Luton Town 0-0 Hull City: Hatters go into play-offs unbeaten in 14

Luton v HullImage source, PA Media
Image caption,

Luton made eight changes as they turned their attention to Saturday's play-off semi-final first leg

Luton Town finished the regular Championship season unbeaten in 14 matches after a final-day stalemate against Hull City.

Rob Edwards shuffled his pack and made eight changes as Town - who were guaranteed to finish third before Monday's finale - had one eye on the play-offs.

The Hatters will travel to Sunderland in the first leg of their play-off semi-final on Saturday (17:30 BST), with the return leg at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday, 16 May (20:00 BST).

The Tigers - who made four changes themselves - burned brightly in the early stages and Adama Traore saw two shots deflected behind.

Allahyar Sayyadmanesh then latched onto a loose ball and raced through, only for his low strike to be deflected against the base of the post on 11 minutes.

Luke Freeman saw a shot deflected into Matt Ingram's arms as the hosts grew into the game, and Ingram instinctively stuck out a hand to superbly save a Joe Taylor header from Alfie Doughty's fizzing cross from the left flank three minutes before the break.

There was still time before the interval for Traore's curling free-kick from 25 yards to be saved low to his right by James Shea at the other end.

After the break Lewie Coyle volleyed over from just outside the area after some nice approach play from Ozan Tufan and Harry Vaughan.

Sonny Bradley's downward header from a Luton corner bounced over the bar, while at the other end, Sayyadmanesh skewed a volley wide after the hosts failed to clear Traore's corner.

Traore fired wide from distance while, with 15 minutes remaining, Luton sub Luke Berry spotted Ingram off his line at the other end and tried his luck from 40 yards, only to flash his shot narrowly over the target.

Hull ended the season unbeaten in 10 on the road, drawing six of them, to secure a 15th-placed finish.

They have won their final game only once in 19 seasons and have not tasted victory on the road on the last day since winning at Blackpool in 1995.

Rob Edwards, Luton manager, told BBC 3CR:

"Today was about resting key players, making sure we didn't risk anyone unnecessarily and giving some players some game time, because over the next couple of games if they're needed, we want them up to speed.

"It was overall a successful day. There were some good moments from all the lads who have not been in as much recently. We created one or two chances but the game sort of fizzled out a bit towards the end. There were some good things out there today.

"Sunderland will be a difficult game, I think whoever it was is going to be difficult. A big stadium, a big football club - Tony Mowbray has done really well there.

"We played there relatively recently [18 March] which I think helps. They're good going forward, risk-free. They'll go for it and we'll have to make sure we defend really well and make the most of any chances we can and make sure we are well in the tie coming back here on Tuesday night."

Liam Rosenior, Hull manager, told BBC Radio Humberside:

"I think there were loads of positive aspects but we need to improve in the final third in terms of the cutting edge, but the building blocks are there for anyone to see.

"Anyone who knows the game could see Luton found it difficult to press us or get any foothold in the game. I can't remember them having a shot. We are starting to dominate and control games.

"My job now is to go and recruit in the summer so we can go and finish those games off. We will work in the summer and build the most competitive squad we can."

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