Luton fail to tame Wolves

A moment of lost concentration at the start of the second half cost Luton a share of the spoils in the rain at Molineux.

A confident Wolves back four became the first team to stop the Town from scoring in 2006, and despite matching the home side for most of the match a Jemal Johnson strike on 46 minutes was enough to win the match.

Luton Town made two changes to the team which drew at home to Stoke with Markus Heikkinen and Steve Robinson returning from injury and new boy Sam Parkin taking up his position on the bench, and Adam Boyd was missing from the squad altogether.

Luton had to be thankful that big Carl Cort was not firing on all cylinders, as he had numerous chances to score but wouldn't have done so if he'd still been out there on Sunday morning!

His first faux pas came in the first few minutes when first he shot straight at Beresford when clean through, then fired over the bar, and again got clear after about ten minutes to be foiled by a last ditch challenge by the excellent Barnett after dwelling too long on the ball.

Town might have had a penalty in the 17th minute when Jody Craddock got the wrong side of Feeney and appeared to drag him down but Referee Robinson was unimpressed.

Generally, Luton were unable to find away to get behind the home defence and began shooting from too far out in frustration. This became a pattern and the Wolves back four looked very solid indeed.

Emanuel had a good chance but shot straight at keeper Murray, when Vine appeared to be in a good position for a pass and from the break, Jemal Johnson drove over the bar.

Cort's problems continued when he got a weak header on a very good ball from Johnson, and then had the best chance of the first half breaking through on goal only for Marlon Beresford to make a brilliant save taking the ball off his toes.

Only 90 seconds or so into the second half, with Luton's minds apparently still on their half-time cup of tea, Murray hoofed a long clearance down the middle, which was knocked on by Robinson's failed attempt to clear the ball. Johnson was surprised to find the ball at his feet and fired a speculative but precise 25 yarder into the net off the post.

Luton rallied well and created a few chances but none that were clear cut, and they were fortunate not to go two down when the dangerous Johnson drew another good save out of Beresford.

In the 67th minute, Mike Newell gave Sam Parkin his debut for the tiring Feeney, and the unusually ineffective Emanuel was replaced by Dean Morgan.

Parkin was not long in announcing his arrival forcing a good save from Murray with a 25 yard drive.

Marlon Beresford saved well from substitute Ricketts and then again from Johnson, and when home keeper Murray was replaced towards the end, Parkin's snap shot beat the new keeper but also the post. With an extra 5 minutes added on Carlos Edwards repeated the feat sliding the ball past the post in what was to be Luton's last real chance of a point.

Jemal Johnson: 9 - Jemal was the difference between the teams - worked hard, set up Cort for several chances and took the winning goal with cool precision. There is a two week break for the International Euro qualifiers before the visit of Crystal Palace on Sat 9th September 2006.

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