City took a valuable point this afternoon, drawing 2-2 with Luton at Kenilworth Road.
The Hatters, with a wage budget four times that of City, are a good side filled with top players, and they certainly won the footballing battle. However, the Imps won the other battle, that of grit, fight and determination, and while losing a two goal lead is tough to take, a draw was a fair outcome.
The Imps lineup was as predicted on the site yesterday, with Jack Moylan, Freddie Draper and Rob Street getting the nod up top. In form winger Reeco Hackett also started, but curiously, both backup goalkeepers featured on the bench, with Jamie Pardington recently returning from Oxford City. Lewis Montsma also featured on the bench, despite speculation linking him with a move away from Sincil Bank.
Former Imp Cohen Bramall was among the starters for the Hatters, who were looking to close the gap on the top six.
Luton made a bright start to the opening period and were quick to test City’s defensive shape. Emilio Lawrence blazed over from range inside the opening two minutes, before a well-worked free kick that saw Liam Walsh’s delivery met by Kodua, the header drifting over. The early stages were scrappy and competitive, typified by a piece of showmanship from Bramall, a rabona cross that ended with him barging Darikwa off the ball moments later.
City started to find a bit of joy down the flanks. Moylan’s cross on 11 minutes caused problems at the back post, with Draper just able to convert after Hackett’s movement had drawn a defender away. It was a typical Imps goal, a delivery into the box, and it set the home side on edge.
City found another gear, Reach then went close, Hackett threading a pass into him before he fired over from a tight angle just inside the area.
For Luton, Bramall remained influential, his cross on 18 minutes picking out Lawrence, whose effort was straight at Wickens, and moments later Kodua lifted a rebound effort over after Wickens had parried Lawrence’s initial shot.
City doubled their advantage on 22 minutes. Draper was fouled by Naismith, a decision that the home support found controversial. From Hackett’s delivery, Hamer nodded the ball back into danger, allowing Rob Street to react quickest and turn the ball home from close range.
At 2-0, the game began to get scrappy, and both sides struggled to get into a proper rhythm. Luton attempted to respond with a headed chance that flew over the bar on the half hour, an incident that sparked some heated words between players and left the home crowd directing frustration towards Wickens.
The Hatters got back into things on 34 minutes from a corner that Lincoln will feel was avoidable. Wickens appeared ready to collect before Bradley headed clear under pressure, conceding the set piece. Walsh’s corner found Kodua at the back post, where he nodded home unmarked.
The half ended on a sour note for City. It started when Street was booked after a challenge that sent Lonwijk crashing into the hoardings, and not long after, the same player went down in a heap and brought a stoppage in play. That saw five minutes of injury time added, and with three of those gone, Luton drew level. It was an innocuous chance, Wells picking up the ball a good 25 yards out, but he rifled past Wickens from distance. His effort was excellent, the ball curling in past the post when it seemed likely to go wide.
The second half kicked off in front of the 11,230 supporters crammed into a loud and atmospheric Kenilworth Road. I do have to say I loved the ground, tight and loud and so much more than just an amusing walk to the away end. It also kicked off without Varfolomeev, booked in the first half and replaced by Jefferies.
McGrandles picked up an early booking without much complaint as the contest continued to simmer. Moylan was then fouled on the edge of Luton’s defence, with Bramall going into the book for what felt like a harsh decision. The resulting free kick was comfortably dealt with by the hosts. Luton soon began to apply sustained pressure, a dangerous Bramall cross finding Wells free in the middle, only for his header to clip the crossbar. Luton’s spell continued, Kodua barging through as the Hatters turned the screw, Johnson’s follow-up effort taking a deflection and running wide for a corner.
The game grew increasingly feisty, Draper denied a free kick moments before Lonwijk went in late on Street, with frustrations starting to surface on both sides. The hosts made the first change, Shayden Morris replacing Emilio Lawrence, the on loan Manchester City youngster having caught the eye with his direct running.
City weathered further pressure as Walsh tested Wickens from range, the goalkeeper saving comfortably, before Draper again brought others into play, nodding down for Street whose effort deflected behind.
Moylan’s afternoon ended soon after, Erik Ring introduced to freshen the right side. Luton were then handed a free kick on the edge of the area that appeared soft, especially given earlier challenges that went unpunished, and City initially escaped when the delivery deflected wide. Wickens punched clear from the corner that followed, only for another set piece to be headed in moments later, the goal ruled out for a foul, which could easily be debated.
The closing stages were breathless. Clark saw a shot blocked by Bradley as Luton attacked again, Richards was sent on for the tiring Kodua, who had been a constant menace before fading, and City looked to relieve pressure through Draper, whose strength created a half chance from a tight angle before he won a corner that came to nothing.
Hackett was withdrawn late on for Towler, and from another recycled corner the substitute almost made an instant impact, his header tipped over superbly by Keeley. Luton’s final roll of the dice saw Wells replaced by Yates, but City held firm through the closing moments to see out a frantic and exhausting second half.
In fact, it could have been City who snatched it, pressing hard for a winner which, in fairness, would have been against the run of play. City’s afternoon was probably summed up best by Draper, who dragged down Keeley to prevent a quick, late Hatters’ break. He got a yellow for that, but it was that ‘don’t lose’ mentality which earned City a valued and deserved point.
It’s also why I’d give him my Man of the Match.
More analysis tomorrow.