In the match against Luton, Albion’s manager Carlos Corberan believed his team played it safe in the attacking zone, missing opportunities to push forward.
Despite some adjustments to the attacking lineup at Kenilworth Road, Albion couldn’t reignite their winning streak after taking a late lead in a lackluster first half dominated by the Hatters.
Jed Wallace and Karlan Grant were part of Corberan’s changes upfront, alongside two enforced defensive alterations. The setup was unique, with two pairs up top when goalkeeper Alex Palmer initiated play. Striker Josh Maja dropped deep beside Grady Diangana, operating behind Wallace and Grant. Although the attacking duo found decent positions, it was only in stoppage time that Grant’s cross set up Maja’s goal.
Corberan observed, “Luton constantly pressed us whenever we took goal kicks, showing more focus on attacking than defending. However, we lacked the initiative to make short passes to break their press, opting for long balls instead. We were too cautious in our own half, failing to connect well with our forward line. We didn’t showcase our team’s quality or assert our style on the field.”
He continued, “Perhaps we didn’t deserve to lead in the first half as Luton outperformed us. But we made improvements after the break. We made more efforts to attack in their half and extend our plays. Despite competing well, we failed to fully embody our identity on the field.”
Corberan emphasized the need for his team to take more risks in the opponent’s territory to unsettle Luton’s defensive stance. Unfortunately, a midfield error led to a swift equalizer for the opposition.
“We hesitated to take risks when building from the back, but we missed opportunities to attack and showcase our attacking prowess. To counter their aggression, we needed to resist their press and assert our dominance in their half,” Corberan reflected.
