Luton Town miss out on the Championship Play Off Final
Nathan Jones says his side will be back!
Last updated 17th May 2022
Jordan Rhodes' solitary late strike sealed Huddersfield victory in the second leg of their Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final against Luton and a 2-1 aggregate win.
Rhodes, a first-half substitute for Danny Ward, stole in at the far post in the 82nd minute to edge the Terriers closer to a Premier League return after a three-year absence.
It was tough on Luton, who were the better side for long periods on the night after being held 1-1 at Kenilworth Road in Friday's first leg.
But Huddersfield goalkeeper Lee Nicholls made several telling saves and Rhodes' goal-poaching instincts proved the difference as the Yorkshire side booked their place in the Wembley final against Nottingham Forest or Sheffield United on May 29.
Luton, bidding to complete a remarkable rise from the National League to the Premier League in eight years, created the tie's first clear opening.
Harry Cornick's effort, struck first time from Kal Naismith's low cross, forced Huddersfield goalkeeper Nicholls into a point-blank save.
Nicholls then spilled a long-range shot from Robert Snodgrass and while Huddersfield hogged the early possession, they had to wait until the 19th minute for their first effort on goal when Ward headed over.
Luton appeared to have taken control when Nicholls saved well again from James Bree's curling shot just after the half-hour mark, but were then indebted to goalkeeper Matt Ingram.
Town defender Harry Toffolo burst into Luton's area and fired goalwards, but Ingram parried clear to keep the visitors level.
As in the first leg, Luton shaded the first half before Huddersfield lifted their fans in a full house by forcing a corner soon after the restart.
But the Hatters were first to threaten in the second period when Amari'i Bell headed Allan Campbell's cross over.
Terriers boss Carlos Corberan sent Sorba Thomas on for Danel Sinani with half an hour to play and the substitute's superb free-kick was headed home by Tom Lees, but referee Peter Bankes had already blown for a foul.
Luton's Huddersfield-born forward Cameron Jerome replaced Danny Hylton soon after and from his pass Cornick's angled shot was kept out by Nicholls.
Huddersfield were then denied what appeared to be a clear penalty in the 77th minute.
Ingram made a scrambling save and after fumbling the ball he clearly impeded Toffolo as the keeper attempted to retrieve it, but referee Bankes was unmoved to the fury of the home support.
Huddersfield's grievance did not last long. Thomas curled an excellent free-kick to the far post and Rhodes got behind Bell to turn the ball home with eight minutes remaining.
The home side, relegated from the top flight in 2019, held on without incident and when Bankes charged for the tunnel while blowing the final whistle, Terriers fans raced on to the pitch in celebration.
Luton manager Nathan Jones labelled some of Huddersfield's fans "an absolute disgrace" after they ran on to the pitch.
Some Terriers supporters ran to the away end to taunt Luton's fans, while Jones said he had been abused by others.
He said: "The fans were an absolute disgrace. How one of us hasn't been...the stewards, I don't know why they turned up.
"We won't complain because football fans are like that, some are idiots. They didn't paint Huddersfield Town as a good club.
"They won the game, go and celebrate with your players, go and celebrate something wonderful. Instead they were more concerned making obscene gestures.
"I've seen little kids, I've seen a mother with a little kid. If that was my wife I'd be disgusted.
"They approached me, they abused me and done stuff to me. Some were OK, some congratulated us, but they haven't painted Huddersfield Town in a good light after that."
Jones, who guided Luton to promotion to League One in 2018 and returned for a second spell in charge in 2020 after an unsuccessful stint at Stoke, promised his side will come back stronger.
"Absolutely we want to finish higher (next season), we want to push boundaries. We want to do that now we've created expectations," Jones said.
"It might not be possible, but we will recruit. Our squad will be better come June 23, I'm convinced of that, and we go again.
"The thing that's caught up with us this season is the fact that we've had so many injuries. I've not been able to pick my best XI with game-changers for two months.
"Congratulations to Huddersfield, they've been magnificent all season, but let's talk about us, we've been outstanding, I'm so proud of them."