Luton Review

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City's habit of drawing matches this season is beginning to frustrate fans after another 1-1 draw. At the final whistle the team were booed off the pitch for an under-par performance that was littered with hesitancy, a lack of desire to shoot when in position and a failure to take responsibility in vital situations.

However city had the perfect start with Joe Burnell hammering in his first league goal of his career, thumping home from outside the box after two minutes after Luton's defence failed to cope properly with a low cross from the right. From a perfect start City's game gradually began to unravel with passes going astray, notably from Tony Butler, and the oddly disinterested Kevin Amankwaah who appeared to be unwilling to partake in the attacks down the right flank, and eventually even Danny Wilson tired of his attitude and sent on Leroy Lita on 42 minutes for him.

By then Luton were level, a swift counter attack carved open a flat defence and Danny Coles was left trailing in the wake of McSheffrey who slid the ball past the onrushing Phillips into the corner of the net on 18 minutes.

The game then settled down to a sterile pattern with City probing and Luton counter-attacking, but no real chances came either team's way, and the game wasn't helped by some inept refereeing by Mr Leake.

The second half saw City pressing a little harder but hesistancy by Roberts when put through allowed the Luton defence to slam the door shut, and low crosses by Woodman and Roberts were dealt with by a stretched away defence. Lita looked most likely to create a chance but the one occasion he got free he sent his shot into the chest of Beresford. Wilkshire burst through late on but sent his shot wide and Tinnion curled a free-kick narrowly over the bar.

Lita then wriggled free on the left and moved into the box and was seemingly chopped down by Boyce but the referee enraged the fans and City by deciding Lita dived and promptly booked him.

Luton launched a few counter attacks at the end but they came to naught. Then on 88 minutes Lita fell awkwardly and had to be stretchered off to a deserved round of applause. One of City's successes on a poor performance.

Ratings:

Phillips; nothing much to do apart form two charges out of goal, 6

Coles; competent without being spectacular, caught out for the goal 6

Butler; poor distribution, won his ariel battle 5

Hill; reasonable game, not really pushed too much 6

Amankwaah; disgraceful attitude, didn;t want to know today 3 (replaced on 42mins by Lita)

Wilkshire; busy but without anything to show for it, three attempts on goal all wide of the mark 6

Burnell; easily his best game of the season, scored a good goal, tidied up in midfield 8

Tinnion; opted to play a safe game without really sending in any killer passes 6

Woodman; settled into his left wing-back role well, another competent display 7

Peacock; held the line well, battled away with nothing to show for it 6

Roberts; typical game in that he bettled and tried and did the hard stuff well and messed up th eeasy stuff 6

subs Lita; on for Amankwaah, played well, battled and made a nuisance of himself 7 (injured on 88 minutes and replaced by Miller)

Miller; too short a time to get a rating