A late Ryan Johnson personal objective handed Luton City a lucky and hard-fought 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon within the League One opener on Friday night time.
Off the again of consecutive relegations, Luton boss Matt Bloomfield will probably be happy with the three factors at Kenilworth Highway to kick off their 2025/26 marketing campaign, though they laboured and created little all through earlier than the late breakthrough.
These two sides had been two leagues aside simply three months in the past, and three leagues aside simply over a 12 months in the past, however the taking part in discipline was levelled at Kenilworth Highway.
And it remained that method for the overwhelming majority of the sport, taking a second of actual misfortune from AFC Wimbledon’s perspective on 85 minutes to interrupt the impasse, as Johnson rose to loop a header from Nahki Wells’ cross over his personal helpless goalkeeper Nathan Bishop.
Bloomfield: We’re not the ultimate product but
Luton boss Matt Bloomfield:
“We’re happy to get the win. We’re an evolving group and we’re addings a lot of our bodies. We’re on the journey to the ultimate product, however we’re not there but. That is apparent.
“We nonetheless need to be higher within the high third of the pitch. We obtained there loads and we weren’t scientific sufficient. There’s heaps in my thoughts now. However we’ve to be happy to get off to a successful begin.
“We’re still putting the pieces of the puzzle together, and we’ll get better as the season goes on.”
Luton get the job performed, however causes for Dons optimism
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Ryan Johnson’s unlucky personal objective put Luton City forward late on of their League One opener towards AFC Wimbledon
Former Luton City captain Tom Lockyer on Sky Sports activities Soccer:
“Over the last couple of years we’ve not really had that luck on our side. To get a win early you’ll take, however it comes. You want to play fluid football but Wimbledon came with a gameplan and implemented it very well.
“The one time Cauley Woodrow obtained in behind and also you get that little little bit of luck. It is three factors and it will get the ball rolling.”
Former Luton Town player Curtis Davies on Sky Sports Football:
“Luton are the large canines on this league now. They have been the underdogs earlier than, however now everybody will come right here eager to get their scalp.
“AFC Wimbledon will be built on defence and that will happen a lot. Matt Bloomfield has to find a way, and that will give him food for thought about how to go about things going forward.”
Former Wimbledon participant Jobi McAnuff on Sky Sports activities Soccer:
“AFC Wimbledon will be so disappointed. They defended so well all the way through the team. They were magnificent. Ryan Johnson was one of the better players on the pitch, so it’s desperately unlucky for him.
“There will be a lot of positives for Johnnie Jackson to take out of that sport, regardless of the consequence.”
