What a day. It began at Luton bus station shortly before 9am, and ended in a similar location just before Match of the Day kicked off. What a shame the BBC didn't recall Garth Crooks to the pundit sofa for one night only to reflect on his ridiculous comments made a few weeks ago. 3,000 Luton fans who were up on Merseyside know that this Hatters side are going to hold their own in the Premier League. A dash from the bus just after 3pm meant we missed the first few minutes but by the time we were standing in the Bullens Upper Luton were well on top. A succession of corners delivered expertly by Alfie Doughty gave the Toffees warning. At the third time of asking Carlton rose like a colossus to thunder a header on to the bar via a Pickford flick. As the ball came rocketing down, Ashley Young must have imagined he was back at the Watford training ground and thought it was time for a shimmy. He had reckoned without Tommy Tommy Lockyer who charged forward and the ball crashed into the ne...
Massive improvement. A change of system. Should have come away with at least a point. Some shocking refereeing. Another dismal day for VAR. Over a minute eulogy on Match of the Day to Palhinha who wanted to go to Bayern. Yes, a good player, but somehow the ref completely missed a potential career ending tackle, not even a yellow card. Where is the consistency?
Sir Robbie Edwards made 4 changes as Brown got a first Premier start. As did new signing Sambi Lokonga. Tommy Lockyer and Kabore also returned to the XI. It was definite tactical change of approach from the gaffer with Morris through the middle, and Chong and Brown providing support in attack, reverting to a much more solid base when wirhout the ball.
So to the match incidents involving the Hatters. And there were plenty. On 5 minutes Lokonga sent Chong away, he raced down the flank but had no support but still made the keeper work. On 25 minutes Morris had a fantastic chance as the ball fell to him unmarked but his first-time volley flew wide. A couple of minutes later we came ever closer when Kabore's cross was headed unmarked by Brown only to crash against the post.
There was also time in that first half for Kaminski to be booked for timewasting on 36 minutes, and Morris to be fouled in the area which both ref and his mate in the VAR didn't even consider.
Still, our first 45 minutes without conceding this season.
Second half Town came out strongly and a great ball from Brown saw Bell arriving unmarked at the far post but he could only fire straight across the goal back at Leno.
Three changes for Fulham just after the hour proved crucial. Iwobi and Vinicius came on, Iwobi passed it to William and his ball from the byline was not gathered by Kaminski and Vinicius tapped home. It almost got worse a minute later apart when a great block from Kabore saw the ball deflect wide.
73 minutes Sir Robbie went for it, throwing on Elijah, Doughty and Ogbene. Doughty arrival saw a big improvement in set piece delivery and one peach on 76 minutes was just about cleared. Kabore had a shot 81 minutes, Woodrow put a header with no power wide on 84, and in the final minute of time allowed, a long ball from Kaminski was controlled well by Elijah, his ball across brushed the flowing locks of Tommy Tommy but the ball did not hit the onion bag.
Three thoughts to reflect on, accepting that the coaches know infinitely more than this correspondent, and just as they wouldn't dream to lecture me on my day job, it is entirely expected and accepted that all these options have been considered and there are excellent reasons for not doing any of them.
1) Set pieces from half-way or nearer. Why don't we fire them straight into the box? Three or four opportunities in this game resulted in a quick free kick passed sideways and then booted out of play or possession lost.
2) We don't have a long throw option since Cornick left. I know a few clubs don't use the tactic, like City, Spurs etc, but given our height and physicality with Andersen, Elijah, Burke, and the rest, seems a mistake not to even consider it as an option. Look at Sheffield United's goal against Spurs yesterday.
3) There was one moment late on when Ogbene showed his pace, proving himself twice as quick as the Fulham defender. Surely we've got to start him soon, he is electric.
On 85 minutes a Fulham fan in front left saying that the game was won. Such arrogance surely would come back to haunt him, but it was not to be.
It may be four games, four losses, but we've said before it was a slow start last season, and this Luton side is improving game by game. Stand by fireworks, and our first Premier League points.
COYH.