By Score More
Rob Edwards had a strong sense that this day would eventually come, and he communicated his conviction to his players: Goodison Park, he confidently declared, would bear witness to Luton Town’s first top-flight victory since April 1992.
As fate would have it, the last time Luton secured an away point as a First Division side was at this very stadium, playing to a 1-1 draw the previous month. However, on this occasion, they achieved far more, substantiating their manager’s judgment.
Edwards articulated, “I had genuine belief in our capabilities. I’m not trying to boast, but we genuinely held the belief that we could come here and secure a victory—with all due respect to Everton, who have some talented players. I had a hunch that our playing styles would align, and we could pose a challenge.”
While Sean Dyche might contend that Everton’s difficulties were largely self-inflicted, primarily due to their inability to capitalize on scoring opportunities, Luton presented real threats. The traveling supporters savored every moment, remaining seated for 15 minutes after the home fans had dispersed, singing praises for their manager.
Edwards remarked, “It’s an incredible feeling for them and the board, and I’m absolutely ecstatic about it. I’ve been longing to give them something to celebrate. They are truly exceptional supporters, and I hold them in high regard. These are the moments we ought to relish.”
With determination and resilience, Luton notched the opening goal, with Captain Tom Lockyer injecting confidence that paved the way for Carlton Morris to secure a crucial second goal within the first eight minutes of the match.
This defeat marked Everton’s poorest start to a home season since 1958-59, making it a disheartening day, particularly with their prospective new owners, 777, watching from the Directors Box.
Dyche is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead in leading the club forward if their proposal to succeed Farhad Moshiri is approved. He expressed, “We are striving to instill a mentality where we consistently perform at our best. We seemed to have made progress with two steps forward, only to take one step back today—it’s rather exasperating.”
While Everton displayed promise early on with an enthusiastic crowd, they faltered in capitalizing on their initial opportunities. Luton stood firm and began to craft scoring chances of their own.
Lockyer initiated the scoring for Luton, followed by Morris, granting them a comfortable lead. Although Everton managed to reduce the deficit with a goal from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, they failed to find a second goal despite their relentless efforts.
Nonetheless, Luton’s achievement should not be underestimated. Edwards emphasized, “Securing anything positive away from home was bound to be a challenge for us, but this victory significantly boosts our confidence and self-belief. I’m content with the progress we are making.”