16 October 2021

Harry Cornick brace fires Luton to victory as Millwall’s unbeaten run ends

16 October 2021

Harry Cornick grabbed both goals as Luton claimed a 2-0 victory at Millwall that allowed them to leapfrog their mid-table opponents in the Championship table.

The Hatters were clinical in attack while keeping their hosts at arm’s length for the most part as the Lions’ seven-match unbeaten run came to an end.

Millwall saw a late chance to force a rousing finale pass them by when Jed Wallace’s penalty was saved by Luton goalkeeper Simon Sluga.

His heroics, coupled with Cornick’s double, allowed Nathan Jones’ side to move up to 10th in the table following their fourth league win of the season.

Wallace drove down the left for Millwall in the early stages, but could only shoot tamely at Sluga at his near post.

But it was the Hatters who broke through after 11 minutes when James Bree won possession before running the ball on to Jordan Clark, who laid if off for Cornick to whip his shot into the top corner.

The Lions tried to hit back, with Danny McNamara pulling the ball back into a dangerous area for Benik Afobe, whose point-blank effort was superbly blocked by Clark.

Jake Cooper then headed wide from George Saville’s deep cross, as most of the play began to take place inside the Luton half as the first period wore on.

Sluga then looked to be in trouble when he missed Wallace’s free-kick and the ball came off Daniel Ballard, but a free-kick was given in the Croatian’s favour.

Luton retained their 1-0 lead into the break and they continued to hold their hosts at bay with a degree of comfort in the early stages of the second half.

They then doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute, as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu found Clark in space and the ball was then played through for Cornick to finish confidently into the bottom corner.

Mpanzu almost added a spectacular third when his fantastic strike from 30 yards clattered against the bar, with Bartosz Bialkowski rooted to the spot in the Millwall goal.

Sluga had not had much to do, but he was called into action when he pushed away Wallace’s free-kick from 25 yards out as the Lions’ desperation for a goal back grew.

They had a great chance for one after Kal Naismith conceded a penalty for handling in his area, but Sluga made a superb save down to his right to keep out Wallace’s spot kick.

There was still one last chance for a Millwall consolation, but Sluga thwarted them again with almost the last touch by keeping out Matt Smith’s header.

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