Luton vs Coventry LIVE: Championship play-off final result and reaction as Luton reach the Premier League
Coventry 1-1 Luton (Luton wins 6-5 on penalties): Luton complete remarkable journey from non-league to the Premier League
Luton Town will play in the Premier League for the first time after beating Coventry City 6-5 on penalties in Saturday’s Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium, earning a return to England’s top flight after a 31-year absence.
Coventry’s Fankaty Dabo missed the crucial penalty, blazing his shot over the crossbar, to seal the win for Luton following a 1-1 draw, then a goalless period of extra time.
The first 11 penalties of a high-quality shootout were scored before Dabo had the unenviable role of villain as he failed from 12 yards.
Jordan Clark put Luton 1-0 up in the first half before Gustavo Hamer equalised for Coventry after the break and the game headed to a shootout. Luton held their nerve to complete a journey from non-league to the Premier League in just nine years.
Relive the action as Luton beat Coventry in the Championship play-off final.
Luton 1-0 Coventry
31 mins: Another long ball looks for Morris, who peels off to the back post and then goes down in a heap along with Norton-Cuffy. But the referee points the other way! Both players had a hold of the other there.
Luton 1-0 Coventry
28 mins: CHANCE! Luton should be two up! Coventry are a shambles defensively and are lucky to still be in this! Another long ball is hit towards Morris, who nods down to Adebayo. The goal was gaping but he can’t manage to volley in!
GOAL! Luton 1-0 Coventry (CLARK 23’)
BREAKTHROUGH IN THE PLAY-OFF FINAL!
Jordan Clark lashes in a deserved opener for Luton Town! It came after brilliant work from Elijah Adebayo on the left wing, twisting and turning his defender to set up Clark. His touch was excellent, and allowed him to strike inside the near post!
It had been coming - Coventry are all over the place here.
Luton 0-0 Coventry
21 mins: Coventry are all over the place here! Another long ball from Luton causes doubt in the backline and Coventry can’t deal with it. The ball breaks to Mpanzu, but his shot is bobbled straight at goalkeeper Wilson.
Luton 0-0 Coventry
19 mins: Another half-chance for Luton and Morris! Coventry again just can’t clear their lines - it breaks to Morris in the box but he lashes over.
Luton 0-0 Coventry
17 mins: It’s been a very nervy start from both Coventry and Luton - you can just feel the weight of the opportunity they’ve got in front of them.
Luton 0-0 Coventry
14 mins: CLOSE! Wow - chaos in the Coventry defence almost gifts Luton the opener! A long ball downfield is not cleared by Coventry defender McFadzean - and almost allows Luton foward Morris to swipe home into an open goal! Morris wasn’t quite ready for it, and it bobbles wide.
Luton 0-0 Coventry
11 mins: Tom Lockyer is stretchered off after just 11 minutes - that is horrible. The defender has such a key part of Luton’s rise.
Luton 0-0 Coventry
8 mins: There is real concern here for Tom Lockyer, who is down and receiving lenghty treatment.
The stretcher has been called and this would be such a cruel way for his play-off final to end.
NO GOAL! Luton 0-0 Coventry
5 mins: CLOSE! Luton win the first corner of the match and cause havoc from it. Lockyer gets his head on it and Osho scrambles the ball over the line!
But, wait! No goal! Osho was just offside and it’s ruled out!
Great spot from the assistant referee on the far side.
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