Coventry 1-1 Luton (5-6 on pens) – Championship play-off final: Hatters are back in the big time

Perhaps it should come as no surprise this went the distance. These two clubs had taken a circuitous route back to this point on the brink of the top flight.

Not necessarily scenic but always dramatic, always arresting and so it proved once again as Luton Town returned to the top-flight after a 32-year exile, completing their rise from non-league to the Premier League in nine years.

They did it on penalties, despite losing their captain Tom Lockyer, who collapsed early in the game and was rushed to hospital. And they did it when Coventry City substitute Fankaty Dabo missed the target with the 12th spot-kick of a tense shootout.

As Dabo’s effort sailed wide, Luton made it for the first time into the Premier League and a bonzana of £180million is coming their way, which will secure the future of the club at a new stadium in the centre of the town.

Until then, they will host the richest competition in world football amid the ramshackle charms of Kenilworth Road and their rise unleashes a wealth of human stories, including Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, who became the first player to make the climb through five promotions with one club.

Luton Town have secured promotion to the Premier League after beating Coventry City in a penalty shoot-out at Wembley

Jordan Clark (orange top) opened the scoring for Luton in the first-half at Wembley as he got on the end of a brilliant cut-back by Elijah Adebayo

And Rob Edwards, who started the season planning for promotion with Luton’s fierce rivals Watford, and Mick Harford, the club legend now recruitment chief who was the manager when they slipped out of the Football League under the weight of a 30-point deduction.

At Wembley, the final chapter started with concern when Lockyer collapsed on the pitch, no-one close near him as he turned to recover defensive position. There followed four minutes of treatment on the pitch for the popular captain, who was taken to hospital for further tests.

Luton confirmed before half-time that the 28-year-old was conscious and talking to his family, a bulletin which came as a huge relief although, purely in footballing terms, it was a huge blow for Rob Edwards to lose his leader and player of the season.

Edwards gathered his players into a huddle in the shade as he reshuffled, with Reece Burke coming off the bench and Gabriel Osho taking up Lockyer’s role in the centre of the back three.

Luton had made a strong start and remained on top despite the setback, taking the lead midway through the first half through a goal typical of their threat on the counter attack.

Elijah Adebayo chased a long pass down the left, brought it under control, beat Kyle McFadzean with a combination of power and nimble footwork, and rolled a pass to Clark, hurtling forward in support. Clark’s first touch was perfect and his second was a fierce drive to beat Coventry keeper Ben Wilson. It was only his fourth goal of the season.

Edwards’ team fully deserved the lead. They had quickly found their rhythm and had the ball in the net in the fifth minute, when Lockyer headed a corner down and it was bundled over the line by Gabriel Osho, only to find the flag raised.

Normally, there is no VAR in EFL but it is in operation at Wembley for these play-off finals and the replays confirmed Osho was just offside.

Luton missed a fine chance to stretch the lead when Carlton Morris and Adebayo created more problems for Coventry’s central defenders as they fought down another high ball. It dropped to Adebayo who nursed a side-foot volley over a cluster of bodies including keeper Wilson, only to see his effort drift wide of the empty net.

There was another goal ruled out as Luton continued to dominate. This time for handball as Callum Doyle hooked goal line clearance against Adebayo’s arm. The rebound dropped into the net but the Luton forward did not even celebrate. Rather he held up his hands, aware it would not count.

The first half was almost over by the time Coventry had an effort at goal of any sort, a half-volley turned over from an acute angle at the back post by Hamer after a deep cross from the left.

They were a different team after a half-time change by boss Mark Robins who replaced Jamie Allen with Matt Godden, a move that helped his team further up the pitch. Viktor Gyokeres became more influential and tested a defensive unit showing some signs of anxiety without Lockyer there to cajole and organise.

There was a scare when Hamer slid to close down a clearance by Ethan Horvath and another when Gyokeres charged down the goalkeeper. For a split second, the ball seemed to have spilled in his favour before it spun away from goal.

The Sky Blue end of Wembley found its voice and the equaliser came on the break as they defended a corner and Doyle released Gyokeres and he drove Luton back before finding Hamer with a pass cut back to the edge of the penalty area.

Hamer met it first time, and his punchy side-footer flashed between the legs of Osho and beyond the dive of Horvath.

Momentum was firmly with Coventry at this point. Godden fired over on the turn as they pushed for a second but they lost impetus when they lost Hamer, injured, in the 80th minute and the contest spluttered into extra-time.

Gyokeres shot saved at near post and Clark was booked for diving by referee Michael Oliver. Clark insisted there was contact and close-up replays seemed to show he could have been right, but the VAR backed the on-field officials.

There was more tension via the VAR bunker when Joe Taylor thought he had snatched a late winner, pouncing on a mistake by Jonathan Panzo, who had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds.

Taylor beat Wilson and triggered exuberant celebrations. Panzo buried his head under his shirt but the ball had clearly struck Taylor on the hand and Oliver ruled the goal out, sparking delight at the other end of Wembley Stadium and taking the game to penalties.

Jordan Clark burst from midfield to meet Elijah Adebayo’s brilliant cut-back and finish powerfully past the Coventry goalkeeper to give hope of a first Premier League season for the Hatters.

Rob Edwards’ side continued to dominate and could have had another goal as Adebayo and strike-partner Carlton Morris combined to great effect but couldn’t produce a clear effort on goal.

Coventry responded with an inspired second-half performance led by Gustavo Hamer who thumped home a Gyokeres pass across the box to pull the Sky Blues level.

 Luton were unable to respond with the same gusto that they showed in the first-half and despite few chances for either team had to settle for extra time to decide who would be promoted to the Premier League.

 An additional 30 minutes full of fatigue and nervous gasps from the crowd followed as Coventry and Luton went blow-for-blow like a pair of heavyweight boxers as a £170million prize rested on the line.

Carlton Morris tried to get in behind the Coventry defence but lacked the legs he had in the first-half, while Gyokeres was influential in putting the Hatters defence under immense pressure but similarly ran out of steam.

 Substitute Joe Taylor thought he had won it for Luton in the last minute after pouncing on a Jonathan Panzo mistake but saw his goal quickly ruled out for handball after a VAR check.

Full match report to follow.