Luton 1 West Brom 1: Albion pegged back after Maja magic

Albion drew for the fifth time running as an unbeaten run extending to seven games following a 1-1 draw at struggling Luton.

It is the first time in a quarter-of-a-century Albion have drawn that number of consecutive games but it could have easily been better had Carlos Corberan's men not gifted a second-half equaliser.

The Baggies took an undeserved lead on the stroke of half-time through some Josh Maja magic as the deftest of backheels beat Thomas Kaminski for his eighth goal of the season.

But a slack pass from midfielder Alex Mowatt allowed Tahith Chong to charge in and slot home an equaliser on the hour.

The Hatters climbed out of the Championship's bottom three with the point. They did not deserve to fall behind in the first period as Albion failed to get going. 

The second half was more watchable as chances were shared and Luton earned a deserved point.

The first 20 minutes proved something of a non-event bar an effort from just inside the box to the left curled well off-target by the hosts' German midfield loanee Tom Krauß.

Corberan looked to have lined his attacking players in two banks of two with Maja and Grady Diangana deeper than wingers Jed Wallace and Karlan Grant as Albion set up from deep - but for much of the first period the visitors were more worried about the threat Luton posed.

The Hatters grew into the contest as skipper Carlton Morris tested Alex Palmer with a tame low effort as Uros Racic lost it needlessly.

Corberan's side were then fortunate to be let off as Palmer's parry from a Morris effort lacked distance and neither Elijah Adebayo or Victor Moses could turn home the rebound. For the latter it was a glaring opening and poor miss.

Albion's makeshift backline was creaking as none of three defenders could nick it from Adebayo but the ex-Walsall frontman's effort lacked power to trouble Palmer.

The contest had struggled to get going, particularly from the visitors' perspective, but was paused just after half hour due to an apparent medical incident at the front of the away end behind Palmer's goal. 

The goalkeeper and fans waved to attract the attention of officials and stewards and the Baggies physio made it to the scene.

A stoppage of around four or five minutes led to the individual concerned leaving the stand by their own accord to warm applause.

The first period really struggled to get going after the delay - until deep into five minutes of stoppage time.It felt like a moment of inspiration would be required for the Baggies to end their barren spell and it was top scorer Maja who produced some magic in the nick of time seconds before the interval.

It was Albion's striker who cushioned the ball initially as his side had worked the ball forward. Maja's deft control shuffled the ball out to Grant to the left of the box.

Left-sided Grant had, to that point, been his side's only spark in attack. His low cross was on the money for Maja at the near post. But the striker's instinctive left-footed backheel was pure magic. 

He flicked it across goal and in at the far post, almost in slow-motion, as the onrushing Diangana allowed the ball to cross the line.

Boos from three sides of Kenilworth Road signalled the pressure former Wolves defender Rob Edwards was under and the home boss introduced Shandon Baptiste as a half-time change.

Goalbound action was few and far between early in the second period bar Racic's free-kick proving easy picking for Kaminski.

Luton struggled for a gear as Edwards made two more changes but, from little pressure, Albion gifted the hosts a leveller on the hour.

There was no danger apparent as Mowatt received the ball 30 yards from his own goal. The midfielder's first-time pass to his right looked for right-back Darnell Furlong but lacked power.In nipped Chong and on he went. 

The former Blues attacker powered forward towards the left side of the box, with Holgate backtracking, and crashed a fine low angled finish across Palmer into the corner.

Corberan responded with changes of his own as Tom Fellows and Devante Cole were introduced, the latter for his first league minutes since the opening day, briefly up front with Maja. 

Cole was close to a low Grant cross before Holgate saw a strike blocked.

The pressure came from the hosts though. Sub Jacob Brown blazed over when well-placed before dangerman Chong tested Palmer with a low save from a decent deflected strike.

Albion were not about to sit and see out a point and still showed signs of intent in the final 10 minutes. Mikey Johnston gave an eye-catching cameo and lashed wide of the near post after a mazy run.

Down the other end Luton's Daiki Hashioka saw a header flick the post one its way wide from a corner before Cole - who gave a bright cameo in the front role - had an overhead kick saved by Kaminski as the clock closed on 90 and spoils were shared.

Substitutes 

Luton Town (3-4-1-2): Kaminski; Hashioka, McGuinness, Mengi; Moses (Baptiste, 45), Clark, Krauß (Walsh, 57), Bell; Chong; Morris (c), Adebayo (Brown, 57).Subs not used: Krul, Woodrow, Nakamba, Mpanzu, Taylor, Johnson.Albion (4-2-3-1): Palmer; Furlong, Holgate, Heggem, Styles; Racic (Molumby, 74), Mowatt; Wallace (Fellows, 64), Diangana (Cole, 64), Grant (Swift, 85) Maja (Johnston, 74).Subs not used: Wildsmith, Frabotta, Diakite, Dobbin.Attendance: 11,665Referee: Dean Whitestone--