West Brom 5 Luton Town 3 - Lewis Cox analysis
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00:00Baggies fans, all quiet here now at the Hawthorns. A good little while after full time here and full time, of course, at the end of the final game of the season, brings everything that comes with it, the lap of honour, families and obviously the players, children, come to welcome the applause of those supporters still inside here on a final day that brought an Albion win, happily, at the end of what has been a, you know,
00:29a pretty desperate finale to the 24-25 championship season. A 5-3 victory over relegated Luton today. The scoreline enough to see the Hatters suffer back-to-back relegations, obviously Premier League last season and now down to League One next term.
00:48They needed to better results elsewhere involving Hall and obviously a defeat here. Hall claimed a point against Portsmouth and that was enough to see the Hatters drop down to the third tier and the away end, which came, you know, all today for plenty of colour and optimism.
01:05was left pretty angry with how things unfolded, to be honest, because Luton, by the way, were terrible today, really, given what was at stake for them.
01:13They really flopped. I mentioned 5-3, you know, at one point in the second half, it was 5-1 Albion on the hour and you got the feeling Albion could have gone for more, really,
01:23and should have seen it out by that big scoreline, but Luton got a couple of consolations.
01:29It was never close or tight at the end and it was almost ironic, really, I think, and maybe James Morrison, Albion caretaker boss, has said so in his post-match press conference.
01:38They're almost ironic that, yeah, Albion scored five goals today, you know, you know, somewhere in the season is missed opportunities, really, I suppose, both literally and figuratively.
01:51Certainly missed opportunities in front of goal, you know, a real low lack of goal, you know, a real lack of goals and low total this season,
01:58albeit they've scored five here today and five against Portsmouth not so long ago under Tony Mowbray.
02:03But, yeah, they've at least closed the season off in a respectable manner in terms of a bit of entertainment for supporters, really.
02:11Not been enough of that this season.
02:12It would have been nicer if the margin of victory was bigger.
02:17But, look, yeah, Mazda said to me after that, he doesn't really mind too much about that.
02:21I'm really happy with him.
02:23He got to sign off on a win, certainly won here.
02:25There is a two-game caretaker spell.
02:27Obviously, we know Albion and owners Billcourt, their search for a new permanent head coach is ongoing.
02:33The first player to mention today, obviously, is Daryl Dike.
02:36It was the Daryl Dike day, really.
02:38Obviously, the United States international, so sorely missed for so long.
02:43Obviously, two ruptured Achilles.
02:45We know all about it, don't we, Lach?
02:47And he's kind of been back since February, been making cameos from the bench,
02:51been banging on the doors, really, of certainly Mowbray and now James Morrison.
02:55And he was finally rewarded with that first start today.
02:58His first league start, Dike, in 750 days since Stoke, two years and a month ago,
03:04where he picked up his first Achilles injury.
03:08I remember speaking to Carlos Corbren that day after the game and obviously came back.
03:13A couple of substitute appearances, then did it again at Ipswich last February 2024.
03:19So, what a journey it's been for him.
03:21But he got that start and he marked it with a goal.
03:23What an amazing, one of the moments of the season, to be honest.
03:26And look, we look back, it's been a thoroughly disappointing season.
03:28How it's ended, no doubt.
03:29But Albion were in the top five, top six for a lot of it.
03:32But that was still one of the moments of the season.
03:35A Dike climb to heading Callum Stiles' cross to make it 2-1.
03:39After about half an hour here against the Hatters,
03:41Albion had led through Tom Fellows, who struck a fighter brace on the day.
03:46First two-goal haul of Fellows' career, actually.
03:48He opened the score in seven minutes in.
03:50Luton, go down the other end and equalise.
03:53And it feels like the wind's in their sails, really.
03:56And Luton are the ones with something on the line.
03:58And that's what we expected today.
03:59But as I say, then Dike made it 2-1 on half an hour.
04:02Fellows fired his second immediately after that,
04:06after great, great work from Dike to set it up.
04:08And Isaac Price as well for 3-1 half-time.
04:11And another brace at Albion in the second half
04:14was that of Callum Stiles, the left-backer.
04:17Only scored once this season.
04:18Popped up with a close-range finish after a flowing move.
04:21Darnell Furlong's cross.
04:23And then a fine fifth, albeit deflected from 25 yards.
04:26Low into the bottom corner.
04:275-1 on the hour.
04:29Albion started making changes.
04:30You know, Dike and others went off.
04:32We saw, sorry, a farewell appearance for Cemi Ajayi
04:35at a contract with the news on their future
04:39set to be confirmed in the coming days or so.
04:42We saw likewise for Grady D in Ghana.
04:43And I'll say, at that stage, it was 5-1.
04:47Luton got one back, I think, 65 minutes.
04:49And then another back on 85 minutes for a bit of pride.
04:52But their away and their fans were fuming, really.
04:55As have Albion fans have been in the last few weeks.
04:57Look, we know all about that.
04:58And deserved, look, absolute collapse in the final weeks of the season
05:01to go down from fighting for six to, you know,
05:04they were 10th before a ball was kicked today, finished 9th.
05:06In the end, four points from the top six.
05:09So, it's very much what ifs, what might have been.
05:11And a season of regrets, really.
05:12James Morrison in there has said,
05:14you know, players, go and have some reflective time now, really.
05:17And think and wonder what's gone wrong,
05:19where you can be better.
05:20I had the pleasure of speaking with Dahl Dike down in the tunnel,
05:23in the mix zone after the game.
05:25Done a piece on the website on that.
05:26There'll be more to come from.
05:27From the big man, we're all hopeful
05:29and optimistic for him now, aren't we, after today?
05:32I mean, if, if, big if,
05:34he can get through a pre-season unscathed
05:36and going into next season,
05:37the final year of his contract,
05:39what a boost that could be for everyone involved.
05:42So, nice to finish in a winning way.
05:44You know, the back end of the season
05:46will be remembered miserably, I'm sure.
05:49Summer of change ahead, not least.
05:51Three senior players I mentioned,
05:53well, I mentioned Ajayi and Dean Garni.
05:55You've got John Swift as well,
05:56who wasn't involved today, out of contract.
05:57And we'll leave.
05:58So, I'll be confirmed in the coming days.
06:00More we'll leave that are under contract.
06:01Lots of change to go on,
06:02not least the head coach.
06:04It might be the last game of the season,
06:05but we'll be around,
06:06writing about it, reporting about it,
06:07speaking about it,
06:08videos, podcasts.
06:09So, stay tuned.
06:10Thanks for watching these all season.
06:11I know I'm usually with,
06:13obviously, Johnny Drury,
06:14but he's flown himself off on holiday.
06:17So, he didn't fancy the final game of the season.
06:19But, yeah, it's been a pleasure.
06:22A bit of an ordeal at times,
06:23certainly towards the end of the season.
06:24Four Albion managers, by the way,
06:26from Carlos to Brunty to,
06:28to Tony and now Mazza.
06:31But, yeah, another one in the books
06:34and at least signed off in a good way.
06:36An eight goal full.
06:37I didn't quite think I'd see Albion 5,
06:39Luton 3 when I rocked up today,
06:41but there we are.
06:42Season of what ifs,
06:43what might have been.
06:44We'll have plenty of analysis of it
06:45and debriefs and stuff.
06:47Albion players are in for one final time tomorrow.
06:49They'll have little meetings,
06:50little debriefs,
06:51and we'll find out, you know,
06:53clarity on futures,
06:54stuff like that.
06:54So, stay tuned.
06:56Thanks for watching and reading
06:57and all of that.
06:57And, yeah, until next time.
07:00See you soon.
07:00Bye.
07:11Bye.
07:11Bye.
07:13Bye.