Less than nine months ago Luton were competing in the Premier League, but the prospect of League One football next season is looking increasingly likely after this crushing derby defeat at Watford.
A run of 12 league matches without a victory paints a bleak picture for the Championship’s bottom club and Luton’s new manager, Matt Bloomfield, is still looking for a first win since his arrival last month after Rob Edwards’ departure. Tom Dele-Bashiru’s early penalty put Watford in charge in a febrile atmosphere at Vicarage Road.
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A brilliant run from Giorgi Chakvetadze created the second goal for Edo Kayembe as Watford avenged their dismal defeat at Kenilworth Road back in October. This convincing victory, which ended a run of five successive home losses, also reignites the possibility of a playoff challenge with Tom Cleverley’s team only three points off the top six. Luton were blown away in windswept Hertfordshire to leave their supporters with a disconsolate journey back up the M1 to Bedfordshire as their relegation fears were exacerbated.
Cleverley made two changes from the Watford team that won last week at Middlesbrough. Tom Ince replaced the injured Moussa Sissoko. Jeremy Ngakia returned to the defence with Ryan Andrews on the bench. Top scorer Vakoun Bayo was only named as a substitute despite returning from his three-game ban.
Bloomfield was forced into two changes in Luton’s defence with Reuell Walters and Mads Andersen replacing the injured Mark McGuinness and Kal Naismith. Their captain Carlton Morris returned to lead the attack after missing the midweek draw against fellow strugglers Plymouth through illness.
Watford flew into the early challenges with the players eager to prove a point after their abject performance in the first derby of the season in the autumn.
Luton’s hopes were undone early on after conceding a penalty. Andersen dithered in defence and the Luton goalkeeper, Thomas Kaminski, clumsily brought down Mamadou Doumbia. Dele-Bashiru stepped up and confidently fired low past Kaminski to spark delight for the home fans.
The early breakthrough reinforced Watford’s confidence and their impressive captain Imran Louza flashed a shot towards goal from the edge of the area but Kaminski safely held the effort.
Luton were struggling to cope and their afternoon took a turn for the worse after conceding a second goal. Chakvetadze’s mesmerising run into the penalty area bewildered the visiting defence and the Georgian midfielder squared the ball for Kayembe to tap home from close range.
Andersen headed over before the break with the home goalkeeper Egil Selvik still untested. At the other end, Chakvetadze remained an attacking threat and struck a long-range shot that was comfortably saved.
Luton forced their first attempt on target just before half-time with Alfie Doughty’s fierce shot parried to safety by Selvik.
Luton’s dire plight was summed up by Bloomfield’s decision to make a triple substitution at the break with Jacob Brown, Christ Makosso and Shandon Baptiste all brought on in an attempt to spark life into their team.
Shooting towards their fans, Luton started the half with more purpose and Isaiah Jones struck a venomous volley just over the crossbar from Morris’s cross. This was a rare foray though and they were unable to build on this effort.
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Another incisive Watford attack almost resulted in a third goal with Kayembe playing in Louza, but the midfielder blasted his strike narrowly over the target.
Chakvetadze almost capped his influential performance with the goal he merited after another direct run but his strike was pushed round the post by Kaminski. It did not matter though with Watford claiming the bragging rights after a result that will leave Luton fearing the worst with only 12 matches to save their season.
