Bottom club Sheffield United suffered a demoralising home defeat as Luton Town snatched victory in an extraordinary Premier League game at Bramall Lane.
A howler by Wes Foderingham gifted Luton the lead when Alfie Doughty’s 17th-minute attempt slipped through the keeper’s legs and into the net.
The Blades thought they had turned it around after the interval, Oli McBurnie equalising after Sam Allison – the first black referee to take charge of an English top-flight match for 15 years – played a smart advantage when James McAtee appeared to have been fouled.
With fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest winning earlier at Newcastle, the Blades – who are at Manchester City on Saturday (15:00 GMT) – needed all three points and captain Anel Ahmedhodzic fired them in front from close range after Luton failed to clear.
But two own goals in the space of four minutes – first a flicked header by Jack Robinson and then by substitute Anis Ben Slimane – allowed Luton to seal back-to-back Premier League wins after their 1-0 victory over Newcastle last Saturday.
Blades throw it away
Sheffield United will wonder how they let this lead slip after producing a stirring fightback in the second half – only to throw it all away.
They have reached the halfway stage of the season with just nine points on the board – and are seven points adrift of safety.
In addition, boss Chris Wilder now has the job of lifting his players after this highly damaging defeat.
The Blades did all the hard work by scoring twice in quick succession, Ahmedhodzic sparking wild scenes among home fans after he gave his side a 69th-minute lead.
But in a chaotic match the hosts somehow gifted Luton all three points, despite the visitors not having a shot after the 67th minute.
More to follow.
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Sheffield United
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Squad number18Player nameFoderingham
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Squad number2Player nameBaldock
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Squad number15Player nameAhmedhodzic
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Squad number19Player nameRobinson
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Squad number5Player nameTrusty
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Squad number28Player nameMcAtee
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Squad number21Player nameVinicius Souza
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Squad number35Player nameBrooks
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Squad number8Player nameHamer
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Squad number9Player nameMcBurnie
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Squad number10Player nameArcher
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Squad number3Player nameLowe
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Squad number7Player nameBrewster
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Squad number16Player nameNorwood
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Squad number25Player nameBen Slimane
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Squad number32Player nameOsula
Luton Town
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Squad number24Player nameKaminski
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Squad number15Player nameMengi
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Squad number2Player nameOsho
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Squad number29Player nameBell
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Squad number45Player nameDoughty
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Squad number28Player nameSambi Lokonga
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Squad number6Player nameBarkley
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Squad number26Player nameGiles
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Squad number30Player nameTownsend
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Squad number19Player nameBrown
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Squad number11Player nameAdebayo
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Squad number5Player nameAndersen
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Squad number7Player nameOgbene
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Squad number9Player nameMorris
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Squad number17Player nameMpanzu
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
Formation 4-4-2
- 18Foderingham
- 2BaldockBooked at 78mins
- 15AhmedhodzicBooked at 14mins
- 19RobinsonBooked at 79minsSubstituted forBrewsterat 86′minutes
- 5Trusty
- 28McAtee
- 21de Souza CostaSubstituted forNorwoodat 86′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 35BrooksSubstituted forLoweat 45′minutes
- 8HamerBooked at 41minsSubstituted forBen Slimaneat 72′minutes
- 9McBurnie
- 10ArcherSubstituted forOsulaat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Davies
- 3Lowe
- 7Brewster
- 16Norwood
- 23Osborn
- 25Ben Slimane
- 32Osula
- 33Norrington-Davies
- 38Seriki
Luton
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 24Kaminski
- 15Mengi
- 2Osho
- 29Bell
- 45DoughtySubstituted forAndersenat 78′minutes
- 28Sambi Lokonga
- 6Barkley
- 26GilesSubstituted forOgbeneat 72′minutes
- 30TownsendSubstituted forMpanzuat 84′minutes
- 19Brown
- 11AdebayoSubstituted forMorrisat 71′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Shea
- 5Andersen
- 7Ogbene
- 8Berry
- 9Morris
- 10Woodrow
- 14Chong
- 17Mpanzu
- 23Krul
- Referee:
- Sam Allison
- Attendance:
- 31,041
Live Text
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Match ends, Sheffield United 2, Luton Town 3.
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Second Half ends, Sheffield United 2, Luton Town 3.
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Attempt missed. Auston Trusty (Sheffield United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left following a set piece situation.
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William Osula (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Amari’i Bell (Luton Town).
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Foul by Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United).
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Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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George Baldock (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Carlton Morris (Luton Town).
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Foul by Auston Trusty (Sheffield United).
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Jacob Brown (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Anel Ahmedhodzic (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Oliver Norwood (Sheffield United).
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Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Sheffield United. Conceded by Teden Mengi.
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Attempt missed. Anis Ben Slimane (Sheffield United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by George Baldock following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Teden Mengi (Luton Town).
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Oliver McBurnie (Sheffield United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Jacob Brown (Luton Town).