Maksym Talovierov celebrates scoring for Plymouth against LutonGetty Images

Maksym Talovierov's equaliser for Plymouth ensured Luton are still yet to win a game in 2025

Harry De Cosemo
BBC Sport journalist

Luton Town remain bottom of the Championship after they were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow strugglers Plymouth Argyle at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters took the lead in the second half when Jacob Brown scored just 13 seconds after play had restarted following his arrival as a substitute.

But despite controlling the game throughout, they were pegged back by Maksym Talovierov's headed equaliser.

Plymouth remain one point and one place above Luton, who are in danger of successive relegations, and one point adrift of safety.

The first chance fell Luton's way inside three minutes when Alfie Doughty's cross was headed over by striker Lasse Nordas, who was making his first start for the Hatters.

Luton's pressure continued and the game settled into something of a pattern, but despite dominating possession in the first half, no shots on target told a frustrating story.

Just past the 30-minute mark, against the run of play, Plymouth thought they had opened the scoring. Callum Wright met Tymoteusz Puchacz's pass and flicked the ball past Thomas Kaminski, but a tight offside decision went against the visitors.

Chances remained at a premium for both sides before the break. Nordas was heavily involved and went close with a cleverly improvised volley, but could not get it on target.

Another Luton chance went begging a minute after half-time when Elijah Adebayo blasted over the bar when the ball fell kindly in the area.

Adebayo was soon replaced by Brown, who opened the scoring and ended Luton's near seven-hour wait for a home goal with his very first touch.

He met Nordas' flick-on from Doughty's searching ball forward, before heading past Conor Hazard.

But Plymouth stayed in the game and, 20 minutes before full-time, Talovierov levelled. The Ukrainian defender headed home Kornel Szucs' cross while Luton defender Mark McGuinness was off the pitch after receiving treatment.

That goal instantly changed the mood and the home side's nerves were palpable. Although they huffed and puffed during a lengthy period of stoppage time, Plymouth - who had defended well throughout - held on for a point.

Post-match reaction

Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield, speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio: "We are disappointed not to win the game after creating a number of opportunities and limiting our opponents to very little.

"Unfortunately, we switched off at a tough moment and it is 1-1. I'm really proud of the intensity, we spent most of the game in their half, we had loads of shots on goal but we didn't score enough.

"We have to concentrate on the performance, you can't just hope for the result without getting the performance right.

"For two home games in a row, we've managed to put two performances together which could have got six points."

Plymouth Argyle manager Miron Muslic, speaking to BBC Radio Devon: "It was a very vertical and direct game, the atmosphere was amazing, it felt like England and the Championship.

"Luton were very physical, we had to defend about a thousand long balls. We did it well defensively; we didn't allow them many chances in open play, it was mainly the set-pieces and deep free-kicks.

"We conceded the goal through miscommunication. Bouncing back is super difficult but it is our new mentality. We did it against Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and also tonight; that is why I'm OK and happy with the point.

"It will be massive if we perform well against Cardiff. Home Park, fortress, that is the plan."

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