A determined late personal purpose by Wimbledon's Ryan Johnson might sign a change of fortune for Luton ultimately after back-to-back relegations.
After struggling to interrupt their resilient first guests of the season, Nahki Wells' hopeful ball ahead to Cauley Woodrow was met as an alternative by the pinnacle of the Dons' stopper and looped agonisingly over goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, off the underside of the crossbar, and over the road. It could be the beginning of a model new season, however soccer stays as fickle as ever.
It's 14 years since these sides met within the Convention playoff last, and the intervening interval has been a rollercoaster for each groups. On the opening day of the brand new season they have been coming at one another from reverse instructions.
AFC Wimbledon are the poor cousins of League One after a shock promotion final season; Luton are the favourites to return as much as extra refined environment after their disastrous relegation final season.
As if to flaunt their higher relative wealth, Luton spent the day partaking in some retail remedy. Full the signing of Portsmouth's Cohen Bramall within the morning, spot of lunch, then snap up Swansea's Jerry Yates within the afternoon.
Wimbledon are extra used to rooting round within the cut price basements and regardless of their scant sources have been capable of unveil 4 new faces for the step up in high quality. Neglect designer labels, one factor will at all times stay a relentless for the Dons: their eager embrace of an underdog tag.
“It is a chance for us to say right here we're, don't underestimate us,” supervisor Johnnie Jackson mentioned forward of kick-off. Certain sufficient, they began with vitality, ardour, and fewer Wimbledon-like, some neat passing. Josh Kelly almost triggered an embarrassing mix-up within the coronary heart of the Luton defence inside 10 minutes and Luton have been quickly conscious their current Premier League standing was going to earn them few favours at this stage.
Not that any aspect working out of Kenilworth Highway would have any illusions of grandeur. Floor has been damaged throughout the city on a protracted overdue new dwelling, however for now the homely roar from an enthusiastic crowd sparked Luton into life.
New signing George Saville started creating hazard from set items however it could want extra coaching classes to transform that into finish product. Nigel Lonwijk, on mortgage from Wolves, did look a chic and extra speedy menace on the left wing, however Wimbledon's defending was stout and there have been few clearcut probabilities at both finish in a frankly untidy and – unsurprisingly given the brevity of the shut season – under-rehearsed first half.
Luton's higher high quality lastly started to say itself within the second interval however they nonetheless lacked cohesion. Reuell Walters' low 30-yard drive would have given the sport a surprising opener it ailing deserved however as an alternative produced the primary actual save of the match from Wimbledon debutant Bishop.
Saville was changed by Lamine Fanne and Lonwijk by Zack Nelson as Luton regarded to transform their superiority into three factors. Nathan Asiimwe's determined physique block from Fanne 11 minutes from time was a certain signal Wimbledon weren't going to only roll over. If solely they'd not scored Luton's purpose for them as an alternative.
It was desperately unfortunate for Johnson, however Wimbledon will bounce again, and this was an event when misfortune very a lot needed to be saved in perspective. Earlier within the day, former Luton captain Tom Lockyer revealed he's lower than a month away from being given the all-clear by docs to renew his profession.
The skipper who led the membership to the Premier League has not performed since struggling a cardiac arrest throughout Luton's sport in opposition to Bournemouth on the Vitality Stadium in December 2023, having snapped an ankle ligament throughout his lengthy rehabilitation.
“I've had a extremely good few weeks,” Lockyer mentioned. “Hopefully now I'm 4 weeks away from getting signed off and advised I'm allowed to play soccer once more.”
