Luton Town 1-2 West Ham United
by Layth Yousif
at Kenilworth Road

GRAND old Kenilworth Road hosted its first top-flight match in more than 30 years, when 10,802 fans saw a committed Luton Town lose 2-1 to West Ham on Friday evening.

A 37th minute header from Jarrod Bowen put David Moyes side 1-0 ahead, prior to an 85th minute Kurt Zouma goal to seal victory for the East Londoners, despite Mads Andersen’s late consolation for the Hatters.

To the soundtrack of an utterly raucous “Kenny” as loyal Hatters fans call it, Rob Edwards’s side gave their all for the cause, as supporters savoured hosting the world’s richest and most glamorous league at their humble home.

Luton made seven changes from their 3-2 midweek win against Gillingham in the second round of the League Cup — even if it was a shame for all football romantics that inspirational captain Tom Lockyer didn’t make the matchday squad.

Boss Edwards opted for Reece Burke to replace the Welshman in a back three. Ross Barkley, Marvelous Nakamba, Tahith Chong, Elijah Adebayo and Carlton Morris also started, with Thomas Kaminski in goal.

Moyes made two changes for the Irons, following their 3-1 win at Brighton. Nayef Aguerd returned from suspension for Angelo Ogbonna, with Said Benrahma also coming in. Tomas Soucek was suspended.

Amid unwavering, rollicking noise, legendary former player Mick Harford was loudly hailed. The loyal servant who has been as excited as any Hatters fan at the prospect of Premier League football coming to this part of Bedfordshire.

A ferocious opening half hour saw Luton harry and hassle, throwing their bodies on the line, chasing every lost cause and everything in between, pinning their more illustrious visitors back for long spells, with the Irons appearing slightly stunned at the intensity, and intimidating decibel levels, they faced.

When Zouma took a blow, Hatters fans immediately piped up with: “That’s how your cat feels,” animal lovers everywhere reminding the West Ham defender that they have long memories.

However, Moyes’s Europa Conference League winners found their equilibrium after the half-hour mark. Said Benrahma attempted a left-footed curler that failed to trouble Luton keeper Kaminski. The shot proved a precursor to the visitors going 1-0 ahead eight minutes before the interval.

The opening goal came when Bowen nodded home from close range, following Lucas Paqueta’s pinpoint cross, leaving Kaminski to ponder the fact he should have done more to keep the ball out.

The second half was no different, with the Kenny rocking throughout, Edwards’s team spurred on by the ear-splitting passion rolling down from the stands at this evocative stadium.

Despite herculean levels of endeavour and commitment from the home side, West Ham showed quality as much as effort, to successfully hold off Luton pressure, intense as it was at times.

As the clock ticked down, there was time for Hammers No 4 Zouma to head home James Ward-Prowse’s corner to make the score 2-0 and seal a hard-fought victory at Kenilworth Road, despite Andersen’s late goal.

Edwards said after the match: “We knew it was going to be difficult and we’d see more of the ball tonight, but I have seen progression.

“We created some good chances that we have got to be able to take. I am really disappointed that we haven’t taken anything from the game.”

Three defeats from three on Luton’s return to the top-flight, yet so much for boss Edwards — and the fans — to be proud about, not to mention to take hope from.