Roy Hodgson delivers verdict on Crystal Palace’s 2-1 defeat at Luton

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson thought his side would go on to secure at least a point after Michael Olise cancelled out Teden Mengi’s opener with a stunning strike.

Odsonne Edouard thought he gave Palace the lead midway through the second half after he collected a long pass from Michael Olise and rounded Thomas Kaminski.

But the goal was chalked off by VAR for handball by the French forward.

Teden Mengi gave the hosts the lead minutes later when the ball landed to him from a corner and he smashed a shot past Sam Johnstone.

Michael Olise equalised two minutes later when he cut in on his left foot and unleashed a stunning shot beyond the Luton keeper.

Jacob Brown restored Luton’s lead in the 83rd minute when Joachim Andersen failed to react to Chiedozie Ogbene’s low cross. The former Stoke forward Brown got around the back of Andersen and slotted home.

“It was a good goal from Luton’s point of view,” said Hodgson of Brown’s winner.

“It was a very bad goal from our point of view to concede, especially at a time we were playing well.

“When we got the equaliser, we should have perhaps looked at consolidating or even winning the game.

“Suddenly, we found ourselves behind again at 2-1 and we had to throw everything forward in the last 10 or 15 minutes.

“We created some chances. Congratulations to Luton for holding on and for the spirited performance they gave throughout the game. 

“Both teams put a lot into the game – there is no doubt about that.

“When we’re playing against a team who are 2-1 down and despearte for the points and to get their first win, I expected for us to have a lot of the ball.

“We created some very good chances. But in the end, it was the crossbar, the goalkeeper and the post which kept us out.”