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The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Ryan Johnson's own goal gives Luton late victory against AFC Wimbledon
A desperate late own goal by Wimbledon's Ryan Johnson may signal a change of fortune for Luton at last after back-to-back relegations. After struggling to break their resilient first visitors of the season, Nahki Wells' hopeful ball forward to Cauley Woodrow was met instead by the head of the Dons' stopper and looped agonisingly over goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, off the underside of the crossbar, and over the line. It may be the start of a brand new season, but football remains as fickle as ever. It is 14 years since these sides met in the Conference playoff final, and the intervening period has been a rollercoaster for both teams. On the opening day of the new season they were coming at each other from opposite directions. AFC Wimbledon are the poor cousins of League One after a surprise promotion last season; Luton are the favourites to go back up to more refined surroundings after their disastrous relegation last season. As if to flaunt their greater relative wealth, Luton spent the day engaging in some retail therapy. Complete the signing of Portsmouth's Cohen Bramall in the morning, spot of lunch, then snap up Swansea's Jerry Yates in the afternoon. Wimbledon are more used to rooting around in the bargain basements and despite their scant resources were able to unveil four new faces for the step up in quality. Forget designer labels, one thing will always remain a constant for the Dons: their keen embrace of an underdog tag. 'It is an opportunity for us to say here we are, don't underestimate us,' manager Johnnie Jackson said ahead of kick-off. Sure enough, they started with energy, passion, and less Wimbledon-like, some neat passing. Josh Kelly nearly caused an embarrassing mix-up in the heart of the Luton defence inside 10 minutes and Luton were soon aware their recent Premier League status was going to earn them few favours at this level. Not that any side operating out of Kenilworth Road would have any illusions of grandeur. Ground has been broken across the town on a long overdue new home, but for now the homely roar from an enthusiastic crowd sparked Luton into life. New signing George Saville began creating danger from set pieces but it may need more training sessions to convert that into end product. Nigel Lonwijk, on loan from Wolves, did look an elegant and more immediate threat on the left wing, but Wimbledon's defending was stout and there were few clearcut chances at either end in a frankly untidy and – unsurprisingly given the brevity of the close season – under-rehearsed first half. Luton's greater quality finally began to assert itself in the second period but they still lacked cohesion. Reuell Walters' low 30-yard drive would have given the game a stunning opener it ill deserved but instead produced the first real save of the match from Wimbledon debutant Bishop. Saville was replaced by Lamine Fanne and Lonwijk by Zack Nelson as Luton looked to convert their superiority into three points. Nathan Asiimwe's desperate body block from Fanne 11 minutes from time was a sure sign Wimbledon were not going to just roll over. If only they had not scored Luton's goal for them instead. It was desperately unlucky for Johnson, but Wimbledon will bounce back, and this was an occasion when misfortune very much had to be kept in perspective. Earlier in the day, former Luton captain Tom Lockyer revealed he is less than a month away from being given the all-clear by doctors to resume his career. The skipper who led the club to the Premier League has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Luton's game against Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in December 2023, having snapped an ankle ligament during his long rehabilitation. 'I've had a really good few weeks,' Lockyer said. 'Hopefully now I'm four weeks away from getting signed off and told I'm allowed to play football again.'
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Lando Norris plays it very cool when asked on F1 title battle: ‘Won't matter once we're all dead'
Lando Norris has offered a remarkably philosophical take on his Formula One championship battle with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, declaring that the outcome ultimately matters little because "in 200 years we will all be dead". Norris arrives at the final round before Formula One's three-week summer shutdown 16 points adrift of Piastri, whose title momentum surged after last weekend's rain-affected race in Belgium. Despite starting on pole, Norris was overtaken by Piastri in treacherous conditions. With McLaren's current superiority, it is Piastri who has emerged as Norris's primary rival for this season's crown, holding six wins to Norris's four. When asked if he needs to get under the Australian's skin to secure his maiden F1 title, Norris replied: "I don't enjoy that. In 200 years no one is going to care. We'll all be dead. "I am trying to have a good time. I still care about it, and that's why I get upset sometimes and I get disappointed and I get angry at myself. And I think that shows just how much I care about winning and losing. But that doesn't mean I need to take it out on Oscar. I just don't get into those kind of things." Historically, intra-team title battles in F1 are fraught, but Norris maintains a pragmatic view. "Yes, he (Piastri) is the guy I want to beat more than anyone else," he admitted. "But if I don't beat him, then that's just because he has done a better job. I will do it the way I believe is best for me, and just because one person did it a few years ago, it doesn't mean you have to do that, too. I don't really care about those things." At the Hungaroring on Friday, Norris demonstrated his prowess with an impressive practice double, narrowly beating Piastri by just 0.019 seconds in the first session before extending his lead to nearly three tenths later in the day. Norris has an unblemished record of never being out-qualified by a team-mate in his six previous visits to this circuit, a promising sign from his practice performance. Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton, a record eight-time winner and nine-time pole-sitter in Hungary, struggled for pace. The 40-year-old, still seeking a podium in Ferrari colours, complained his car didn't "feel good" and ran off track after a major lock-up in the first session, ending the day sixth, three tenths and three places behind team-mate Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen, who recently committed his future to Red Bull for at least another season, also had an uncharacteristically difficult day, finishing a distant 14th in practice, 1.1 seconds slower than Norris. "I don't know what is going on," Verstappen radioed. "It is just undriveable." He also faced a stewards' investigation for throwing a towel from his cockpit but received only a warning.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
F1 title challenger says none of it will matter ‘once we're dead'
Lando Norris adopted a philosophical stance on his Formula One championship battle with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, stating the outcome ultimately matters little in the grand scheme. Piastri currently holds a 16-point lead over Norris, with six wins to Norris's four, establishing him as Norris's main competitor for the season's title. Norris emphasised his refusal to engage in mind games with Piastri, preferring to focus on his own performance: 'I don't enjoy that. In 200 years no one is going to care. We'll all be dead.' At the Hungaroring, Norris demonstrated strong form by securing an impressive practice double, outperforming Piastri in both sessions. Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari and Max Verstappen of Red Bull experienced challenging practice sessions, with both drivers reporting issues with their cars and finishing well down the order.
