Match Reports

Albion claim first win of pre-season at Luton

Graham Potter's men ramp up preparations with 3-1 victory at Kenilworth Road.

By Charlie Hanson • 31 July 2021

By Paul Hazlewood
Percy Tau and Enock Mwepu scored their first goals of their Albion careers.

Albion enjoyed their first win of pre-season as Enock Mwepu and Percy Tau scored their first goals for the club in a 3-1 win at Luton Town.

Aaron Connolly opened the scoring with a well-taken finish early on, before Mwepu doubled the visitors' advantage ten minutes before the break.

Luton got themselves back in the game shortly before half-time when Harry Cornick intercepted Dan Burn’s pass before firing home, but Tau put the game out of reach for the Albion with a moment of individual brilliance midway through the second half.

Six minutes in, the hosts had a glorious opportunity to take the lead as Elijah Adebayo managed to evade the challenge of Burn down the right of the box. He pulled the ball back for Cornick, who looked certain to fire his side into the lead, but he scuffed his effort from six yards out and Burn was able to clear.

By Paul Hazlewood
Aaron Connolly opened the scoring against Luton, where he had a brief loan spell at the end of the 2018/19 campaign.

Luton would rue not taking the opportunity as three minutes later Adam Lallana played Connolly in and the Republic of Ireland international slotted past Simon Sluga in confident fashion.

Solly March’s header back to Robert Sanchez on the half-hour mark lacked power and Cornick pounced on it, but his effort from an acute angle was a relatively easy one for the Albion keeper to deal with.

March was quick to make amends down the other end as after 35 minutes his neat cut-back to the edge of the box was expertly tucked away by Mwepu, finding the bottom-right corner.

By Paul Hazlewood
Enock Mwepu celebrates his first goal for Albion, a smart first-time finish from the edge of the box.

Town were back in it just before the break as Cornick intercepted Burn’s sliced pass and he had the straightforward job of rolling it into the net.

The Hatters came out the blocks quickly in the second half and thought they’d found their equaliser when Jordan Clarke saw his effort well saved by Jason Steele. Cornick was first to the follow up but was denied on the line by Burn.

A minute later Cornick was again at the forefront of a Luton attack, this time seeing his low effort blocked by the midriff of Burn, who needed a moment to get his breath back.

Luton's pressure came to an end though in the 63rd minute as Florin Andone found Tau, who ran at goal, sitting Gabe Osho down, before expertly finding the bottom-left corner.

Hatters substitute Carlos Mendes Gomes flashed a header over with ten minutes left to play before Albion youngster Antef Tsoungui rifled over from close range.

The afternoon proved a good run-out for both teams, with Albion back in action next Saturday, as they return to the Amex to face La Liga outfit Getafe.

Line-up: Sanchez (Steele 46), Veltman (Karbownik 46), Duffy (Tsoungui 80), Burn (Ostigard 58), March (Zeqiri 64), Bissouma (Gross 64), Mwepu (Leonard 68), Moder (Tau 46), Lallana (Richards 64), Connolly (Alzate 46), Maupay (Andone 46).

Goals: Connolly 9, Mwepu 35, Tau 63