Premier League: Ogbene shows his ability to thrill

A TRIP to Kenilworth Road has always been a banana-skin event for visiting teams, especially for those of a vaunted reputation.

Jokes aside, about going through people’s back garden to enter the Luton Town’s ground, or that the owners once sold a stand to Tesco, the Bedfordshire side have always had a reputation for making life difficult for away sides down the years.

Last Sunday’s encounter will have stirred PTSD moments among Liverpool fans of a certain vintage, flashbacks of skin-shearing plastic pitches and dogged defending by big blokes in Bedford Truck shirts will have flashed through their mind like a late Halloween horror show.

As is their tradition, the latest crop of Hatters were no more accommodating to the visiting Scoucers than their 1980’s counterparts. Despite incessant pressure from the Reds, the determined defending and ability to break at pace saw the Hatters claim an improbable draw against the mighty Liverpool and were even rather unlucky not to win but for an understandably emotional Luis Diaz equaliser with just seconds remaining.

Key to Luton’s performance and result was Cork’s Chiedozie Ogbene, whose tireless surges along the wing wreaked havoc on the Liverpool defence.

Time after time, Ogbene caused havoc down the Luton left wing, where Liverpool’s right-back Trent Alexander Arnold and full-back Ibrahima Konate had a torrid time, struggling to get to grips with the fleet-footed former Cork City and Limerick winger.

In these cynical days of high-priced Prima donnas, it is refreshing to see Ogbene break into the Premier League down to his hard-work, pace and ability, done the hard way through the divisions and leagues.

His schoolboy and youth leagues progression saw him play with the stalwarts Cork club soccer, in Tramore Athletic, College Corinthians, Kilreen Celtic, and Everton, while also excelling with Nemo Rangers in underage Gaelic football.

Despite making only a few appearances with the senior Cork City side it did coincide with an appearance and medal in City’s 2016 FAI Cup final triumph over Dundalk.

He would find a more fruitful run of games at Limerick before he made the well-travelled talent route to England and to Brentford initially. But it was with League Onen, now Championship, side Rotherham that the 25-year-old Ogbene truly began to shine. Scoring 12 times in his 120 appearance with speedy connecting play and assists standing out with The Millers. This step-up in performance coincided with his burgeoning international career with Stephen Kenny and the Republic of Ireland team.

While Kenny’s term in charge looks doomed, his regular selection of Ogbene has being one the high points in the overall disappointing reign.

This rise in profile saw the Corkman become a target by Luton when they got promoted to the Premier League at the end of last season, and Ogbene looks determined to pay back the faith shown in him by The Hatters. He scored his first Premier League goal for the side two weeks ago, in the 2-2 draw against
Nottingham Forest and he should have added to it against Liverpool last weekend.

This was especially evident in his amazing break around the 70-minute mark where he broke from the Luton box, relieving the pressure on the defence. But that wasn’t enough, as he then sprinted down the line leaving Alexander Arnold chasing his shadow. Ogbene then cut inside on the 25 yard mark, totally wrong-footing Konate who was left flailing at air. Now Ogbene was bearing down on the Liverpool goal with only Alisson to beat, but Ogbene unselfishly decided to square it to a less favourably placed team-mate who was unable to get past the closing defender’s last desperate tackle.

And that may be the only criticism one can have for Ogbene’s game. He is too generous to lay off the ball. This may be part of the affable young man’s character or trained into him across his many clubs. But there have been a number of situations, at both club and international level, when he has sought the when it could be argued that he would have been better served taking the shot himself.

If he can attain, the frankly the selfish characteristic to be a bit greedier in front of goal, it may well play into his favour career-wise.

Chiedozie Ogbene comes across as a thoroughly sound individual and always has time for fans especially Irish fans and Cork people in particular. He is a regular visitor back home to Cork and is often spotted at Cork City and underage games when he is back in town.

Back on the field, his speed is phenomenal and if he adds the goal tally to his pace on the ball it’s likely we will see a lot more of him in the Premier League. Even if Luton should be relegated, if he can maintain the type of performances he showed against Liverpool and Forest, there will be no fear that he would be an attractive buy to many other clubs in the division.

Luton are away to Man United later today and it will be interesting to see how United will be affected, for good or bad, after their midweek Champions League defeat to Copenhagen.

One other thing, Chiedozie Ogbene is noted for being a Liverpool fan… just saying…