Canaries fall to Boxing Day defeat at Luton

Norwich City suffered a 2-1 defeat to Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in the Sky Bet Championship on Boxing Day.

Norwich City suffered a 2-1 defeat to Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in the Sky Bet Championship on Boxing Day.

Luton Town substitute Cauley Woodrow scored the winning goal in the 90th minute, a fine strike from the edge of the box.

It came after Teemu Pukki had cancelled out an opener from Allan Campbell, all goals coming in the second half.

Head coach Dean Smith had made both formational and personnel changes to the starting XI, opting to go with three central defenders.

Andrew Omobamidele, Liam Gibbs and Dimi Giannoulis were all involved from the start while Sam Byram was able to return from the bench.

The hosts were the first to threaten the goal with Campbell's curling effort deflected out for a corner kick.

The resulting delivery fell to Jordan Clark but his effort was off target.

Another chance followed from a corner soon after when Tom Lockyer won the second header but couldn't divert it goalward.

Bree would then test Angus Gunn with a free-kick but the shot-stopper managed to tip it on to the crossbar before getting a big hand up to deny Carlton Morris' rebound.

Just past the 20-minute mark, Gabriel Sara's long-range effort would sting the hands of Ethan Horvath, quickly followed by a cross from the Brazilian flashing across goal.

The home side were more effective in creating chances but would fail to break the deadlock before the half-time whistle.

However, they would get the opening just past the hour mark when Campbell struck from outside the penalty area.

City duly responded and Kenny McLean's deflected shot was palmed away by the goalkeeper before Pukki got the equalising goal moments later.

Just as the clock ticked towards 70 minutes, the Finnish striker latched onto Ben Gibson's pass before hitting a crisp shot past Horvath.

Another chance would present itself to Pukki when Aarons' ball over the top looked to have set the striker into space but he was taken down by the already-booked Gabe Osho.

The Canaries would fail to make the numerical advantage count, and they would then rue that when Luton substitution Cauley Woodrow found the top corner from 18 yards in the final minute of the 90.

Isaac Hayden had a chance in the final minute of the six added, and the midfielder looked to have done everything perfectly, only for Alfie Doughty to head off the line and condemn City to the defeat.

Luton Town: Horvath, Bree, Potts (C), Lockyer, Osho, Doughty, Clark, Pelly, Campbell (Freeman 78), Morris (Woodrow 86), Adebayo (Jerome 57).

Subs not used: Isted, Cornick, Berry, Pettit.

Goals: Campbell (61), Woodrow (90)

Bookings: Osho (40 and 80), Lockyer (48)

Red card: Osho (80)

Norwich City: Gunn, Aarons, Omobamidele, Gibson, Hanley (C), Giannoulis (Hernández 75), McLean, Gibbs (Hayden 75), Sara (Idah h-t), Pukki, Sargent.

Subs not used: Krul, Byram, Dowell, Núñez.

Goals: Pukki (69)

Bookings: Gibbs (26)

HT: 0-0

FT: 2-1

Venue: Kenilworth Road

Referee: Tim Robinson

Attendance: 9,831