Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Luton Town: Michael Smith's penalty extends struggling Hatters' winless run to eight games
Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday and Luton Town at Hillsborough on Saturday; Michael Smith cancels out Alfie Doughty's screamer to earn a point for the Owls
Saturday 1 February 2025 18:20, UK
Sheffield Wednesday kept up their play-off push after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with relegation-threatened Luton.
Alfie Doughty gave the visitors a first-half lead before substitute Michael Smith levelled from the penalty spot.
The point leaves Wednesday two points adrift of the top six while Luton are two points from safety.
Amid growing discontent over Dejphon Chansiri's ownership among Wednesday fans, leaflets were handed out before the game as supporters' group 'The 1867' called for change.
- Championship highlights | Table | Fixtures
- All you need to know - Streaming Sky Sports with NOW | Get Sky Sports
- Download the Sky Sports App to watch every Sky Sports+ game
- Live EFL on Sky Sports+ & how to watch | Get more EFL to your phone with WhatsApp
Wednesday's new signing Stuart Armstrong was named among the substitutes.
Luton included Thelo Aasgaard, signed from Wigan this week, in their starting line-up. Fellow new recruits Josh Bowler, Millenic Alli and Kal Naismith were included on the substitutes bench.
After a largely forgettable opening half an hour, Luton took the lead when Doughty found the net with a superb strike from around 25 yards out.
Josh Windass threatened for the hosts on the left-hand side of the area but he shot beyond the far post.
Wednesday boss Danny Rohl made a double change at the start of the second half with Armstrong and Smith coming on to replace Max Lowe and Callum Paterson.
The hosts applied some pressure with Mads Andersen forced to make an important block inside the area as Yan Valery threatened and then Thomas Kaminski made a good low save from Djeidi Gassama.
Wednesday equalised with a penalty on the hour mark, awarded after Gassama was fouled by Lamine Fanne following a superb run into the area. Kaminski guessed the right way but Smith's effort had too much power for him to keep the ball out.
Wednesday continued to press, with Smith going close with an effort which was well saved by Kaminski before Windass put the rebound well over.
Kaminski came to his side's rescue again, parrying a Windass shot with Gassama unable to turn in the loose ball.
Luton manager Matt Bloomfield made a double substitution in the 72nd minute, sending on Daiki Hashioka and Alli in place of Reuell Walters and Doughty.
Bowler, who had earlier replaced Jacob Brown, dragged his low shot wide.
Andersen made a crucial challenge on Gassama inside the area late on.
Barry Bannan tried a shot in time added on which took a deflection and was comfortably gathered by Kaminski.
With Wednesday piling forward in search of a winner, Windass had a shot blocked and the ball fell to Shea Charles, whose effort was deflected over.
The managers
Sheffield Wednesday's Danny Rohl:
"I think from the first view you can think about it as two different halves. The first half was exactly what I expected. A team who is looking for set pieces, second balls, compact, try something.
"For me it was clear we need a little bit of patience today against a side who will be compact. They fight for staying in the league.
"We noticed from last year what it means. And then of course second half we could make impacts from the bench but also how we played and quicker in front. I think especially first half and it was during the 90 minutes as well, we need sometimes two, three touches.
"This is against a side who's staying deep, you have to accelerate the game at the right moment in this time of the year. I think we cannot do more. Ball possession, shots on target, everything.
"I will be positive. I will not accept today that we are too negative and we speak too much about the first half or the second half. It's a Championship challenge today. And we carry on.
"We come one point closer. We make always small steps, not the big step but in the right moment we make the big step. We should be always around as long as we are in this position. We come back with all the belief we can do it."
Luton's Matt Bloomfield:
"I thought we were fantastic first half, really solid in our shape. Had a couple of moments, obviously a great strike from Alf to get ourselves ahead and I felt like we were really solid, really pleased with the shape of us and the intensity of the group.
"I think that probably showed with the half-time substitutions that Danny made and then second half there was inevitably going to be a bit of pressure I guess.
"And Sheffield Wednesday are obviously a team chasing the play-offs and very good at home. So for us I think it's a good point, a respectable point, considering the run that we've been on away from home.
"To stop that, we're pleased. But yeah, I think there's some really good individual performances in there and as a team I thought there were some good bits and as always plenty to work on."
