Luton play out draw with Notts County in first home game of new campaign

Luton Town’s first home game of the new season saw them draw 2-2 with League One newboys Notts County.

In a game overshadowed by an injury to Jordan Clark, with the Hatters’ midfielder taken to hospital after several minutes of on-pitch treatment, a first Luton goal for Callum Marshall would ultimately see Jack Wilshere’s side salvage a point.

Nahki Wells had given Luton the lead from the penalty spot, but Notts County turned it around to lead at Kenilworth Road through goals from Callum Roberts and Ollie Cooper.

Marshall’s goal would however see Luton take a share of the points, meaning the Hatters remain unbeaten in all competitions so far this campaign.

The flow of the first half was disrupted by the injury to Clark, who had a clash of heads with County’s Darius Lipsiuc and left the field after 8 minutes of on-pitch treatment. Luton later confirmed the midfielder had been taken to hospital, though the 32-year-old was described as conscious.

It would take Luton some time to get back into the swing of things, but with 43 minutes on the clock, they found themselves in front. Liam Walsh’s corner was handled by James Gibbons, and from the spot, Wells beat James Belshaw to give Luton the lead.

Any thoughts this would be a straight-forward path to victory wouldn’t last long, however. In the first of what ultimately turned out to be 11 added minutes, Callum Roberts’ shot from outside the box took a deflection that wrong-footed Josh Keeley and found the back of the net.

Luton began the second period on the front foot, with Jake Richards and Gideon Kodua popping up in good positions only for both to miss the target.

Just after the hour mark, however, the Magpies took the lead in the game for the first time. Nick Tsaroulla got the pass right for Cooper, who duly beat Keely to put the League One newboys in front.

Seven minutes later, however, Luton would be back on level terms. Kasey Palmer picked out Marshall, who was duly able to find the back of the net.

Belshaw would make a great save to keep out Palmer, while Kal Naismith would also fire over late on.

But unlike the previous weekend’s dramatic late winner against Reading, there would be no winner for Luton this time, and the points would ultimately be shared.

Luton now turn their attention to a big away day when they face Chelsea in the EFL Cup at Stamford Bridge, with their league campaign resuming away at Mansfield next Sunday.