01’,
42’,
56’
Elijah Adebayo hit his first career hat-trick as Luton Town thumped Brighton & Hove Albion 4-0 to move out of the relegation zone.
Two goals in the opening three minutes from Adebayo and Chiedozie Ogbene set the Hatters on their way to their biggest Premier League win.
Indeed, this is the first time they have won a match by more than one goal in the competition.
How the match unfolded
The Luton crowd got a big lift before kick-off as club captain Tom Lockyer returned to Kenilworth Road, six weeks after suffering a cardiac arrest during December’s abandoned match against AFC Bournemouth.
The skipper walked around the pitch and applauded the fans for the support they have given him in his recovery, while also geeing up the crowd.
His presence seemed to have an immediate impact as Luton got off to an incredible start, with Adebayo scoring after just 18 seconds. Chiedozie Ogbene crossed the ball to Carlton Morris at the back post and the forward nodded it back towards Adebayo to flick past Jason Steele.
Ogbene then doubled the lead in the third minute after poor goalkeeping from Steele. Albert Sambi Lokonga played Ogbene in behind the Brighton defence with a lofted pass, and the winger poked the ball around the goalkeeper before tapping into an empty net.
The Hatters made it 3-0 just before the break as Adebayo scored his second of the match. Ross Barkley played a great pass to the striker, who finished past Steele at the near post with ease.
Luton’s Jordan Clark had a goal ruled out for offside early in the second half, but the hosts made it 4-0 anyway in the 56th minute as Adebayo completed his first Premier League hat-trick with a header from close range from Alfie Doughty’s corner.
The win takes Luton out of the relegation zone into 17th place, above Everton with 19 points. Brighton drop to ninth with 32 points.
Club reports
Luton report | Brighton report
Match officials
Referee: Rob Jones. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Wade Smith. Fourth official: Rebecca Welch. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Nick Greenhalgh.
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