Luton Town vs Birmingham City. Sky Bet Championship.
Kenilworth RoadAttendance10,062.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at Kenilworth Road
Saturday 11 January 2020 19:48, UK
Birmingham ended a run of six league games without a win with a 2-1 victory at bottom side Luton.
Pep Clotet's side had taken just one point from a possible 18 going into the game, but always looked the better side at Kenilworth Road, as struggling Town suffered a third straight league defeat.
The Blues led with their first attack, Jeremie Bela's cross from the left-hand side headed in by the towering Lukas Jutkiewicz at the far post on four minutes, despite the best efforts of keeper Simon Sluga.
Town went close when Luke Berry's free-kick required a hurried clearance from the visitors' defence, before Jutkiewicz threatened a second, his low effort saved by Sluga.
The hosts struggled to create anything meaningful for the rest of a desperately poor first half, while Blues continued pressing and after the break, Bela's free-kick flicked the side-netting on its way behind.
Town almost found a way back into the game on 50 minutes, as Harry Cornick powered forward and found the impressive Kazenga LuaLua, who fired over the top.
The introduction of substitute George Moncur then looked to have changed the complexion of the game, as he along with LuaLua, gave City something to think about, the visitors starting to concede a number of free-kicks.
From one of them, the hosts were level. Blues skipper Harlee Dean fouled Matty Pearson in the area for a penalty that was coolly converted by James Collins on 62 minutes.
However, Town were level for just seven minutes as half-time sub Dan Potts gave the ball away inside his own half and Gary Gardner raced away to exchange passes with Jacques Maghoma to slot past Sluga.
The keeper then denied Jutkiewicz from eight yards, while Town were inches away from levelling, Pearson's header from a corner cleared off the line by City's top scorer.
Luton were given a late boost when Blues were reduced to 10 men for the final five minutes, Dean picking up his second yellow for a foul on Collins and was sent off.
However, Hatters could not make their numerical advantage count, Moncur's late attempt clearing the stands.
Blues sub Dan Crowley almost made it 3-1, twinkling his way through Town's defence, with Sluga preventing his shot creeping in.
Luton could have snatched a point in stoppage time, as Collins backheeled to makeshift striker Sonny Bradley, but Lee Camp saved with his legs to ensure Blues were triumphant.
Luton's Graeme Jones: "They've got every right as we're on a run of a number of defeats, absolutely every right. But I think if anybody was a football man you could see we were short today. And as I've said over and over again, we need our best players on the pitch and we need to get some new players in to have a chance of competing at this level.
"I don't blame the supporters. You get beat again, especially today at home, they're allowed to vent their frustration. At the minute, I'm not doing a good job, the players aren't doing a good job, you have to hold your hands up. But we're under enormous financial restrictions in terms of attracting people to the football club and that's the truth.
"I never think about that (losing my job), all I think about is the solution. I had a question the other day about why do you change the team so much? Because I'm trying to find a solution. I know what the problems are because I work hard to try and find solutions and today, me, the players have failed."
Birmingham's Pep Clotet: "It's been a tough month for us because there were a few issues that happened to us. We were unfortunate to have injuries on two of our centre-backs leaving only Harlee Dean in that position for us, and through the whole month it's been difficult for us to get wins. But last week we get Jake Clarke-Salter back into the team from injury and it was an important game for us in the league, as we are already coming into the game from a win against Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup on Saturday.
"The fact that we could come here today and get this win will accomplish two goals. The first goal is to put a very healthy safety net between us and the teams at the bottom, and the second goal to get us back in the wins, as it now means two wins in a row. For the team that's very important and now we have our eyes set upon getting back a full, fit squad next week, compete again and put our eyes up the table."
