Luton boss Rob Edwards hailed his side for their reaction as they registered a first home win of the season after hitting back from a goal down to beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Kenilworth Road.
The hosts had trailed to Barry Bannan’s terrific volley on 52 minutes, before Edwards made all five substitutions in two swathes, to change the game in his side’s favour.
One of them, Carlton Morris, netted twice in the final 15 minutes to secure victory, converting a penalty when Di’Shon Bernard was sent off by referee Gavin Ward for handball, and then tapping home from close range.
Edwards said: “I thought the best section of the game was the last 15 minutes
of the first half, where I thought we got the pressing and intensity right.
“We were pushing, had set-pieces and we had a couple of good moves that we almost got in with, but it was difficult to get behind them and yes it was tough, really tough.
“We didn’t start with the intensity that we wanted and if we don’t have that then it probably gives them a lift, our crowd are then thinking, ‘come on,’
and the first 20 minutes was difficult.
“We shot ourselves in the foot with the goal that we conceded and then it’s hard, something’s gone against us again and we need to try and wrestle back some momentum again.
“There’s no doubt then we were pushing, we were trying, forced a way somehow, the header was going in from Macca before he stuck his arm out, so that’s a goal, we’re back in the game and then with the red card.
“I thought the impact that the subs made was great and that’s what we want. We’ve got a squad for a reason. It’s difficult to leave certain people out, but then when you get reactions like that, it’s amazing.”
After a first half that Wednesday had the better of, Josh Windass forcing a terrific save from Thomas Kaminski, the visitors led early in the second period, Yan Valery’s cross crashed home by Bannan.
Town then won a penalty when Mark McGuinness’s header was handled on the line by Bernard, who saw red from referee Ward, Morris tucking home his first goal of the season.
The skipper was on target again with two minutes left, tapping in from close range, as Kaminski saved well from Svante Ingelsson in 10 minutes of stoppage time.
Owls boss Danny Rohl was clearly frustrated with referee Ward, adding: “Last week there was a 50/50 decision against us, today a 50/50 decision against us, but at the end we had three or four opportunities where we could score more and take a win.
“When you have two goals away it’s helpful to have two goals and be clinical, but all in all I can’t say much against my team, they invested and I think the supporters recognise this.
“When I look to our box at the corner we have Dish (Bernard) two times going down and there is nothing, then it’s a little bit hard to take. The players on the pitch should decide the game, and not someone else, and this is a pity today.”
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