‘Do it for Locks’ has been the message after an emotional, traumatic and scary week for all connected with Luton.
And they honoured their recovering captain Tom Lockyer in the best way possible against Newcastle.
Lockyer is back at home now after suffering a cardiac arrest against Bournemouth last week and having an ICD device fitted in midweek in order to prevent a repeat of his collapse.
But he was not far from the thoughts of anyone at Kenilworth Road.
His shirt, shorts and shin pads were laid out in their usual place in the Luton dressing room while his teammates ran out with shirts bearing the message ‘4 Locks’ on them, a reference to his shirt number but also their motivation.
Andros Townsend paid tribute to Tom Lockyer after his goal that secured Luton’s third win of the season
Travelling fans unfurled a banner in support of Lockyer, who suffered a cardiac arrest last week
Chants of the Wales international’s name rang out throughout the ground during the game at Kenilworth Road
The Hatters seized the initiative after a strong start and Townsend headed his side into the lead
His image was on the cover of the programme, his name was sung throughout and there was applause for the defender in the fourth minute.
Along with a ‘get well soon Tom’ banner from the visiting Newcastle fans there was also one for Lockyer placed in one of the home sections too.
But what would have lifted Lockyer just as much was the performance his teammates produced in his absence led by their impressive manager Rob Edwards whose emotions were there for all to see as he shed tears at full time .
Determined, defiant, dogged and with some dashes of quality mixed in, Luton secured a victory that was thoroughly deserved.
Andros Townsend’s first-half goal was the winner, celebrated fittingly by the former Newcastle winger holding up a shirt bearing Lockyer’s name that was also hung in the home dugout.
Their margin of victory should have been greater too as they also hit the bar twice.
The failure to score a second left the door open for Newcastle right until the end of the seven minutes of added time.
But there was only more misery on the road for Newcastle whose only league win away from home remains the 8-0 one at Sheffield United.
And, regardless of their troubles, this was simply never a day that Luton were going to be denied. Not when they had the additional responsibility to do it for Lockyer. They did not disappoint.
In his attempt to find the right words at an extremely sensitive time, Edwards was reluctant in the build up to agree with suggestions that what happened to Lockyer can be used in any way by his team.
Still, there was a clear intent and motivation from Luton from kick-off. Jamal Lascelles was having to work overtime to defend Newcastle’s box.
Kieran Trippier, struggling of late, would not have enjoyed the early moments here either, being beaten easily by Elijah Adebayo and then brushed off the ball by the Luton striker.
Jacob Brown drove at Newcastle’s defence before thumping an effort into Martin Dubravka’s chest.
Luton wore T-shirts paying tribute the club captain Lockyer during their pre-match warm up
The former Everton winger then raced to the home bench and celebrated with Lockyer’s shirt
Gabriel Osho, who came in for Lockyer, made a front foot start at the back for Luton, doing as much as anyone to limit Newcastle in the first 18 minutes to a Callum Wilson flick header that dribbled wide and couple of blocked efforts from Bruno Guimaraes.
But in the 20th, Wilson had a great chance to put Newcastle ahead. They worked a short corner to Gordon who picked out Wilson with a cross.
He looked certain to score though his was pushed out by Thomas Kaminski but against the retreating Amari Bell who was relieved to see the ball loop over his own bar.
But Newcastle’s period in the ascendancy was abruptly ended by a Luton opener. A burst down the left from Alfie Doughty earned Luton a corner which the left wingback put in, Ross Barkley flicked on and Townsend nodded in at the far post, scoring his first goal for Luton against his former club.
And nobody would have argued if Luton got the game all but wrapped up in the first half.
Barkley hit the bar with a wonderful effort that bent and dipped over Martin Dubravka but stayed out after bouncing against the back of the Newcastle goalkeeper.
Ross Barkley came close to doubling the hosts’ lead but his strike rebounded off the crossbar
Newcastle looked to hit back after the interval and came close after a driven cross from Kieran Trippier
A returning Alexander Isak looked to have equalised but his goal was ruled out for offside
Dubravka also stuck out a leg to deny Adebayo.
Newcastle were in danger of getting blown away by Luton and needed the break in the home side’s momentum when Lascelles went down for treatment, holding a mini-meeting in the centre circle as they tried to plot a way back into the game.
They did not need to see their centre-back forced off through injury though. At the same time, Lewis Miley was replaced by Alexander Isak. That was seemingly a tactical change which indicated Eddie Howe’s unhappiness at what he was seeing from his side.
They had a couple of late first-half attempts from Fabian Schar and Miguel Almiron and one opportunity skewed horribly wide from a promising position by Bruno Guimaraes before Anthony Gordon turned a Trippier cross into the side netting.
And they were also lucky not to find themselves 2-0 down by then as Brown burst into space and smashed an effort against the bar.
Isak thought he had levelled when put through by Almiron only to be denied by the flag while Kaminski was the reason Guimaraes was also unable to make it 1-1.
And that was typical of how Luton saw out the game – defending heroically and simply refusing to be beaten.
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