Luton Town took a giant step toward surviving relegation from the Premier League with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory, via a pair of own goals late in the second half, over Sheffield United on Boxing Day.
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Rob Edwards’ side (15 points - 18th place) now sits just a point behind 17th-place Everton and two back of 16th-place Nottingham Forest (with a game in hand on the Tricky Trees) as the halfway point of the Premier League approaches. Sheffield United (9 points), meanwhile, remain bottom, still seven points adrift of safety.
Luton took an early lead through Alfie Doughty, who breezed by one defender and beat goalkeeper Wes Foderingham with a low, hard blast at the near post. Foderingham will have expected to do much better with the chance, but that’s life at the bottom of the table.
The Hatters looked to be cruising right along to three uneventful points, until things went haywire in the final half-hour. The ball found its way to Oliver McBurnie after pinging around the penalty area in the 61st minute, and McBurnie slotted it home from a tough angle to make it 1-1.
Eight minutes later, sheer chaos rained down on Luton’s six-yard box. Cameron Archer had his shot saved from a yard out as Luton somehow managed to scramble the ball a few yards away, only for it to fall to Anel Ahmedhodzic at the top of the six. The captain was composed with his finish, fitting it through a sea of bodies to put Sheffield United 2-1 ahead.
That lead lasted less than 10 minutes, as any luck the Blades might have had left officially ran out. A floated cross came into the penalty area and though Jack Robinson was the one who got a touch on the ball, he did so under serious duress and his slight flick found the inside of Foderingham’s far post for an goal.
Anis Ben Slimane’s own goal four minutes later was nothing short of a total disaster, as Carlton Morris cut the ball back toward the penalty spot, Slimane stuck a foot out to block it and the ball went bounding high in the air, behind him and looped over everybody inside the six-yard box. Sadly, that’s the story of the season for Paul Heckingbottom Chris Wilder and Co.
What’s next?
Sheffield United will wrap up 2023 with a trip to Etihad Stadium to take on three-time defending Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday (10 am ET). Luton will welcome Chelsea to Kenilworth Road earlier on Saturday (7:30 am ET).
Player ratings - Sheffield United vs Luton Town
Sheffield United vs Luton Town, final score: 2-3
Goalscorers: Alfie Doughty (17'), Oliver McBurnie (61'), Anel Ahmedhodzic (69'), Jack Robinson (77' - OG), Anis Ben Slimane (81' - OG)
17th minute - GOAL - Alfie Doughty slips one in at the near post for 1-0
61st minute - GOAL - Oliver McBurnie cleans up from close range to make it 1-1
69th minute - GOAL - Anel Ahmedhodzic finishes after an epic goal-mouth scramble
77th minute - GOAL - Jack Robinson flicks the ball into his own net for 2-2
81st minute - GOAL - Anis Ben Slimane scores another own goal on a wicked deflection
How to watch Sheffield United vs Luton Town live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET, Tuesday (December 26)
TV Channel: Peacock
Online: Watch online via Peacock Premium
Sheffield United starting lineup
Foderingham — Robinson, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty — Baldock, Souza, Brooks, Hamer — McAtee, Archer, McBurnie
Luton Town starting lineup
Kaminski — Mengi, Osho, Bell — Giles, Lokonga, Barkley, Doughty — Townsend, Brown, Adebayo
Focus on Sheffield United, team news
OUT: John Egan (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), Tom Davies (thigh), Daniel Jebbison (illness), Rhian Brewster (thigh), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh)
Focus on Luton Town, team news
OUT: Tom Lockyer (heart), Reece Burke (thigh), Dan Potts (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Cauley Woodrow (calf)
