Luton strike point to swipe point against Bolton Wanderers

Gideon Kodua’s late strike saw Luton Town take a point after a 1-1 draw against fellow play-off chasers Bolton Wanderers at Kenilworth Road.

Kyle Dempsey had put the visitors into the lead in the opening ten minutes, but Bolton’s task of holding on was complicated when Xavier Simons was shown a second yellow card with 20 minutes to go.

Substitute Kodua would duly do the honours for Luton, as they salvaged a share of the points against the side who had begun the day a point above them in the League One table.

A draw keeps Luton in 7th, one place outside the play-offs and one place behind Bolton, who remain 6th in the final play-off position.

Luton arrived on the back of a midweek victory over Huddersfield, but they would end up falling behind in this contest in the opening stages.

With 8 minutes on the clock, Dempsey put Bolton in front after he received Jordi Osei-Tutu’s ball into the box and his shot on the turn found the back of the Luton net.

It took Jack Wilshere’s side time to bounce back from that, but as the game went on, they began to create opportunities. Liam Walsh saw one strike fly over and another deflected wide, while Jerry Yates couldn’t divert Jacob Brown’s cross over the line.

Amario Cozier-Duberry missed a great chance to make it 2-0 just after the break, as the Bolton winger headed wide from Osei-Tutu’s cross.

With 20 minutes to go, Bolton were reduced to 10 men, as Simons fouled home sub Kodua, earning a second booking and with it dismissal.

An equaliser would come for the Hatters with 7 minutes to go, as Kodua received a cross from fellow substitute Millenic Alli and he duly thumped in a Luton equaliser.

The Hatters did apply pressure to try and complete the comeback, but a second Luton goal just would not come and the hosts ultimately had to settle for a share of the points.

A busy period looms for the side from Bedfordshire before the resumption of League One, with Luton hosting Exeter in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night before they travel to Fleetwood Town of League 2 in the FA Cup next weekend. Luton’s next league game is at Leyton Orient on December 9.