Rob Edwards opened his programme notes saying, “I always thought that to have belief, or to keep believing, you need to win – but this season has shifted my thinking a little.”
He was right. Luton were outplayed in the first half of this game, lacking the quality to pose any sort of threat to Bournemouth’s goal, with a string of injuries and a miserable run of form to contend with.
But through sheer force of will and a raucous Kenilworth Road crowd, once again they showed that they will not be going quietly and Edwards finished up the afternoon running up and down the touchline and pumping his fists, unable to contain his emotion, in a show reminiscent of vintage Jose Mourinho.
“I lost it a little bit, the emotion got to me but this was a big statement,” smiled Edwards after a first win in 12 games. If I can celebrate half as well as him (Mourinho), that’s not bad is it?
“It’s big. It’s hard at the moment with the number of key players injured. That’s why I love the lads in there, they’re giving us everything. There are players who have fought so hard on their footballing career to get here and they don’t want to give it up.”
They trailed in the 52nd minute when Marcus Tavernier brilliantly drove a 25 yard shot into the bottom corner. It was no more than Bournemouth deserved with Tavernier having also hit the stanchion with a brilliant free-kick in the first half and Justin Kluivert also striking the base of the post as the away side dominated.
