Cornick’s goal boosts Luton Town’s play-off hopes

Super-sub Harry Cornick struck a second-half winner as Luton Town frustrated Swansea City in South Wales.

Luton, missing top goalscorer Elijah Adebayo, immediately exposed the frailties in Russell Martin’s style by piling on the pressure onto Swansea’s new goalkeeper Alex Fisher, with his clearance luckily rebounding for a throw instead of his own net.

Allan Campbell nearly opened the scoring for the Hatters just moments later with Fisher rooted to his spot but his deflection dribbled wide.

Swansea began to find their feet and were lifted by captain Matt Grimes who began to take the game by the scruff of the neck. His incisive through ball created the chance of the half for Michael Obafemi, but goalkeeper James Shea stood resolutely at his near post to deny the former Southampton forward.

Grimes again was the instigator as his pass found new signing Hannes Wolf, but the Austrian could not convert.

Recently recalled loanee Danny Hylton certainly did not expect to be starting a Championship match after a year away, but his effort was probably the closest the visitors got during the first half. He skinned three Swansea defenders with the swivel of his hips but had his driving effort denied by Fisher.

Hylton came close again with a looping header from a set-piece. He nipped in at the near-post with little to no marking involved in Swansea’s end but was unable to find the back of the net.

Reece Burke then had a dribbling act of his own, leaving Ryan Manning for dead before powering an effort over the bar.

In the second half, the Swans began the better of the two sides. Firstly Matt Grimes’ free-kick was fired over before Ben Cabango struck the post.

Obafemi tested Shea minutes later, but it was straight down his throat. Wolf flashed wide, and it appeared as if Russell Martin’s men were gaining momentum, but then came the sucker punch.

From seemingly nothing substitutes Harry Cornick and Cameron Jerome combined with the former crashing a curler into the far corner from 18 yards out to give Luton the lead.

Swansea sent on top goalscorer Joel Piroe immediately after falling behind, and with his first real sniff, he targeted a header which Shea held well.

The win gives Luton impetus in their play-off chase as they rise to ninth, but with boos echoing around the Swansea.com Stadium, the coming fixture list looks gloomy.

It is also Hatters’ boss Nathan Jones’ first win as a Championship manager in South Wales in six matches and he will certainly be ecstatic at what was a thoroughly professional away performance.

Swansea City: Fisher; Bennett, Naughton, Cabango; Christie, Downes, Grimes (C), Manning; Ntcham, Wolf; Obafemi.

Subs: Hamer, Burns, Latibeaudiere, Fulton, Piroe, Smith, Joseph

Luton Town: Shea; Bree, Burke, Osho, Naismith (C), Bell; Lansbury, Mpanzu, Campbell; Onyedinma, Hylton.

Subs: Steer, Potts, Cornick, Berry, Mendes Gomes, Lockyer, Jerome.

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