Luton 2 Sunderland 0 LIVE RESULT: Luton ONE game away from Premier League after play-off win – updates
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LUTON have reached the Championship play-off final after overcoming Sunderland.
The Hatters won 3-2 on aggregate and 2-0 at the night in front of a wild Kenilworth Road.
They will now face Middlesbrough or Coventry in the final at Wembley on May 27.
- Result: Luton 2-0 Sunderland (3-2)
- Luton XI: Horvath, Drameh, Lockyer, Morris, Adebayo, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Clark, Bell, Osho, Doughty
- Sunderland XI: Patterson, Hume, O'Nien, Gooch, Roberts, Neil, Ekwah, Clarke, Amad, Pritchard, Gelhardt
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Luton 1-0 Sunderland
17. It is an electric atmosphere tonight.
They are letting the visitors know what they think whenever they go to ground.
Luton look dangerous with their direct approach.
Credit: Getty Luton 1-0 Sunderland
15. Sunderland have more of an urge to get forward now.
Luton are happy with this as they look to hit them on the counter.
Getting the ball to the edge of the box, a shot is fired at goal but the Sunderland keeper saves well.
Luton 1-0 Sunderland
13. Drama at Kenilworth Road.
Sunderland have a corner and as it is swung in, Ekwah is first to it with a header.
Horvath makes a great save to keep the ball out of the net, while the visitors are adamant the ball strikes a hand in the follow up.
The referee is having none of it.
Luton 1-0 Sunderland
11. Luton swing in the corner and Sunderland fail to win the header.
It drops harmlessly in the six yard box but Osho is the first to react as he smashes the ball home.
Not the start Tony Mowbray wanted here.
Goal - Gabriel Osho (Luton)
Luton 0-0 Sunderland
9. Luton come on the attack for the first time.
Working the ball out wide and looking to drill a ball into the six yard box.
Sunderland manage to clear their lines on this occasion.
Luton 0-0 Sunderland
7. Pritchard decides to go for goal from about 30 yards out.
He had no options in the box so went for the top corner.
The ball goes high and wide of the Luton goal.
Luton 0-0 Sunderland
5. Considering they have played a full season on this pitch, the playing surface is in perfect condition.
This could work to the visitor's favour as they look to pass the ball around more.
Clark is penalised for a foul, deep in Luton's own half.
Credit: Reuters Luton 0-0 Sunderland
3. It is a feisty start to the game with both sets of players getting stuck in physically.
Lockyer is awarded a free kick deep in his own half under intense pressure from the Sunderland forwards.
Luton seem keen to play a more direct approach this evening.
Luton 0-0 Sunderland
1. The pitch is looking in perfect condition here.
Luton look to press from the off.
Bell is penalised for a foul on the Sunderland player.
Kick-off: Luton vs Sunderland
We are underway at Kenilworth Road.
The fans are making this an intimidating atmosphere for the visitors.
Luton get the game started.
Home is where the heart is
Luton are in great form at Kenilworth Road with the stadium proving to be a tough place for sides to get a result at.
They have failed to taste defeat in their last six games at home.
Having won five of those last six games, they have beaten Swansea, Middlesbrough and Blackburn convincingly in those matches.
Sunderland face a tough task to get the result they need tonight.
Hatters looking to rewrite history
Luton Town have never won a play-off match, something they will need to address this evening.
The haunting stat is something that will hamper their progression to the final if that still stands later this evening.
Kenilworth Road is bouncing and the home fans are ready for an explosive night of action.
Black Cats' boss gives verdict on game
Tony Mowbray has spoken about what his side did in the first leg against Luton at the Stadium of the Light.
We warranted the win, we had a lot of opportunities. It's great when a plan comes together. I thought we competed really well, we've talked about the youngest team in the league and the lack of physicality, but we competed really well all over the pitch, the fans rose to that and we were like snarling dogs at times in midfield.
Tony MowbrayAway fans enjoying unique views
As the Sunderland fans head into the ground, they are admiring the view as the head to the away end.
Kenilworth Road is sandwiched amongst terraced houses, with the outside of the ground mimicking its surroundings.
The Black Cats' faithful seem to be enjoying the entrance to the ground.
Credit: Reuters
Sunderland subs:
12. Bass, 22. Lihadji, 17. Ba, 45. Anderson, 25. Michut, 42. Alese, 2. Huggins
Sunderland starting XI:
Tony Mowbray is able to pick the same side that narrowly defeated Luton at the Stadium of Light with major doubt Patrick Roberts being named in the starting line-up.
1. Patterson, 10. Roberts, 32. Hume, 13. O'Nien, 11. Gooch, 24. Neil, 39. Ekwah, 16. Amad, 21. Pritchard, 20. Clarke, 28. Gelhardt
Credit: @SunderlandAFC Luton subs:
1. Shea, 3. Potts, 8. Berry, 16. Burke, 22. Campbell, 23. Onyedinma, 25. Taylor
Luton starting XI:
Rob Edwards fields the same side that lost the first leg at the Stadium of Light this evening.
34. Horvath, 32. Osho, 4. Lockyer, 29. Bell, 2. Drameh, 17. Mpanzu, 13. Nakamba, 18. Clark, 45. Doughty, 9. Morris, 11. Adebayo
Credit: @LutonTown Black Cats will look for quick start
After taking time to get into their stride in the first leg, they will be keen not to give their opponents a head start this evening.
Ethan Horvath was left powerless in the Luton goal to keep out Amad Diallo's free kick in the 39th minute, to put the hosts on level terms.
Trai Hume then powered a header home from Jack Clarke's cross to send the Stadium of Light into delirium.
Sunderland focussed on good start
Tony Mowbray will be ensuring that his side get ready for an early onslaught from Luton this evening after falling behind to Elijah Adebayo's early goal in the first leg.
Despite coming to Kenilworth Road with a one-goal lead, they know how important it will be keep the home faithful quiet.
In the tight, compact stadium the atmosphere will be electric for this Championship play-off second leg.
Fans crave top-flight football
Luton Town fans can be forgiven for dreaming of life in the Premier League after a season that saw them finish third in the Championship.
They have not been in the top-flight for some 31 years, when they were relegated in the 1991-92 campaign.
Victory this evening would put them one game away from bringing Premier League matches to Kenilworth Road.
Credit: Getty Mowbray’s side showing grit in first leg
Having gone behind an early goal from Adebayo for Luton, Sunderland managed to dig deep and turn the tie around at the Stadium of Light.
Winning the first leg 2-1, they bring a slender lead to Kenilworth Road this evening.
It will be a tough ask this evening as the hosts are undefeated in six games at home in the league, winning five of those.
Black Cats still riding the wave
The whole play-off adventure was an unplanned one for Sunderland.
Having snuck into sixth place in the table on the last day of the season, Mowbray’s side may have to confidence and momentum to go all the way.
Their convincing 3-0 win at Preston saw them book their place in the play-offs at the expense of Millwall, who lost 4-3 at home in a thrilling game against Blackburn.
Hatters mad for victory at home
Luton Town’s manager has spoken about the size of the task they face this evening against Sunderland:
There's still a long way to go in this, we have to see it that way. We believe. I told the lads I've got undoubted full belief in them that they can do this, and that they will.
Rob Edwards
