- Luton Town defeated Brighton 4-0 at Kenilworth Road to escape the Premier League relegation zone with a hat-trick from Elijah Adebayo.
- The Hatters had taken a two-goal lead inside the opening three minutes of play.
- Luton surpassed Sean Dyche’s Everton team to take the 17th position.
Luton Town defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday to escape the Premier League relegation zone with a hat-trick from Elijah Adebayo. The Hatters had taken a two-goal lead inside the opening three minutes of play.
In the opening minute of play, the 26-year-old scored to give the Hatters a fantastic start in Bedfordshire. A mere 120 seconds later, Chiedozie Ogbene increased the hosts’ advantage with his second league goal of the season.
Adebayo’s second goal of the game in the forty-two minute put Luton ahead three goals at the half, and the former Walsall man completed his long-awaited hat-trick in first-team football not long after the restart.
The Hatters have finally gained some perspective in the struggle for survival, having emerged victorious from their past five Premier League games and surpassing Sean Dyche’s Everton team to take the 17th position.
Luton’s quick goals
The Seagulls were playing backward from the first whistle, but Edwards’ team managed to win possession thanks to a well-executed press. Ogbene on the right flank found Carlton Morris at the back post with an inviting cross, and the 28-year-old nodded down to Adebayo, who finished with a touch to beat Jason Steele.
As the home crowd was just getting settled after the first goal, their Bedfordshire heroes doubled their lead in the third minute. This was due to a slumbering Brighton defense that was unable to stop right-wing-back Ogbene’s run after he was sent through by a beautifully weighted ball from Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Luton scored the first goal after just three minutes of play. Photo/ Supersport
The former Rotherham United player Ogbene was in an efficient mood as the Seagulls’ Steele raced towards him to close the angle. The Irishman tapped the ball past the onrushing goalie before finishing into an empty net. Ogbene had already found the net in the FA Cup victory over Bolton Wanderers earlier in the month.
Although Roberto De Zerbi’s team was unable to sting Thomas Kaminski’s palms, a shell-shocked Brighton posed a greater threat as the half went on, largely through Brazilian starlet Joao Pedro, whose Watford links did not go unnoticed by the Hatters faithful.
Brighton’s problems worsened just three minutes before halftime. Ross Barkley dispossessed the Seagulls in their own half once more, finding Adebayo’s run on the right side of the goal. The Hatters’ top scorer then did the rest, beating Steele at his near post with a well-executed finish.
De Zerbi, who appeared incensed by his team’s performance in the first half, made two substitutions for the second half: Tariq Lamptey and Evan Ferguson took the places of Pervis Estupinan and Facundo Buonanotte, who had been repeatedly harassed down his flank by the raiding Ogbene during the first forty-five minutes.
Adebayo celebrates goal with teamate after he scored a hat-trick. Photo/ Luton Town
Despite the Seagulls’ substitutions, the game continued to build momentum, and Luton’s number 11 scored his first-ever hat-trick in professional football. Pedro’s flick-on assisted Alfie Doughty’s inviting corner, which the striker headed in from close range.
Brighton’s inability to adapt their powerful tendencies from the FA Cup, where they have scored nine goals in two away games against Stoke City and Sheffield United, has resulted in the South Coast club failing to score in four of their previous six Premier League games.
Encouraged by their greatest Premier League triumph since the 1980s, Luton will visit Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon. There, the Hatters will try to make it four straight wins in all competitions after being undefeated in January.
The Seagulls, who have yet to win a Premier League maximum in 2024, will return to play on Saturday when they visit rivals Crystal Palace.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login