Luton Town completed their journey from non-league to Premier League as they beat Coventry City 6-5 on penalties to win the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Gustavo Hamer equalised for Coventry to cancel out a first-half strike from Jordan Clark as the game finished in a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes.
Both goals came after Luton lost captain Tom Lockyer early on after he collapsed on the pitch but the defender was taken to hospital where the club have confirmed that he is “responsive and talking” to his family, who are with him.
Coventry’s Fankaty Dabo blasted the 12th penalty in the shootout over the crossbar to send the happy Hatters to the Premier League for the first time.
Having last been in English football’s top flight in 1992, the year the Premier League began, Luton have waited 31 years to take their place at the top table.
But they were still in the fifth tier only nine years ago after a decade of financial hardship.
And, in becoming the first side to go all the way from the top tier to non-league and back, it completed a remarkable achievement for Luton boss Rob Edwards, who began this season as manager of the Hatters fierce local rivals Watford.
Just a year on from managing Forest Green to the League Two title, Edwards won his second successive promotion.
He left Forest Green to take on the Watford job at the end of last season, but was then sacked in late September.
He then returned to management in November when Nathan Jones walked out on Luton for a second time – and Edwards has now masterminded the completion of one of football’s great journeys.
Line-ups
Coventry
Formation 3-5-1-1
- 13Wilson
- 16McNallyBooked at 46mins
- 5McFadzean
- 3DoyleSubstituted forPanzoat 115′minutes
- 7Norton-CuffySubstituted forDaboat 90′minutes
- 6Kelly
- 14Sheaf
- 38HamerSubstituted forPalmerat 80′minutesSubstituted forEcclesat 102′minutes
- 27Bidwell
- 8AllenSubstituted forGoddenat 45′minutes
- 17Gyรถkeres
Substitutes
- 1Moore
- 2Panzo
- 11Wilson-Esbrand
- 23Dabo
- 24Godden
- 28Eccles
- 45Palmer
Luton
Formation 3-5-2
- 34Horvath
- 32OshoSubstituted forPottsat 112′minutes
- 4LockyerSubstituted forBurkeat 12′minutes
- 29Bell
- 2Drameh
- 17MpanzuSubstituted forBerryat 98′minutes
- 13Nakamba
- 18ClarkBooked at 99mins
- 45DoughtySubstituted forOnyedinmaat 84′minutes
- 9Morris
- 11AdebayoSubstituted forTaylorat 105′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Shea
- 3Potts
- 8Berry
- 16Burke
- 22Campbell
- 23Onyedinma
- 25Taylor
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 85,711
Live Text
Match ends, Coventry City 1(5), Luton Town 1(6).
Penalty Shootout ends, Coventry City 1(5), Luton Town 1(6).
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Fankaty Dabo (Coventry City) right footed shot is close, but misses the top right corner. Fankaty Dabo should be disappointed.
Goal! Coventry City 1(5), Luton Town 1(6). Daniel Potts (Luton Town) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal! Coventry City 1(5), Luton Town 1(5). Liam Kelly (Coventry City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal! Coventry City 1(4), Luton Town 1(5). Luke Berry (Luton Town) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
Goal! Coventry City 1(4), Luton Town 1(4). Josh Eccles (Coventry City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal! Coventry City 1(3), Luton Town 1(4). Jordan Clark (Luton Town) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal! Coventry City 1(3), Luton Town 1(3). Ben Sheaf (Coventry City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top left corner.
Goal! Coventry City 1(2), Luton Town 1(3). Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal! Coventry City 1(2), Luton Town 1(2). Viktor Gyรถkeres (Coventry City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the high centre of the goal.
Goal! Coventry City 1(1), Luton Town 1(2). Joseph Taylor (Luton Town) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Goal! Coventry City 1(1), Luton Town 1(1). Matt Godden (Coventry City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal! Coventry City 1, Luton Town 1(1). Carlton Morris (Luton Town) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Penalty Shootout begins Coventry City 1, Luton Town 1.
Second Half Extra Time ends, Coventry City 1, Luton Town 1.
Attempt missed. Luke Berry (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Carlton Morris with a cross following a set piece situation.
Foul by Jonathan Panzo (Coventry City).
Luke Berry (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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