CHERRIES completed an astonishing comeback from three goals down to defeat Luton Town 4-3 on a crazy night at Vitality Stadium.

The hosts were booed off by some fans at half-time after goals from Tahith Chong, Chiedozie Ogbene and Ross Barkley had put the visitors well in control.

But three goals in the space of 14 second-half minutes, from Dominic Solanke, Illia Zabarnyi and Antoine Semenyo levelled the scores.

Then, the incredible turnaround was complete as Semenyo smashed in again to leave Luton stunned and seal Cherries a first home league win of 2024.

There were touching moments ahead of kick-off as Tom Lockyer, who collapsed at this stadium during the abandoned fixture between these two teams in December, took to the pitch. He and the medical staff who saved his life that day received adulation from all four sides of the ground.

Andoni Iraola made three changes to the team which drew with Sheffield United on Saturday. Luis Sinisterra, Dango Ouattara and Alex Scott, who all came off the bench to help the comeback at the weekend, started in place of Marcus Tavernier, Milos Kerkez and Justin Kluivert.

When the game got going, Cherries made a decent enough start. Solanke headed over from a Semenyo cross, before Ryan Christie’s jinking run into the box was eventually stopped.

Moments later, Luton were ahead. The Hatters attacked down their right, Jordan Clark dinking a cross to the back post where an unmarked Chong headed home from inside the six-yard box.

Chris Mepham had to be alert to deny Carlton Morris soon after, before the lively Sinisterra began to get some shots off, twice denied by goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.

Luton doubled their lead just past the half-hour mark. Cherries were overloaded again down the wing, Chong feeding it to Alfie Doughty, who crossed for Ogbene. The Irishman got in front of Ouattara at the back post to slot home.

Cherries sought a comeback with Sinisterra, Semenyo and Lewis Cook all going close.

But on the stroke of half-time, the visitors opened up a three-goal cushion. Cherries’ defence was ragged again, Issa Kabore feeding Barkley down the right, who lashed high into the net.

Iraola made two subs at the break, introducing Tavernier and Enes Unal for Sinisterra and Scott.

And within five minutes of the restart, Cherries had a goal back. A blocked shot from Tavernier reached Mepham, who turned it on for Solanke. The striker expertly spun in the box and calmly slotted in, the goal eventually given after a VAR check for offside.

Semenyo smashed a shot narrowly over the bar soon after, before Luton had the ball in the net again. Neto got down to save a Morris header, with Chong then offside as he turned in on the rebound.

Just past the hour mark, Cherries got it back to 3-2. Luton thought they had twice scrambled shots off the line following a corner, but technology showed Zabarnyi’s header had gone in, marking his first goal for the club.

Two minutes later and, incredibly, the game was level. Christie switched play out to Semenyo on the right, who cut infield and fired in hard and low.

Luton missed a big chance to go back in front as the game entered the final 20 minutes. A free-kick from Doughty was met by Morris, who got his header all wrong, but the ball still fell to Barkley, who blazed off target.

Iraola turned to his bench again, making a notable switch with Tyler Adams, a summer signing from Leeds United, making his league debut for Cherries after a season of injury woes.

James Hill also returned off the bench in the closing stages as Cherries survived nine added minutes to move 14 points clear of the relegation zone, with 10 games remaining.

Cherries: Neto; Smith (Adams, 71), Mepham, Zabarnyi, Ouattara; Cook, Christie (Hill, 90+6); Semenyo, Scott (Unal, h-t), Sinisterra (Tavernier, h-t); Solanke (Billing, 90+1).

Unused subs: Kerkez, Kluivert, Faivre, Travers (g/k).

Booked: Smith.

Luton: Kaminski; Burke, Mengi, Hashioka (Mpanzu, 68); Kabore, Clark, Barkley (Berry, 88), Doughty; Ogbene (Townsend, 88), Chong (Woodrow, 73), Morris.

Unused subs: Nelson, Piesold, Martins, Krul (g/k), Shea (g/k).

Booked: Clark, Ogbene.

Referee: Sam Allison.

VAR: Michael Oliver.