Having gone behind early to Carlton Morris’ early strike, a second in as many games from Gonçalo Franco levelled for the Swans as the scores would be locked at the break.
Head coach Luke Williams looked like he would be ruing his side’s missed chances as the Swans failed to capitalise on Joe Johnson’s sending off until deep into stoppage-time Myles Peart-Harris’ late winner would earn the home side a vital victory to end the calendar year.
Williams challenged his side coming into the game to back up their impressive Boxing Day 3-0 triumph over Queens Park Rangers. A first-half double from Liam Cullen and Franco’s first for the club got the Swans back on track in England’s second tier after back-to-back defeats.
In a quick turnaround, Rob Edwards struggling Luton side would be next up. A familiar foe having locked horns with the Swans in a 1-1 draw just three weeks ago.
The Hatters, languishing in 18th place in the Championship table have had an underwhelming season and following Thursday’s 1-0 reverse at Bristol City lie just six points above the bottom three.
Having lost their last eight away games on the bounce picking up points on the road has been the major issue for Edwards’ underperformers. But without a win in the last five against the London-based outfit, Williams would be wary of the threat the former Premier League side would pose.
The former Notts County boss understandably chose to keep an unchanged lineup, whilst there would be two changes for the visitors with Marvelous Nakamba and Amari’i Bell returning to the starting X1.
It would be the away side who would start the brighter of the two sides as the Swans would struggle to get their passing game going in the early minutes.
The Hatters would take an early lead through forward Morris. The stand-in skipper smashing home his third in his last four outings against the Swans on the half-volley after miscommunication in the home defence saw a clearance only half-cleared to gift the Londoners with the perfect start.
The Swans would start to show more urgency in their press and would respond well with the game’s next chance. Matt Grimes ball over the top of the Luton backline committing Luton stopper Thomas Kaminski to smother the effort. The ball though would squirm out to the feet of Eom Ji-Sung but the Korean’s attempt to slot in on the follow-up would bounce off the post and into the relieved Luton stopper’s hands.
Williams’ side would continue to toil in and around the opposition’s final third and would look the more threatening of the two sides to trouble the scoreboard. Harry Darling, a goal scorer at Hull a week ago coming close to prodding home Josh Tymon’s cross with the ball finishing agonisingly for the Swansea centre back inches wide of the Luton goal.
The Swans would then be presented with their first clear opening just after the half-hour mark. Ronald’s sharp burst would see the Brazilian clear on the right-hand side, but the wide man’s effort would drag across the goal with visiting number one Kaminski beaten.
It would just be a reprieve for the Hatters as Williams’ side would deservedly level the scoreline minutes later. Franco eventually tapping in his second in as many games after a scramble in the Luton box had seen Belgian international Kaminski save brilliantly from both Ronald and Cullen.
After an even start to the second period, it would be the Swans who would come the closest first to taking the lead. Eom’s free-kick from the left curled into the Luton penalty area to perfection to meet the incoming run of Darling. The former MK Dons defender’s header though would lack the power and direction to beat Kaminski who once again would draw a notable save to add to his growing collection of heroics.
The Swans would push for a winner and after Johnson’s sending off for a second bookable offense for the visitors it would be one-way traffic. Williams’ side coming close through Cullen late and just Luton’s stubborn rearguard would look like holding firm to give Luton a share of the spoils the winner would arrive.
Peart-Harris firing home from within the six-yard box to the delight of the raucous home support and despite substitute Žan Vipotnik seeing a late effort saved by Kaminski, all three points would go to the Welsh side.
Swansea City X1
Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Tymon, Josh Key, Harry Darling, Ben Cabango, Matt Grimes (captain), Gonçalo Franco (Jay Fulton 53), Ronald (Azeem Abdulai 90), Eom Ji-Sung (Myles Peart-Harris 76), Liam Cullen, Florian Bianchini (Žan Vipotnik 76).
Luton Town X1
Thomas Kaminski, Thomas Holmes, Mark McGuinness, Joseph Johnson, Amari’i Bell, Marvelous Nakamba (Zack Nelson 65), Jordan Clark, Tom Krauß, Tahith Chong, Carlton Morris (captain), Elijah Adebayo (Reuell Walters 70).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
