Luton 0-0 Birmingham – Five Take Aways from 2022 Opening Day
We don’t talk about Birmingham (no-no-no!). One win in the last seven meetings, and two in the last 15 league matchups, if you predicted a Luton win today you are delusional.
Now I could be one of those delusional fans that tell you it’s just one of those things, like when your team is down 27-3 in the middle of the 6th inning, but I’m not that guy. I’ll give it to you as honestly as I possibly can. So here are five takeaways from Luton’s scoreless draw with Birmingham.
Money Can’t Buy You Goals (apparently)
Despite shelling out undisclosed fee after undisclosed fee for strikers Carlton Morris and Cauley Woodrow from Barnsley the Hatters very rarely tested John Ruddy in the Birmingham goal. Morris had a nice half chance in the first half and Woodrow looked lively when introduced along with Harry Cornick. Ultimately though the Hatters just never had the final ball or touch to take advantage of a poor Birmingham side.
Are We in Non-League Again?
The PTSD hit hard with the amount of time wasting Birmingham applied as tactics. I felt like it was Barrow away 2012 all over again. But it worked, just like it did back then. Nathan Jones will have to find a way around this when smaller, less skillful sides come to Kenilworth Road otherwise it could be a long season.
The Yank Stands Tall
Let’s face it Ethan Horvath didn’t have a lot to do in his competitive debut for the Hatters, but when called upon the American goalkeeper was solid. His distribution was also crisp and he certainly made a back line dealing with injuries and the loss of Kal Naismith look cool, calm, and collected.
Osho as a center half
I have no real issue with this and it’s nice to have a player who can seamlessly slot into different positions, but given his calmness on the ball and distribution, you have to wonder if Gabriel Osho doesn’t start further up the pitch in the future games.
Harry Cornick is beyond hit and miss
Given, that there have been times Cornick has played further wide, but lately, he has been deployed as one of the two upfront. 32 goals in 191 league games (an average of a goal every six games) is just not good enough. Surely someone has taken him aside and told him he needs to work on this, as there is no doubting his skill otherwise. Most will say his lack of a killer instinct is why he’s not a Premier League player, but given the fantastic campaign last season isn’t that the aim for Luton? If so what happens to Cornick then? He missed another good chance for the Hatters against Birmingham today to hinder him making the Luton Town FC Mount Rushmore even further. Yes I’m being sarcastic.
Two points dropped. One point gained. One more point than we got off Birmingham last season. No matter what way you look at the final result, there’s no doubt that questions remain about this Luton team. 45 more games to go gives enough time to turn things around. It’s not like it’s 27-3 in the middle of the sixth after all.
