Coventry 1-1 Luton AET (5-6 on pens): Luton are promoted to the Premier League after penalty shoot-out
Follow Mail Sport’s live blog of the Championship play-off final between Coventry City and Luton Town.
Host commentator
Host commentator
‘Dan Potts has been speaking to Sky as the celebrations continue on the pitch and has given an update on Tom Lockyer who is currently in hospital.
‘I wasn’t very aware [of what was going on], that is down to the squad, gutted for him as he has been immense all year and deserved to be holding the trophy. We had some good news and hope to see him.
Potts said: ‘The lads are gutted for you and we can’t wait to see you, as the gaffer says health and family is the most important things and we can’t wait to see you.
The defender then scored his penalty in the shoot-out and revealed that Luton have been drilling penalties in during training to prepare for today.
He added: ‘We have been practicing for a while, everyone said pick your spot and no regrets, it showed the work we are doing worked.
‘The work the lads and I and everyone at the club has put it, that’s enough motivation from me, we should all be able to score from 12 yards.’
You have to feel for Coventry and their supporters who have endured their own struggles similar to Luton and were so close to being back in the Premier League.
Dabo had to be consoled by his team-mates after his match-winning miss, but tonight will be all about Luton who are celebrating a huge success to reach the English top-flight.
We’ve got some of the best snaps from the celebrations currently taking place at Wembley below.
The party is now underway as Luton lift the Championship play-off trophy! The trophy is passed down by all the players and finally to Hatters boss Rob Edwards who has lead the club to the Premier League at the first attempt having previously lost his job at Watford earlier in the season.
The celebrating Luton players are making their way up the famous Wembley stand and are currently waiting for the green light to make their way up to the trophy platform. Smiles all around, there are some consoling words for Tom Lockyer who is watching on from hospital and there is a real party atmosphere in Wembley.
Dabo’s miss confirms Luton’s promotion back to the Premier League as the former Chelsea academy player Dabo sends his penalty shoot-out over the bar. Immediate misery for Coventry, immediate ecstasy for Luton. What a moment for the Hatters!
It’s high, it’s wide, and Luton are in the Premier League!
He takes a long run-up but rolls it in so gently.
He has to score, he does score. Into sudden death we go.
He goes to the left, it’s another brilliant penalty and the keeper can’t get a glove to it.
The Coventry-born star sends the keeper the wrong way and we keep going.
And another one goes in, Luton fans let out a sigh of relief. Keeper nowhere near it.
Into the top corner and there is no splitting these two so far.
Calm as you like, great finish into the corner.
He nearly takes the roof off as he smashes his strike right down the middle.
He had his goal in extra time ruled out but this one stands. A neat finish that just creeps in.
Godden looks nervous but smashes his effort past Horvath.
The Luton striker remains calm and rolls the ball into the bottom corner.
Luton win the toss and decide that the penalty shoot-out will take place in front of their fans. Let’s get this shootout started!
That’s it, after 120 minutes we have a penalty shootout that will decide who is promoted to the Premier League. How’s your nerves? There’s only a position in the English top-flight and £170m at stake. Both sets of players have given their all and now we are just moments away at Wembley.
We have two stoppage time minutes that will be played before penalties at Wembley.
Taylor’s ecstasy is quickly replaced by agony as it is deemed the ball struck his hand in the build-up to the goal. What a rollercoaster of emotions this has been.
Taylor scores to send Luton fans wild but there is a VAR review going on for handball.
We had a break in play there as Doyle received treatment and the Coventry defender’s day is done as he limps off to make way for England youngster Jonathan Panzo.
Luton boss Rob Edwards continues to use his bench as Dan Potts comes on in place of Gabriel Osho.
Fatigue is starting to creep in for both sets of players as we are shown shots of some struggling with cramp. It’s been an end-to-end game, a mistake now would surely cost your side a place in the Premier League, so much is at stake and this is why we LOVE football!
The Sky Blues striker does really well to win a corner for his side in front of the Sky Blue end of Wembley. Horvath then does well to wrap up the ball and the danger is gone.
We are back underway at Wembley as Luton make a late change with Adebayo swapped for Joe Taylor who makes just his sixth appearance since joining the club in January.
The first-half of extra time is brought to it’s end and now we have just 15 minutes before what would be a penalty shootout to decide who will be promoted to the Premier League. There are tired legs and tired minds but also the chance for a player to make themselves a hero.
There will be two minutes of added time played at the end of this first-half of extra time. Kelly sends a weak shot goal-bound as it’s announced.
Coventry boss Mark Robins decides to bring off Kasey Palmer who was only brought on in the second-half. You have to feel sorry for him as he is replaced by Josh Eccles. Strange decision.
The Luton goalkeeper clears a ball upfield but immediately signals he is in pain as he hits it. We have a pause in play as he receives treatment before getting back to his feet.
Clark has gone into the book as he tries to deceive the referee by claiming he was fouled by the goalkeeper in the box. There was contact but it was minimal.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s afternoon is over as he is called off to be replaced by Luke Berry.
Morris does really well down the left-wing to pull the ball back and win a free-kick. The Coventry defence does really well in the box to head clear.
Luton appear to have gone back to their first-half formula as Morris looks to get in behind the Coventry defence. Fortunately Ben Wilson was aware to the danger and comes off his line to clean-up the danger.
The Coventry striker turns Bell as he brings down a high ball and shoots on-target with a dipping effort. Horvath keeps his concentration to save well.
Luton get the ball rolling for 30 minutes of extra time that could decide the Championship play-off final.
Michael Oliver blows his whistle and this Championship play-off final will be going to extra time after neither side managed to find a winner in 90 minutes.
Gustavo Hamer’s second-half strike cancelled out Jordan Clark’s opener in a match that has so far been a tale of two halves.
Get ready for what promises to be 30 minutes of enthralling action before what could be a penalty shootout to decide Premier League promotion.
The Coventry attacker turns on the edge of the Luton box and clearly imagines his name up in lights as he hits a shot towards goal. The only problem is his effort is hit into the stands.
Luton have a great chance to test the goalkeeper after winning a free-kick just on the edge of the box but it’s hit wide and over the bar by Clark. A great sigh is heard from Hatters fans in the ground.
No they can’t as the corner is hit well over the box. Eight minutes of added time are then announced.
Luton have a late corner, they couldn’t could they?
Play in the last couple of minutes lead you to think that we are set for another 30 minutes of action at Wembley. It’s a lot of pressure with the Premier League and new riches on the line, Coventry momentarily threaten but can’t test Horvath.
Luton boss Rob Edwards wants more pace in the closing minutes and ahead of a possible extra time as he brings off Alfie Doughty to be replaced by Fred Onyedinma.
Both teams are really going for this as Coventry firstly have their attack halted by the offside flag before Adebayo then wins Luton a corner at the other end. Will we have a late winner in the Championship play-off final?
It appears adrenaline wasn’t enough to carry Hamer through the remainder of the game as he finally concedes defeat to his injury and is forced off as Kasey Palmer comes on to replace him.
Luton are trying to respond but can’t find the same attacking quality that they did have in the first-half. Certainly some nerves starting to creep in at this point in the game.
The Coventry goalscorer received some lengthy treatment but is now back on the pitch. Adrenaline clearly keeping him going in such a big occasion.
The Coventry goalscorer is in some discomfort after landing awkwardly while going to win a header. Mark Robins will be seriously hoping this isn’t a match-ending injury.
That goal has sent the Coventry supporters into raptures and rightly so. That first-half showing would have left them thinking what on earth had gone wrong, but they have been brilliant in the second period and are now level in this massive match.
Coventry are back on level terms and it is just what they deserve after a brilliant start to the second-half! Gyokeres brings down a Doyle pass played upfield, he stands his man up before cutting it back for Hamer who finds himself in acres of space just inside the Luton box.
He doesn’t need to take a touch and finishes with a great first-time finish into the bottom corner. Game ON!
Defender Callum Doyle gets forward really well but spurns a great chance as he decides to try and shoot from a tight angle 35 yards out. His shot predictably is sent straight into the stands. Poor decision-making.
A hoof upfield is held up brilliantly by Adebayo who then wins a free-kick for his team to ease some of the pressure momentarily. The resulting free-kick fails to produce an effort as Morris is deemed to have fouled the Coventry goalkeeper.
It’s a role reversal in this second-half with Luton now coming under considerable pressure as Coventry continue to come forward.
The trailing side have penned their opponents back into their own half and continue to come forward with potency but can’t work a clear attempt on goal. More encouraging signs from Coventry as they win a corner that creates a half-chance.
Coventry win the ball back high in the Luton box and find an extra man in space as Liam Kelly is urged to shoot by his own supporters. He obliges but it’s a wild swing that goes wide.
Luton need to sort themselves out because confusion between Osho and goalkeeper Horvath almost gifts Coventry an equaliser.
The defender is under pressure but instead of booting the ball clear decides to wait for his goalkeeper. The shot-stopper runs out but smacks the ball straight at the defender as it then runs across the box without anyone in it. Dangerous play from Luton there.
This is more like it from Coventry as they put Horvath under pressure and then win a corner moments later. The delivery isn’t ideal as it’s claimed by the keeper but that is more encouraging for the Sky Blues.
We are back underway in the Championship play-off final with Luton comfortably leading by a single goal. The Sky Blues need a quick reaction to stage a first comeback victory in this promotion encounter for the first time since Blackpool in 2010.
Coventry boss Mark Robins has clearly had some thinking to do based on that torrid first-half performance and has reacted by bringing off Jamie Allen in place of Matt Godden.
We have a further update on the condition of the Luton captain who was withdrawn suddenly in the 12th minute at Wembley. There is confirmation that the defender collapsed off the ball before regaining consciousness and is on his way to hospital. Best wishes with him.
The whistle blows and that is half-time in the Championship play-off final. Jordan Clark’s 23rd minute strike splits the two Premier League hopefuls with Luton considerably on top at Wembley so far.
Rob Edwards would have been concerned when Tom Lockyer was medically withdrawn, but his side have taken the game away from Coventry who have looked rattled defensively and far away from their usual best in attack.
The Luton message at the interval will be more of the same, whereas Coventry need a big change to get back into this match.
Coventry have improved in the last few minutes, they are stringing together a few nice passes and not rushing their play as much but they aren’t creating much either. A big second-half is needed.
Coventry win a free-kick deep inside the Luton half and decide to overload the box. The delivery however sturggles to produce anything of note as Ethan Horvath bursts off his line to catch the ball. He takes a whack from one of his own defenders in the process.
Luton are trying to manage this game to half-time and are just knocking the ball around nicely at the back.
There will be eight minutes of added time played in the first-half. That is largely down to treatment being applied to Lockyer earlier.
Luton have defended really well in this game so far and that is largely down to their ability to marshall Coventry’s dangerman Gyokeres out of the match to great effect. The striker has had just 13 touches in this first-half!
Just as we say that Coventry finally get their first shot of the game and it almost results in a goal. Hamer arrives late at the back-post and meets a cross from the left-wing on the volley. He lacks accuracy as his effort goes wide but that is better!
At the moment the answer is no, Luton’s defence has marshalled any threat posed by Coventry excellently. If they can hold to just a one-goal gap at half-time then that will be some achievement for them and is crucial to Mark Robin’s side keeping a foothold in the game.
Adebayo again does really well to make initial contact with a cross coming into the box as Cody Drameh’s pass is nodded just wide by the Luton striker. A second goal looks very likely at this stage.
It has been one-way traffic for Coventry at Wembley and they just don’t seem to be getting any joy at either end of the pitch. Defensively they are being pulled to pieces while in attack the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer haven’t had a sniff.
Coventry can’t deal with Luton’s long balls forward as Adebayo spurns a shot wide from the centre of the box. He combines with Morris who gets the better of the Sky Blues defence to bring the ball down brilliantly and lays it off to his strike partner. Adebayo can’t set himself properly and his half-volley goes wide.
We are receiving further news on the condition of Tom Lockyer after he was forced off amid medical concern. The Luton defender is in the medical room at Wembley, he is conscious and his parents have come down from the stands to be with him.
Luton finally click in the final third and open the scoring with a brilliant finish by Jordan Clark that leaves Wilson with no chance between the sticks.
The move comes via a brilliant piece of individuality by Adebayo who brings down a high ball, turns McFadzean inside-out before cutting the ball back for Clark. HIs first touch creates space and his second is a devastating finish. Luton lead the Championship play-off final!
Coventry concede possession again in their own half and Morris controls a cross into the box but can’t get his shot away quick enough and eventually see’s his shot blocked behind for a corner that eventually comes to nothing.
Lockyer’s substitution looked to have initially rattled Luton, however, they are now hounding this Coventry defence. The Sky Blues keep giving the ball away cheaply and Luton are relentless in attack but so far lacking quality at the final moment.
Luton’s second corner of the match is better dealt with by Wilson who comes off his line to catch the ball. He then clears his lines but is fouled by Elijah Adebayo.
Morris has just had a brilliant chance to put Luton in-front and it was caused by a serious lapse in concentration from Coventry’s 36-year-old centre-back Kyle McFadzean. He got his header entirely wrong following a hopeful pass forward and Morris pounces but gets his acrobatic finish wrong.
Lockyer is withdrawn on a stretcher and there was some really serious concern for the Luton star there. Replays haven’t shown exactly what happened but there was no one near him and the medics rushing on raise concern over his health.
He receives a standing ovation from both sets off fans as Burke comes on to replace him.
This is worrying for Luton fans with Lockyer now down in his own half and a stretcher is quickly coming onto the pitch for him. Not sure yet what happened to Lockyer.
Reece Burk is told to warm-up by Hatters boss Rob Edwards and it looks like Lockyer’s afternoon is over already. The defender has been a true leader for Luton this season.
Luton have the ball in the back of the net after Tom Lockyer makes solid contact in the box with his side’s first corner of the game. The ball goes through a packed box and Gabriel Osho’s final touch steers the ball past Coventry keeper Ben Wilson, but he goes too early and is just offside.
Now Coventry get some time on the ball as they win a free-kick midway through their own half. Luton’s top scorer Carlton Morris is just a bit over eager in a challenge on Sheaf.
Luton haven’t given Coventry a kick of the ball yet and are looking to break through their opponents midfield with a few early runs. Bell steps up from defence and used his strength to break through a few challenges before being stopped.
Luton get the ball rolling and we are underway at Wembley for the Championship play-off final. Neutrals will love this game, supporters of each side will be biting their nails throughout and we will be bringing you every moment.
That noise has just gone up another notch as the players emerge from the tunnel! Kick-off is moments away.
This time next week the FA Cup final will be decided between Manchester United and Man City, but today’s atmosphere will seriously rival the decibel levels that that game will.
Both sets of fans are going absolutely bonkers in the stands and a ball hasn’t even been kicked yet, the dj is bringing the tunes, supporters are chanting, dancing, and are just loving the occasion and rightly so.
Usually we arrive at this match with some sort of slim parity between the two sides but there really is nothing to split either of the Wembley finalists.
Spoils were shared on both occasions when the pair met in the Championship this season, a 2-2 draw at Kenilworth Road was followed up by a 1-1 meeting at Coventry.
Today there will be a victor, it may even go all the way to penalties but only one team can get promoted to the Premier League! Make sure to stick with us throughout the afternoon with kick-off less than 10 minutes away.
It wouldn’t be fair to just focus on Luton because Coventry have endured an equally ridiculous journey that has lead to them playing at Wembley in today’s Championship play-off final.
Five years ago both Coventry and Luton were competing in League Two, Mark Robins was in charge of the Sky Blues then and will be manning the dugout today after guiding the club through difficult times to within touching distance of the Premier League.
It was only four years previous that Coventry fans were protesting against their club’s owners who had made some questionable decisions and the club was eventually placed into administration, on that day they were also taking on Luton.
They had to endure a period of playing without a permanent home and as recently as January looked set to have to find a new stadium to play at after being served with an eviction notice by former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley who owns the Coventry Building Society arena.
It’s been a whirlwind to say the least and that is just skimming the surface of what Coventry fans have had to go through. They deserve today and regardless of the result it has been an amazing rags to possible riches story.
What a day this is for Luton Town supporters who will have woken up this morning most likely still in disbelief that they are on the cusp of promotion to the Premier League.
It’s been one hell of a journey for the Hatters who have never been in the Premier League but have made every previous step to get there.
Financial difficulties, a points deduction in the 2008/09 season that saw them start the League Two season on -30 points, and even forced to play on a plastic pitch at times are just some of the struggles they have encountered.
It would be amazing to see Luton make it to the Premier League, but Coventry are equally worthy winners as well. Everything is set up for a real cracker of a match!
Today marks a meteoric rise for both clubs who have come from the doldrums of English football to just 90 minutes away from qualifying for the glamour of the Premier League.
In terms of finances, there is £170million on offer for the winner of today’s match, making it the richest game in sport.
The Premier League beckons, the untold riches that come with it can transform a club and secure their future. Unfortunately one will miss out, while the victors will move forward without stopping to look back.
The prospect of the likes of Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah gliding atop the pitch at Kenilworth Road next season is now tangible indeed. After Luton sealed their spot in the Championship play-off final, they stand just one game away from destiny.
Undeniably, the thoughts of many at the club have turned toward a bright future, albeit one now relying on the blood, sweat and, potentially, tears of others. If they are to become Premier League ready, they will have to improve their home.
There is no hiding away from the fact that the ground, nestled unassumingly inside the town and encompassed by Victorian houses, is in desperate need of an overhaul. However, performing open heart surgery may well strip away its beauty.
To read more click below…
Coventry City XI: Wilson; Norton-Cuffy, McNally, McFadzean, Doyle, Bidwell; Kelly, Sheaf, Hamer, Allen, Gyokeres
Subs: Moore, Panzo, Wilson-Esbrand, Dabo, Godden, Eccles, Palmer
Luton Town XI: Horvath; Osho, Lockyer, Bell; Drameh, Clark, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Doughty; Morris, Adebayo
Subs: Shea, Potts, Berry, Burke, Campbell, Onyedinma, Taylor
Team news should be coming any minute now…
Who will make the difference for their side this afternoon?
Welcome to Wembley, lads! 👋#COVLUT | #COYH pic.twitter.com/2lcqFcuAA5
Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was born and raised within sight of the Wembley arch, and it has taken him the best part of three decades to get through the doors of the iconic stadium.
But if Luton Town beat Coventry in the Championship play-off final it will complete more than one incredible journey.
From Hendon to Wembley via Boreham Wood on £25 a game, and a couple of years at West Ham before the move to Kenilworth Road. And from non-League to the Premier League with the same club in nine years, a feat no one has ever achieved.
To read more click below…
Welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog covering this afternoon’s Championship Play-Off final between Coventry City and Luton Town.
There’s been plenty of talk about who will triumph at Wembley and book their place in the Premier League next year… and it’ll all be settled this afternoon.
We’ll have team news, updates and more coming your way, so don’t go anywhere!
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