sport news Luton 1-1 Everton: Hosts miss chance to move out of bottom three despite ... trends now

Luton did what they could, manager Rob Edwards even saying he was piloting a new pair of undies he hoped were lucky. But this was a draw which brought little relief to their disadvantaged position in the Premier League's relegation race.

That dreaded dotted line will continue to hang over them after this. It did not help when Teden Mengi confused football for wrestling, gifting Everton a penalty which Dominic Calvert-Lewin dispatched to leave Luton up against it at Kenilworth Road.

Elijah Adebayo equalised, bullying Ashley Young to score on his first start since February. But in the grander scheme of things, a draw was not good enough.

They are level on points with Nottingham Forest, who know a win over Sheffield United today will take them a long way towards safety at the expense of Luton and Burnley. Everton did not need to fret about all that, of course, having arrived here feeling unusually at ease.

While Jurgen Klopp seized the chance to hurl yet another stick of dynamite at TNT Sports, carping about the timing of Liverpool’s fixtures this season, Everton saved their explosiveness for three Premier League games in seven days.

Three wins, five goals scored, zero conceded, safety secured, and with this Friday night trip to Luton arranged by Sky Sports when it was thought it might resemble a relegation six-pointer.

Sean Dyche’s team wrecked that narrative by confirming survival with a 1-0 win over Brentford on Saturday. 

That left the travelling supporters with a strange sensation on this away day – one of relief, rapture and intrigue at how they might perform minus the pressure of potential doom.

While they sang about the Premier Leaving shoving their points deductions where the sun doth not shine, this match was soon eclipsed by penalty shouts, only one of which was given.

First, Tahith Chong dropped down when he burst by Jordan Pickford. Then, Dwight McNeil was tripped in a tangle of legs with Teden Mengi. Referee Tim Robinson was not having either claim.

However, when Everton won a corner in the 20th minute, Luton knew only Arsenal had scored more set-piece goals this season. 

In his desperation to deny Jarrad Branthwaite, Mengi wrestled his man to the ground away from the ball. VAR David Coote sent Robinson to his pitch-side monitor where the spot-kick was awarded, rightfully according to the replays.