Ruddock-Mpanzu helps Luton beat Stoke to go fourth

Published on: 04 February 2023

Luton's players posed for a celebration picture after Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu's first goal in almost 18 months

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu fired a long-range winner as Luton Town beat Stoke City to go fourth in the Championship with their sixth victory in seven league games.

The long-serving midfielder latched on to a lay-off from Elijah Adebayo to find the bottom-left corner with a right-foot shot from 25 yards.

Ruddock's first goal in 52 appearances since August 2021 proved enough to hand struggling Stoke a second successive away league defeat.

On his 345th career appearance for the Hatters, it was also his first goal at Kenilworth Road since October 2020.

After hitting seven goals in their past two games, against Reading and then Stevenage in the FA Cup, it took the visitors 67 minutes to get their first shot on target against Rob Edwards' well-marshalled Hatters.

Skipper Lewis Baker's left-foot effort, saved by on-loan Nottingham Forest keeper Ethan Horvath, proved to be their only one.

Defeat came at a further cost as Josh Tymon was stretchered off following a challenge from Cody Drameh, just five minutes after the on-loan Leeds United midfielder had been booked for a challenge on him.

But, in a game of few chances, Luton hung on to maintain their current run of form - and leave Alex Neil's Stoke now just six points above the drop zone.

Who's next?

Luton's next Championship test is at Coventry next Saturday, when Stoke entertain improving Hull City.

But, before then, the Hatters face an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Tuesday night at League Two Grimsby Town.

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsLuton

Formation 3-4-1-2

34Horvath16Burke4Lockyer29Bell2Drameh18Clark17Mpanzu45Doughty22Campbell9Morris11Adebayo

    34Horvath16Burke4Lockyer29Bell2DramehBooked at 43minsSubstituted forOnyedinmaat 62'minutes18Clark17Mpanzu45Doughty22CampbellSubstituted forNakambaat 62'minutes9MorrisSubstituted forWoodrowat 70'minutesBooked at 90mins11Adebayo

Substitutes

    1Shea8Berry10Woodrow13Nakamba23Onyedinma25Taylor32Osho

Stoke

Formation 3-4-3

1Sarkic16Wilmot6Jagielka3Fox20Sterling8Baker28Laurent14Tymon9Brown11Gayle23Celina

    1Sarkic16Wilmot6Jagielka3Fox20Sterling8BakerSubstituted forSmallboneat 70'minutesBooked at 90mins28Laurent14TymonBooked at 38minsSubstituted forHoeverat 45+2'minutes9Brown11GayleSubstituted forCampbellat 70'minutes23CelinaSubstituted forThompsonat 83'minutesBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

    10Campbell13Bonham15Thompson17Hoever18Smallbone33Macari37Tezgel

Referee:Dean WhitestoneAttendance:10,031Match StatsHome TeamLutonAway TeamStokePossessionHome46%Away54%ShotsHome11Away7Shots on TargetHome4Away1CornersHome7Away5FoulsHome11Away7Live Text Post update

Match ends, Luton Town 1, Stoke City 0.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, Luton Town 1, Stoke City 0.

90'+4'Booking

William Smallbone (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

90'+4'Post update

Foul by William Smallbone (Stoke City).

90'+4'Post update

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90'+4'Booking

Jordan Thompson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

90'+2'Booking

Cauley Woodrow (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card.

90'+1'Post update

Offside, Luton Town. Fred Onyedinma tries a through ball, but Elijah Adebayo is caught offside.

87'Post update

Attempt missed. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Reece Burke following a set piece situation.

87'Post update

Attempt missed. Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jordan Clark with a cross following a set piece situation.

86'Post update

Foul by Dujon Sterling (Stoke City).

86'Post update

Reece Burke (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.

83'Post update

Josh Laurent (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

83'Post update

Foul by Reece Burke (Luton Town).

83'Substitution

Substitution, Stoke City. Jordan Thompson replaces Bersant Celina.

81'Post update

Attempt missed. Cauley Woodrow (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Alfie Doughty with a cross following a set piece situation.

80'Post update

Foul by William Smallbone (Stoke City).

80'Post update

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.

80'Post update

Attempt saved. Jordan Clark (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cauley Woodrow.

78'Post update

Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Phil Jagielka.

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Source: bbc.com

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