Morris' 90th-minute winner seals Luton fightback

6 Apr 2024
Luton forward Carlton Morris scored his ninth goal of the season against Bournemouth

Carlton Morris' dramatic late winner boosted Luton's Premier League survival hopes as they came from behind to beat Bournemouth.

Luton Town - Figure 1
Photo BBC Sport

Marcus Tavernier gave Bournemouth the lead early in the second half with a crisp shot from just outside the corner of the penalty area.

But Jordan Clark restored parity with a clinical 73rd-minute strike from inside the box.

The Hatters ended a run of 10 games without a league win in dramatic fashion when Morris guided the ball home from Cauley Woodrow's cross in the 90th minute.

Luton remain in the drop zone, but only behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, who are away to Tottenham on Sunday, on goal difference.

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The third-bottom hosts had spent most of the first half chasing shadows as Bournemouth's players weaved a neat tapestry of passes.

After Tavernier had struck the woodwork for the Cherries with an exquisite curling free-kick, Justin Kluivert's low effort shaved a coat of paint off the base of the post.

Luton failed to register an attempt on target before the break, but manufactured three opportunities in the space of a few minutes after the restart.

The best of them saw visiting goalkeeper Neto dive full length to his right to keep out a rasping drive from the lively Morris, but it was 12th-placed Bournemouth who struck first in the 52nd minute.

After some neat interplay down the right flank, Tavernier opened up his body to Kluivert's lay-off and struck a low swerving shot into the corner of the net.

Morris hit the outside of the post at the other end with a low effort and Alfie Doughty side-footed the ball at Neto from a tight angle, before their pressure paid off.

Cherries defender Lloyd Kelly lost a 50-50 with Luke Berry on the edge of the box and Clark pounced on the loose ball and hooked in a finish from near the penalty spot.

Luton showed the greater desire to win the game in a tense finale and their diligence was rewarded when Morris outmuscled lllia Zabarnyi to meet Woodrow's fine delivery into the box.

Vital victory gives spirited Hatters hope

Luton visit defending champions Manchester City next, but of the teams battling relegation they arguably have the most desirable run in.

Rob Edwards' side - depleted by injuries with 10 players absent for this encounter - have shown admirable esprit des corps this season.

So, inevitably, this victory against a stylish Bournemouth side was underpinned by that indefatigable spirit instigated by the Hatters boss.

It was epitomised by captain Morris. Without a goal in five league appearances, he never let his head drop and worked tirelessly to sniff out chances.

The forward kept his composure as the clocked ticked towards the end and steered home a priceless ninth goal of the campaign.

Edwards was ebullient at the final whistle, clenching his fists and roaring to the home fans who chanted "the Town are staying up".

A result such as this has the possibility to generate the kind of momentum which could now prove crucial in their remaining six games.

Bournemouth's European hopes dented

For Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, surprisingly linked with Barcelona job earlier this week, this was a reminder of the ruthless nature of English football.

The Cherries were in control, but unable to convert their first-half dominance into goals against an opposition who refused to lie down.

Bournemouth's highest finish in the five seasons they have spent in the Premier League came in 2016-17 when they came ninth.

Six points from their final seven matches would set a new top-flight club record, eclipsing the total they achieved in that season.

However, this defeat was a setback to their hopes of playing in European competition for the first time and they are now seven points behind seventh-placed West Ham.

If Iraola's side miss out on a debut continental campaign by a narrow margin they will come to rue this result.

Player of the match

WoodrowCauley Woodrow

with an average of 7.80

Luton Town

Squad number10Player nameWoodrow

Squad number6Player nameBarkley

Squad number9Player nameMorris

Squad number8Player nameBerry

Squad number32Player nameOnyedinma

Squad number18Player nameClark

Squad number15Player nameMengi

Squad number45Player nameDoughty

Squad number12Player nameKaboré

Squad number16Player nameBurke

Squad number14Player nameChong

Squad number30Player nameTownsend

Squad number24Player nameKaminski

Squad number27Player nameHashioka

AFC Bournemouth

Squad number10Player nameChristie

Squad number9Player nameSolanke

Squad number24Player nameSemenyo

Squad number19Player nameKluivert

Squad number16Player nameTavernier

Squad number27Player nameZabarnyi

Squad number3Player nameKerkez

Squad number1Player nameNeto

Squad number4Player nameL Cook

Squad number5Player nameKelly

Squad number15Player nameA Smith

Squad number29Player nameBilling

Squad number26Player nameÜnal

Squad number11Player nameOuattara

Squad number14Player nameScott

Squad number25Player nameSenesi

Line-ups
Luton

Formation 3-4-2-1

24Kaminski12Kaboré15Mengi16Burke27HashiokaSubstituted forBerryat 62'minutes6Barkley18Clark45Doughty30TownsendSubstituted forOnyedinmaat 62'minutes14ChongSubstituted forWoodrowat 80'minutes9MorrisSubstitutes1Shea8Berry10Woodrow17Mpanzu23Krul32Onyedinma38Johnson43Nelson44Piesold
Bournemouth

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Neto15A Smith27Zabarnyi5Kelly3KerkezSubstituted forSenesiat 86'minutes4L CookSubstituted forScottat 87'minutes10Christie16TavernierSubstituted forOuattaraat 59'minutes19KluivertSubstituted forBillingat 68'minutes24SemenyoSubstituted forÜnalat 69'minutes9SolankeSubstitutes8Faivre11Ouattara14Scott23Hill25Senesi26Ünal29Billing37Aarons42Travers

Referee:Andy Madley

Attendance:11,797

Match Stats
Live Text

Match ends, Luton Town 2, Bournemouth 1.

Second Half ends, Luton Town 2, Bournemouth 1.

Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Dango Ouattara.

Cauley Woodrow (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Adam Smith (Bournemouth).

Luke Berry (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Ryan Christie (Bournemouth).

Goal! Luton Town 2, Bournemouth 1. Carlton Morris (Luton Town) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cauley Woodrow with a cross.

Substitution, Bournemouth. Alex Scott replaces Lewis Cook.

Substitution, Bournemouth. Marcos Senesi replaces Milos Kerkez.

Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Issa Kaboré.

Attempt blocked. Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Philip Billing.

Attempt blocked. Carlton Morris (Luton Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Teden Mengi.

Attempt missed. Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Cauley Woodrow with a cross.

Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Lloyd Kelly.

Substitution, Luton Town. Cauley Woodrow replaces Tahith Chong.

Issa Kaboré (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth).

Attempt saved. Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town) header from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Carlton Morris.

Attempt saved. Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Clark with a cross.

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