Portsmouth’s winning streak comes to an end in disappointing fashion at Kenilworth Road.
The Hatters now sit 3rd from bottom and up to 22nd in the Championship table and just 8 points behind Portsmouth who stay in 17th on 39 points.
For Luton, it’s boss Matt Bloomfield’s first victory since taking charge in January and it’s also Town’s first win of 2025 after a 13-game winless run in all competitions.
There were two changes for Portsmouth after their 2-1 victory at home to QPR last weekend, with both starting centre backs from that game; Rob Atkinson and Hayden Matthews not being named in the squad after picking up injuries in that game.
Marlon Pack and Regan Poole came in at centre back, as John Mousinho kept quiet on the injury status of both Atkinson and Matthews ahead of today's game.
Andre Dozzell was let off a straight red card inside just 5 minutes after a lunging challenge early on, but referee Sam Allison only gave the Blues midfielder a yellow card despite putting his hand in his back pocket.
Pompey could have taken the lead early on, but Colby Bishop’s effort was deflected behind for a corner inside just 10 minutes after the Blues number 9 got onto the end of Josh Murphy’s cross.
Jordan Clark gave Luton the lead on 25 minutes when he tapped home Marlon Pack’s heavy deflection after the Pompey captain hit the ball off his own post, before falling to the Hatters midfielder to give Luton the lead.
Adil Aouchiche had a chance just before half time after Thomas Kaminski came off his line, but Alfie Doughty was there to cover for the Luton keeper before clearing the ball away from Aouchiche who was through on goal.
Half time: Luton Town 1-0 Portsmouth
Pompey made their first change of the afternoon, bringing off Matt Ritchie for Liverpool loanee: Kaide Gordon ahead of the second half.
Luton brought on Millenic Alli who signed in January from Exeter City for £1.5m. for Jacob Brown who was brought off just minutes after being booked.
Kusini Yengi then made his first Portsmouth appearance in almost 3 months when he came on for Josh Murphy who was lucky to have not been sent off in the first half after a reckless challenge.
Connor Ogilvie had the chance to equalise for Portsmouth with just 3 minutes on the clock, but the full back’s header was too high for the goal frame after he connected with Christian Saydee’s cross.
Luton then could have had a penalty late on, when the goalscorer Clark was brought down by Pack in the area, however Sam Allison decided not to give the Hatters a penalty and instead called for a drop ball which caused uproar from the home supporters at Kenilworth Road.
Portsmouth then could have had a penalty kick down the other end when Kal Naismith’s hand trickled against the ball in a battle with Yengi in the area, but a spot kick was not given.
There was Six minutes of added time at the end of the 90, with Pompey trying to find an equaliser late on to stop Luton claiming a vital 3 points.
Full time: Luton Town 1-0 Portsmouth
Next up: Portsmouth welcome table toppers; Leeds United to Fratton Park, in a 12pm kick off next Sunday.
The reverse fixture that was played at Elland Road back in August was Portsmouth’s first Championship game in over 12 years in a frantic 3-3 draw in West Yorkshire.
Can Pompey keep up their fortress Fratton form? Or will top of the tree Leeds be the first side since Millwall to beat the Blues in what has been an impressive run of form at home since November.
Luton Town: 1. Kaminski (GK), 45. Doughty (6. McGuinness), 3. Bell, 12. Naismith, 28. Makosso, 25. Jones, 18. Clark, 8. Aasgaard, 20. Walsh (37. Nelson), 9. Morris (11. Adebayo) 19. Brown (21. Alli) (Formation: 3-5-2)
Unused subs: 23. Krul (GK), 5. Andersen, 21. Alli, 22. Fanne, 44. Nordas, 47. Bowler
Goals: Clark 25’
Yellow Cards: Bloomfield (manager) 40’, Brown 55’, Kaminski 90’
Manager: Matt Bloomfield
Portsmouth: 13. Schmid (GK), 3. Ogilvie, 7. Pack (C), 5. Poole, 22. Swanson (18. Bramall), 21. Dozzell, 45. Hayden (24. Devlin) 23. Murphy (10. Yengi), 17. Aouchiche (15. Saydee), 30. Ritchie (14. Gordon), 9. Bishop (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 31. Archer, 4. Towler, 8. Potts, 11. O’Mahony
Yellow Cards: Dozzell 5’, Ritchie 16’, Murphy 39’, Saydee 90+5
Head coach: John Mousinho
Venue: Kenilworth Road
Referee: Sam Allison
Attendance: 11,616 (including 1,342 Pompey fans)
Jake will be joined alongside Tom Chappell and Sam Stone on Monday (March 3rd) evening from 6pm to provide further reaction to today's defeat for Pompey.
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