Newcastle and Luton share the spoils after eight-goal thriller
With both sides registering impressive victories in midweek, confidence levels were always going to be high, and it was the hosts who came flying out the blocks with a breakthrough inside seven minutes.
Lewis Miley started the move with a pinpoint pass to Kieran Trippier, and the full-back’s accurate cut-back was swept home by Sean Longstaff.
Undeterred, Luton responded in impressive fashion, and found a deserved leveller through Gabriel Osho, with the defender converting from close range after good work by Carlton Morris.
The two sides were level for just two minutes, however, as Newcastle immediately restored their lead. Anthony Gordon’s initial strike was thwarted by Thomas Kaminski, but Longstaff was again on hand to clinically dispatch the rebound for his first-ever PL brace.
The Magpies looked to cement their advantage with HT approaching, but Luton showed their powers of recovery with a second equaliser, as Ross Barkley tucked home after Martin Dúbravka could only parry Alfie Doughty’s effort.
The Hatters carried the momentum that goal created into the early stages of the second half, and they were given a golden opportunity to take the lead when VAR ruled Dan Burn had pulled back Chiedozie Ogbene in the box.
Morris assumed the responsibility from the spot, and the striker sent Dúbravka the wrong way to put the visitors ahead.
Stunned by Luton’s comeback, Newcastle found themselves further behind three minutes later, as Elijah Adebayo swept home from Barkley’s pass for his ninth PL goal of the season.
The breathless nature of the contest continued into the final 25 minutes, and the hosts found two goals in the space of six minutes to remarkably level the scores.
First, Trippier found the net with a powerful first-time strike before substitute Harvey Barnes reacted fastest in the box to drill a well-taken finish into the bottom corner.
That set up a fascinating finale, but despite a couple of late half-chances, a winning goal ultimately proved a step too far for either side.
The result extends the hosts’ unbeaten H2H home record to 22 matches (W16, D6), while Luton remain a point clear of the relegation zone.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ross Barkley (Luton Town)
