Bristol City will hope Luton Town player's Premier League stay is a long one: View | OneFootball

For some teams, there is always a player that, no matter what plans you come up with for them, find a way of punishing you. For Bristol City, that man was Luton Town striker, Carlton Morris, who was superb almost every time he faced the West Country side.

Morris is a player who has had to bide his time throughout his career in the EFL. From his early years at Norwich City where he learned his trade, to his breakthrough 20-goal season to help Luton reach the Premier League last year, he has always been an honest player.

But, whenever he got the chance to play against Bristol City, he made sure he was at his peak power to trouble the Robins' back line on a consistent basis.

Having come through Norwich's academy, much of Morris' early career was spent on loan to various clubs in England and Scotland, but it was at Shrewsbury where he began to show signs of real potential. Having scored the winner against Charlton in a League One play-off semi-final, the striker got his start in the final but devastatingly injured his ACL, which saw him sidelined for all of the 2018/19 season.

A few loans later, and in 2021, the forward was sold to Barnsley in the January transfer window, where he helped the Tykes to an unbelievable fifth place finish under Valérien Ismaël. Unfortunately for Morris, he once again suffered play-off heartbreak as Swansea secured a 2-1 victory over his side at the semi-final stage.

A brilliant 18 months at Oakwell ensued, and the striker was identified by Luton as a priority target and in the summer of 2022 they signed him in their bid for promotion. What followed was a brilliant campaign for the Hatters and the Cambridgeshire born forward, as he netted 20 goals and provided eight assists in a play-off winning campaign.

The 28-year-old's impressive form has not stopped there and in his debut Premier League season he has so far managed to score goals relatively consistently, becoming a firm fan favourite at Kenliworth Road.

Carlton Morris loves playing against Bristol City

In what has been an enthralling career to date, the Robins are the team Morris has enjoyed the most success against. With four goals in five appearances and just one defeat, he has haunted City.

The striker began his torment on his very first loan from Norwich, where at Oxford United he scored on just his second professional appearance with an acrobatic volley to level the scores in a 2-1 League Cup victory. Fellow Luton legend, Danny Hylton scored the late winner for the U's.

Unfortunately, he would have to wait another six years before he got the chance to punish them again, but when the opportunity arose at Barnsley, he did. In just two appearances for the Tykes against City, neither Paul Simpson nor Nigel Pearson could fashion a way to stop the striker as his two close-range finishes helped them to a one and two-nil win respectively.

A season later, and after Pearson had finally found a way to stop Morris and Luton scoring at Ashton Gate, the forward would be back to inflict more misery on them in the reverse fixture. A fourth minute volleyed cross from Cody Drameh was headed expertly by Morris past Max O'Leary and into the top corner for 1-0. The Hatters managed to hold on and, once again, Luton's number nine had provided a big moment.

With the Robins about to face their 10th season in the second tier, they will be hoping that Luton can do everything in their power to survive the drop.

Having just missed out on Premier League football in 1992, Luton have since done it all, from the depths of the National League all the way up to the stardom of the first division. It has been some journey. However, they face a nervy end to it as they look to catch the point deducted duo of Nottingham Forest and Everton. Should they somehow manage it, it would be an incredible story for the Bedfordshire team, who have the lowest wage bill in the top flight.

Much of England's population will be cheering on this underdog story and Bristol City will certainly be among those wanting to see them stay up. Alongside just two wins in their last eight fixtures against them, they have the added danger of Morris' four goals in five games and will be desperate to see him tearing it up in the division above rather than their own.

Of course, there's always the possibility that Luton are relegated and Morris stays in the Premier League. That's a chance that Bristol City in particular will not be wanting to take, though.