Match Report: Boro 2 Luton Town 1

A second successive stoppage time winner from Matt Crooks secured Boro a deserved three points against Luton Town at the Riverside.

Crooks scored in the 91st minute to give Michael Carrick's men a deserved victory.

Luton had taken the lead, but Chuba Akpom cancelled it out before half-time.

Tommy Smith had an early effort on goal and Dael Fry was denied the opportunity to get on the end of a Jonny Howson free-kick by two grappling defenders.

Isaiah Jones was getting kicked from pillar to post and Amari’I Bell earned himself a booking at the second time of asking.

Riley McGree did well to get in behind the Luton defence, and a Ryan Giles cross was cleared by a visiting defender

But it was Luton who went ahead shortly after the half-hour. Jordan Clark profited from a quickly-taken free-kick when he ghosted past two Boro midfielders before delivering a powerful shot to leave Zack Steffen with no chance.

Boro almost hit back immediately. Jones sent a shot over the top after good work by Hayden Hackney.

The scores were soon level though and it came courtesy of a familiar combination. Another inch-perfect Giles cross found Akpom, and the in-form striker headed home his ninth goal of the season.

And Fry went close to giving Boro the lead before the interval, but his header was just wide.

Luton had the first opportunity of the second half when Tom Lockyer found space to get on the end of a ball into the box, but he couldn’t apply the finishing touch.

Boro played some good stuff at times and Akpom was on the end of one such move when he rifled a shot against the upright.

Allan Campbell almost unwittingly cashed in on a piece of a fortune when a Steffen clearance hit the Luton man, but thankfully went just wide of the goal.

The kicking and pulling of Jones continued and after Lockyer received a yellow card for one foul Bell was given a second yellow for a leaving a foot in.

Boro were pressing for a winner and Luton had to scramble a Howson cross away.

Duncan Watmore came off the bench for Boro and he had Ethan Horvath at full stretch to make a save.

It was all Boro and Howson was next to go close when he grazed the bar with a shot.

Sub Crooks, who scored the late winner at Norwich last time out, was presented with a chance to win this one, but he lofted a close range shot after good work by Giles.

That looked to be game over, but when Crooks was presented with another opportunity to win the game in stoppage time he made no mistake in converting the chance to seal the points.