Luton City have been all however relegated from the Premier League after dropping 3-1 at West Ham United, who managed to ship off supervisor David Moyes in model within the Scot’s closing house recreation in command of the Hammers.
Luton led at half-time due to Albert Sambi Lokonga’s early header, just for the house facet to hit again with three targets within the second half.
The recalled James Ward-Prowse’s well-taken strike introduced West Ham early within the second interval, earlier than Tomas Soucek’s thumping volley and younger substitute George Earthy’s first Hammers purpose sealed the comeback.
Consequently, Luton’s demotion from the Premier League will now be mathematically confirmed if Nottingham Forest get some extent at already-relegated Burnley on the ultimate day, whereas West Ham can nonetheless end as excessive as eighth within the desk if different outcomes go their method between now and the tip of the season.
How West Ham gave Moyes a successful farewell to interrupt Luton hearts
Luton knew they wanted a miracle to remain up, with two wins from their closing two Premier League video games nonetheless most likely not sufficient to cease them being relegated straight again to the Championship, however Rob Edwards’ facet nonetheless gave it a great go on the London Stadium,
The guests began the higher of the 2 groups, taking a deserved lead when Sambi Lokonga, in area within the field, stooped to go in Alfie Doughty’s pretty curled cross from the left.
That sixth-minute opener kicked the Hammers into life, with Jarrod Bowen hitting the surface of a put up, however the guests nonetheless led on the break, with desires of an unlikely survival bid nonetheless alive.
Nonetheless, it was all West Ham within the second interval as the house facet deservedly received on stage phrases simply 9 minutes after the break as Ward-Prowse’s low drive discovered the underside nook after positive method play from Bowen.
The turnaround was then accomplished as first Soucek volleyed West Ham forward when Luton did not clear a nook, earlier than the icing on the cake was supplied by Earthy, 19, who scored his first purpose for the membership together with his first contact 67 seconds after approaching, tapping house from shut vary after Mohammed Kudus’ driving run to the fitting byline and pull again.
Moyes was then given a rousing reception from the house devoted as West Ham’s gamers and their households loved an end-of-season lap of honour, whereas a tearful Edwards and his Luton gamers have been additionally applauded from the sphere by their very own followers.
Luton in good condition to return straight again up
Evaluation by Richard Morgan:
Rob Edwards minimize a dejected determine at full time with tears rolling down the Luton City supervisor’s cheeks as he and his gamers applauded their followers after a 3-1 loss at West Ham despatched them straight again right down to the Championship.
Nonetheless, Edwards was extra upbeat in his post-match press convention, rightly mentioning how his facet – who no person gave an opportunity of staying up – have been in a position to compete with most Premier League groups this season.
“It has fuelled the hearth to return again,” stated a defiant Edwards, earlier than including: “We are going to now be in a stronger place to assault the Championship and will likely be one of many stronger groups within the Championship.”
Edwards is true as his staff have already confirmed they’ll compete at this stage – “A few of our gamers have appeared like Premier League gamers,” he rightly noticed – and boosted by the parachute funds coming their method, it could be a shock have been the Hatters to not make an instantaneous top-flight return 12 months from now.
Richard Morgan
What the managers stated…
West Ham boss David Moyes:
“I used to be actually emotional as a result of I have been right here four-and-a-half years. I used to be a bit subdued as a result of I knew what the opposite supervisor was going via.
“But it surely was good to see. Typically all you hear is detrimental stuff, but it surely appeared like the very best a part of 50,000 supporters stayed behind in appreciation, which was good. I’m actually happy about that.
“To hitch any soccer membership and do one thing with them shouldn’t be simple for any supervisor.
“Hopefully I’ll stroll away with individuals saying one thing has been executed right here. Expectations have elevated like you’ll be able to’t imagine.
“From a staff which averted relegation, now it is a membership saying we wish to be in Europe yearly. It’s a large turnaround in a number of years.”
Luton boss Rob Edwards:
“It was actually tough, hugging Locks on the finish and seeing how the supporters reacted made me emotional.
“It is a tough day. What I stated to our gamers and employees within the dressing room afterwards was ‘thanks’. They, together with our followers and the board, have given me the very best 18 months of my life.
“I needed to thank them at present. We did not get relegated due to at present. I’m actually disillusioned that I’m the one accountable, I really feel that method, that we have not been in a position to do it.
“We have thrown all the things at it however simply come up quick. It was tough for us and ultimately has simply been a bit an excessive amount of for us. However I’ve liked it and it fuels the hearth to get again into it.”
Hammers again to successful methods for Moyes’s farewell – Opta stats
- West Ham picked up simply their second Premier League win throughout their final 10 video games (D4 L4), while David Moyes has now received 11 of his final 14 closing house video games of a league marketing campaign (D2 L1).
- Luton have misplaced 5 Premier League video games regardless of main at half-time this season, probably the most ever by a staff in a single marketing campaign.
- Excluding the primary Premier League marketing campaign in 1992-93, Luton City (50) are one in every of 4 groups to attain 50+ targets of their debut season within the competitors after Newcastle in 1993-94 (82), Studying in 2006-07 (52) and Blackpool in 2010-11 (55). Nonetheless, solely Swindon in 1993-94 (100), Barnsley in 1997-98 (82) and Burnley in 2009-10 (82) have conceded extra of their debut season than the Hatters (81).
- Solely Jarrod Bowen (16) has scored extra Premier League targets for West Ham United this season than James Ward-Prowse (7) while for the reason that starting of the 2020-21 marketing campaign, Phil Foden (46) is the one English midfielder to attain extra targets than the West Ham man (34) within the competitors.
What’s subsequent?
The Premier League’s closing day will happen on Sunday Might 19 with all video games kicking off at 4pm. West Ham face Man Metropolis, whereas Luton tackle Fulham.
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