- Luton have been knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League One Exeter City
- Demetri Mitchell scored the winner in the 83rd minute of their third-round clash
- The defender was sent off five minutes later, but Exeter held on for the victory
Luton manager Rob Edwards’ decision to rest his frontline players backfired last night as the Premier League side suffered Carabao Cup humiliation against 10-man Exeter.
A late winner from Deme Mitchell – would was also sent off – condemned Luton to defeat and ensured newly-promoted Luton’s start to the season would go from bad to worse.
It was just reward for Exeter after Edwards opted to field a side that showed 10 changes to his 1st XI that set about earning the club its first Premier League point with a 1-1 draw with Wolves at the weekend.
But despite the wholesale changes, his team began brightly and would have taken an early lead but for a fingertip save by on-loan Aston Villa goalkeeper Vil Sinsalo to deny Luke Berry.
Striker Cauley Woodrow then struck a post with a rising close-range shot as Luton dominated possession without making the most of the gulf in quality.
Demetri Mitchell scored Exeter’s late winner to knock Luton out of the Carabao Cup
Exeter goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo celebrates his side’s dramatic late winner against Luton
Exeter are sixth in League One and will have a fourth round Carabao Cup tie to look forward to
But Gary Caldwell’s Exeter, playing in the third round of this competition for the first time since 1989, stood firm and also threatened Tim Krul’s goal but James Scott’s long-range shot whistled just wide.
It was a brief respite for Exeter whose goal led a charmed life with Mads Andersen heading before a flurry of goalmouth action that saw Berry’s shot blocked and Elijah Adebayo drive straight Vil Sinsalo.
After the break, Exeter’s confidence grew and midfielder Kyle Taylor should have put his team ahead but with the Luton defence all over the place he shot wide as panic reigned in the visiting penalty box.
Luton got into their stride again but the lack of guile in the penalty box signaled that this was a tie that was heading to a penalty shoot-out as Adebayo and substitute Jacob Brown (twice) missed chances to settle the contest.
They rued the missed chances on 84 minutes at Mitchell pounced on a mistake by Issa Kabore following Yanic Wildschut’s cross to send a shot crashing in off the underside of Krul’s crossbar.
Mitchell got himself sent off for two bookable offences in quick succession in a frenetic finale but Exeter stood firm.
Luton are yet to pick up a win in the Premier League and are now out of the Carabao Cup