Tahith Chong unleashes the low left-foot shot that earned Luton their equaliser at home to West Bromwich Albion Rex Features

Tahith Chong had not scored for Luton Town since their opening game of the season

Ged Scott
BBC Sport England

Luton Town came from behind to earn a deserved point as they extended West Bromwich Albion's winless Championship run to seven matches.

Josh Maja's craftily-taken flick trickled in to give Albion the lead in first-half injury time - their only effort at goal before the interval.

But Luton drew level on 60 minutes from Birmingham City old boy Tahith Chong's well-taken low left-foot shot on a fast break.

That now means five straight draws for Carlos Corberan's Baggies, while Luton have now picked up just five points out of a possible last 21 - and their escape from the relegation zone will only be temporary if both Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle avoid defeat on Saturday.

Albion boss Carlos Corberan had already been forced into two changes from the 0-0 home draw against Cardiff City by injury - but he opted to make two more in his frontline.

Without both Semi Ajayi and Paddy McNair, Callum Styles came in for only his second start at left-back, allowing Torbjorn Heggem to move into the middle alongside Mason Holgate, making his first start since his August return to the club on loan from Everton.

Corberan also brought back club captain Jed Wallace and Karlan Grant higher up, in place of John Swift and Mikey Johnston.

Luton's two changes were both caused by the loss of Tom Holmes and Alfie Doughty through suspension following last Saturday's loss at Coventry, offering recalls at the back for Amari'i Bell and Teden Mengi.

Digesting the team news appeared the only thing of interest in a desperately poor first half lengthened by five minutes of injury time caused by a hold-up in play when there was concern about the health of a travelling supporter - a particularly poignant moment in the wake of the death of Albion fan Mark Townsend after he fell ill at Hillsborough just over a month ago.

But it was actually in the fourth minute of that added time when Albion scored - with their first moment of attacking endeavour.

Grant took on his marker, squared across a low left-foot pass and Maja, facing away from goal, cheekily flummoxed the Luton defence with a right-foot Cruyff flick that brushed Jordan Clark's ankle as it spun slowly into the unguarded bottom-right corner of the net.

Josh Maja celebrates his eighth goal of the season for West Bromwich Albion - seven of which have been away from homePA Media

Seven of Josh Maja's eight goals for West Bromwich Albion this season have been away from home

Luton's equaliser bang on the hour also came right out of the blue after an equally quiet start to the second half.

Alex Mowatt sloppily lost possession, Chong raced away down the left and, when he reached the corner of the box, he drilled home a powerfully-struck low left-foot shot which found the same corner of the Kenilworth Road End net.

Albion keeper Alex Palmer might have thought he could have done better, but it was sweetly struck by Chong, who then tested him again, this time with a low right-foot shot which went through Darnell Furlong's legs to give the Baggies No1 even less time to make a smart reaction save.

Daiki Hashioka then hit the outside of the left post for the hosts, while Albion also enjoyed a late flurry to cap a considerably better second half – but a draw was the right result.

Who’s next?

Albion, who remain fifth after their fifth successive draw, will be out of the top six if both Blackburn Rovers, who are home to Sheffield United at lunchtime, and Watford, who visit Sheffield Wednesday later, both win on Saturday.

The Baggies are next in action on Thursday night with a home game against Burnley, while Luton have another key home game the previous night on Wednesday against fellow strugglers Cardiff.

Luton Town boss Rob Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio:

“A point was what we got and we have to take it but we deserved more. The momentum was with us the whole time. And we hit the woodwork with Hashy.

“To concede at the time we did just before the break made us make some changes and we had to take a few more risks, but that's what we're paid for.

“We’ve had three really good performances here at the Kenny in a row – and I really think we should have won all three.

“It’s difficult for all of us at the moment but the fans have stuck with us.”

West Bromwich Albion boss Carlos Corberan told BBC Radio WM:

"In general, I was happy with the defence. I was happy to achieve the point.

"You can criticise the way we tried to play. But you cannot criticise the effort.

"We just need to play with more quality."

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