Robinson winner enough to see off West Ham
The Town development squad kept up their 100 per cent record this season with a terrific 1-0 win at Premier League West Ham United.
Matt Robinson scored the Hatters’ winner on 14 minutes, powering home a left-foot strike after taking Solomon Taiwo’s pass.
The Hammers included a number of the regular starters in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League that the London club currently sit at the top of.
The Town dominated the first half and could have been ahead in the third minute when Mark Cullen headed over Shaun Whalley’s fine right-wing centre.
But Robinson gave Hammers goalkeeper Vit Nemrava no chance to open the scoring, and the Hatters continued to frustrate the home side as the first half wore on.
West Ham offered little going forward with Elliot Justham rarely tested and the Town almost doubled their lead with 20 minutes left when Whalley struck the crossbar with a venomous shot.
The Iron desperately tried to find a late equaliser but the Hatters held on to achieve an excellent victory.
A delighted first team coach Hakan Hayrettin told lutontown.co.uk: “It was a good team performance and all of the players worked really hard for one another. That’s the ethos we want to create: a togetherness and high work ethic.
“The players know that if they impress in games like this they will be given a chance in the first team. That’s been proven by the manager when he selects the first team.
“It was a thoroughly professional performance against a good team who have had players involved in Premier League matches.
“We conducted ourselves professionally and reaped the rewards. Beating any team is good for us, but to beat a Premier League side is exceptional.”
Town: Justham; Trialist, Trailist, Charles, O’Donnell (sub Martin); Whalley, Taiwo, Robinson, Stevenson; Cullen, Viana.