Luton 1-0 AFC Wimbledon: Late Ryan Johnson own goal hands Hatters opening victory

A late Ryan Johnson own goal handed Luton Town a fortunate and hard-fought 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon in the League One opener on Friday night.

Off the back of consecutive relegations, Luton boss Matt Bloomfield will be pleased with the three points at Kenilworth Road to kick off their 2025/26 campaign, although they laboured and created little throughout before the late breakthrough.

These two sides were two leagues apart just three months ago, and three leagues apart just over a year ago, but the playing field was levelled at Kenilworth Road.

And it remained that way for the vast majority of the game, taking a moment of real misfortune from AFC Wimbledon's perspective on 85 minutes to break the deadlock, as Johnson rose to loop a header from Nahki Wells' cross over his own helpless goalkeeper Nathan Bishop.

More to follow...