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 Friday 12th January 2007, Coca-Cola Championship, The Hawthorns, Kick-Off 7:45pm
Luton Town: Dean Kiely, Keith Keane, Russell Perrett, Chris Coyne, Sol Davis, Ahmet Brkovic (Adam Boyd 66), David Bell, Steve Robinson, Lewis Emanuel (Richard Langley 66), Warren Feeney, Dean Morgan. Subs not used: Marlon Beresford (gk), Stephen O'Leary, Danny Stevens
Referee: Jon Moss (Yorkshire)
Half-Time: Albion
1-0 Luton Town
Attendance: 19,927 Conditions:
Rain spells
Sky Sports:
Kevin Phillips scored twice in the final three minutes to
hand West Brom a
thrilling 3-2 win over
Luton.
Luton seemed set to secure
their first away win since September after coming from a goal behind to
lead, but Phillips stabbed home late on and then headed home in injury-time
to move The Baggies to within seven points of
Birmingham.
The Baggies made a bright start to the contest and Richard
Chaplow fired an early warning of their intent when striking a post from 20
yards. Luton, who
have lost key players in the transfer market, were not overawed and Warren
Feeney saw a shot deflected inches wide. Feeney's pace was a problem for
West Brom but he should have done better when shooting wide from six yards.
West Brom were the dominant force, though, and Phillips tested Dean
Kiely from the edge of the box, while Chaplow headed just wide following a
good cross from Phillips. The contest seemed set to end goalless at the
break, but no-one had told Jason Koumas who showed his class when gliding
between two defenders and curling a shot into the bottom corner.
The home side were the dominant force at the start of the
second half, but they were made to rue wasteful finishing from Phillips and
Diomansy Kamara as Keith Keane drew
Luton level on the hour. The midfielder cut in from the right and
exchanged passes with Steve Robinson before tucking his shot into the
corner. Luton came
into the game without an away win since September, but they took confidence
from Keane's goal and Adam Boyd and David Bell combined to provide Warren
Feeney with a simple tap in. West Brom never gave up and their persistence
was rewarded on 88 minutes as Phillips held off a clutch of Luton defenders
before stabbing home, although The Hatters felt they should have been
awarded a free-kick for a foul on
Bell in the build-up to the goal. The Baggies were awarded
a free-kick in injury-time and Phillips climbed high to head beyond Kiely to
pinch what had appeared a most unlikely victory three minutes earlier.
wba.co.uk
Tony Mowbray: "We're delighted with the three points on a difficult evening. "We've shown all season we're more than capable of scoring goals at home. When you've got creative players, you've got to trust them to score goals and create chances. This is the place for goals. "I thought Luton's first goal was exceptional - but disappointing from our point of view. But we're happy to take the points. They'll feel hard done by but Luton deserve a lot of credit. They are an attack-minded and forward-thinking team, with pace at the top end of the pitch that can give sides problems. I've seen the replay of our equaliser a few times. At the time, I was just conscious of our players being in the right position to break away. But I've seen the incident again and I'm pretty sure there is no free-kick there and no injury. It's been addressed recently that referees should decide whether the game should be stopped while the players get on with it, which is what we did. "Kevin (Phillips) has scored goals - and vitally important ones - throughout his career, as he did for us tonight. He is a consummate professional. He's getting on in years but he trains how he plays - exceptionally hard every day. He looks after his body and realises he has got to live his life properly to prolong his career. His finishing has never been in question. I'm delighted he is here and scoring goals for us - long may that continue. "I think the loss of Curtis (Davies) was a loss to us mobility-wise. But, ultimately, we came through a difficult night with three points, which is important.” Source: wba.co.uk
Mike Newell: "When we went a goal down just before half time it was a bit of a body blow. “We showed great character and played some good football in the second half to get ourselves into a winning position. Unfortunately we couldn't see it through again, which is very frustrating. "It was a foul for their second goal. Looking from a footballing point of view, I was disappointed in the way we conceded the goal, but I was also very disappointed that no free kick was given. "I don't put things down to luck to be honest, because luck does even itself out over a season. When things are going for you, things tend to go for you for a long spell." Source: lutontown.co.uk
Neil Clement makes
his 250th first team start for the club whilst Jason Koumas makes his
100th start. The game also sees Diomansy Kamara make his 50th appearance
for the Baggies. |
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Koumas
16 (foul)
