subs not used: Shea, Andersen, Moses, Woodrow, Taylor, Nelson.
Attendance: 14,804, including 1,964 in the away end backing the Town.
