Remember when Stevenage took the lead last Saturday?
The injustice was felt throughout. A mutual sense of something unprintable grew and was shared between those in orange on the pitch and those shouting from every nook and cranny of the Kenny. “What the funk?” Or something along those lines.
And so, an angry, snarling, gnarly atmosphere took hold. The players, prickled, upped the ante, went about their business, of righting wrongs, and battled back to deservedly earn a third successive home league win.
It was a big one too. Leapfrogging Boro in the process they also brought the top six that little bit closer.
It also moved us three points closer to Lincoln. Not that they’re going to care. The Imps. Absolutely flying, unbeaten in eight, beating all the top teams; home, away, anywhere.
Saturday’s got a real Big Game Energy about it. In our eyes, anyway. So let’s add some prompts about obscure players from the 90s into chatgpt and get into it, shall we?
In form Imps
It probably doesn’t get much tougher than this for the Town on Saturday. Lincoln arrive in Bedfordshire unbeaten in eight games in League One, winning six of them.
In that run alone they’ve beaten Cardiff, won at Barnsley and Stockport and pulverised Peterborough in their last outing.
It’s all very impressive, isn’t it? It all means Michael Skubala’s side lie second in the table, four points off the top.
Having won two league titles in the space of three seasons to go from the Conference to League One, City are now aiming to reach the second tier of English football for the first time in 64 years – and they are certainly knocking on the door to end that run this term. They’ll be a danger for sure.
Haven’t we met before?
So, there’s this website. Hatters Heritage. You might have heard of it. Got information and line-ups of every single game we’ve ever played. Scans of every programme and photos of every player, too. Yes, even L’Andry Zahana-Oni. Unreal work from an unsung team of Hatters heroes.
If you search our games with Saturday’s visitors, you’ll see that we’ve got a decent record against the Imps, especially at Kenilworth Road.
Lincoln’s win at Sincil Bank earlier in the season was their first in 15 attempts against us – a run stretching back to April 1999 (W8, D6).
The Town have won the last five meetings at Kenilworth Road, including memorable comeback victories in 2013 (thank you Mark Cullen) and 2018 (thank you everyone for a barnstorming 4-2 win on New Year’s Day).
Played for both
Oh Sonny Bradley, you are the love of my life.
The opening line of a song to a soundtrack of several seasons. After 175 appearances and six goals – including *that* (first!) one against Middlesbrough – his final act as a Luton player was to lift the play-off winners’ trophy at Wembley. What a way to go out. He’s now at Lincoln and the serial promotion winner is at it again this time around.
Same can be said for James Collins, although oddly we can’t think of the striker ever having a chant he could really call his own. Email us if we’ve forgotten. What we definitely haven’t forgotten is his goalscoring record – a plunderous 72 in 183 games. This season he was spearheading the Imps’ promotion charge until a serious knee injury in December ruled him out of the rest of the season. Get well soon, Collo.
Among others to have played for both include our very own Mick Harford, who began his career with the Imps, Kingsley Black, Trevor Peake, Terry Branston and Steve Buckley.
In charge
Scott Oldham takes the whistle for this one. He’s dished out 91 yellow cards so far this term with the red one brandished just three times. You may or may not remember he was in charge of our 2-0 win at Peterborough back when it was acceptable weather to wear a t-shirt outside.
On this day
It’s 2001. An FA Cup replay at Loftus Road on a school night. Something was in the West London air.
“Lee Mansell?” we asked in harmony as we pushed through the turnstiles.
With his first touch, 58 seconds into it, the 18-year-old debutant whacks one in from the edge of the box yards and the away end erupts. Limbs before limbs were a thing. “Lee Manselllllllll!”
For the next 90 minutes the headaches pounded. A goal like that so early should come with a health warning. 2,500 Hatters voices hoarse from backing the boys. Dreaming of Arsenal at home in the next round.
Time ticks. Our lads continue to hold out, and hold out, and hold out.
Until.
Until!
Mansell’s fouled in what seems like the 10th minute of added time. Ah, but play on? Offside perhaps?
Argh, from the away end, the ball seems so, so far away. Straining our eyes, wishing the ball away one final time. But play continues… Chris Kiwomya… Rangers are level. Limbs before limbs were a thing. Pftt.
A goal to make you sick to the very depths of your stomach.
But there’s still extra-time! However, the lads are lagging and Rangers, with a new lease of life, are pushing and pushing. If you don’t know the outcome you might feel we’re building up to the fairytale ending.
But no.
There’s a reprieve when Rangers miss a penalty, but Kiwomya scores again and we’re out. Just like that.
No win and no Arsenal.
And with school in the morning.
Town team news
First things first, if selected, Jordan Clark will make his 200th appearance in Luton Town colours. Our midfield magician’s in form too, scoring four in his last five games.
At his Friday presser, Jack Wilshere explained that strikers Elijah Adebayo and Ali Al-Hamadi are getting closer, with the pair both on the grass. Same goes for defender Teden Mengi.
Kal Naismith and Jake Richards are a bit closer, and they’ll be assessed if they’re to play a part, but Izzy Jones and Hakeem Odoffin definitely won’t be available.
Jack’s press call
Watch the manager’s press conference on LTFC+ as he goes further in depth on personnel and the game itself. All 26 minutes and 11 seconds are here for all to see for free without any logging in faff. Enjoy.
Don’t miss this one
A few tickets are left in home areas for this, so if you’re in the mood to hare it up Hazelbury Crescent come 2.55 then be quick: they’re on sale at the ticket office in person til 5pm Friday night and back on sale at 10am in the morning – but available all the time online outside of those hours.
As usual there will be plenty of pre-match entertainment to get you up for this, including 25 per cent off beer, wine, soft and hot drinks between 12 and 1.30pm.
Here’s how the day is shaping up before a ball is even kicked:
Utilita Giving
Our partners Utilita will be taking over Kenilworth Road at the weekend and it’s all in the name of charity.
The matchday will be dedicated to raising awareness of fuel and food poverty, supporting individuals and families across England, Scotland and Wales who are struggling with the rising cost of living.
It’s an unbelievable cause, with plenty of matchday activations to look out for. Read all about it in further detail here.
Tune in, turn on.
Simon Pitts, who almost certainly would have been screaming at the referee to blow for a foul and offside if commentating on that defeat at QPR 25 years ago, will be as ever on the mic on LTFC+ to give you the lowdown on how it goes down on Saturday. If you’re overseas and want to watch, it’s £10. Just want audio? It’s available anywhere, and it’s just £2.50 for the pleasure. Clicking here gives you those possibilities.
Simon kindly, thank you, trawled his archive of Luton Town footage so we could relive that QPR nightmare as, inexplicably, it doesn’t exist online. Perhaps for the best, eh?
Back in the here and now, if you are an ex-pat overseas, take advantage of the half-season Global Hatters subscription which is now just £150. All the details are right here.
You can also follow our social media channels for live updates as they happen, plus photos and behind-the-scenes content during the 90 minutes. Stay on lutontown.co.uk post-match for a full report, post-match reaction and the all-important highlights.
And finally...don’t be THAT fan.
A reminder to all supporters, no matter who you are, how old or who you’re supporting, to go about your day with respect. We continue to support the Love Football, Protect the Game campaign.
Luton Town Football Club has committed in its customer charter to providing safe match-day experiences for all supporters regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation, and this applies equally to home and away fixtures.
In the event that any Luton supporters do make discriminatory chants, the Club will work with the police and football authorities to help identify such individuals. Any such fans would then face the strictest club sanctions, including football banning orders that would prevent them attending any matches, in addition to any criminal charges.
Furthermore, we would like to warn against pitch incursions and the use of pyrotechnics or missiles – which could lead to potential prosecution.
The Club can also be held responsible for the behaviour of its supporters, which could lead to substantial fines being imposed.
As a diverse and inclusive football club, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow EFL clubs in supporting the FA’s ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ campaign and call on all fans to enjoy the game in a positive spirit.
If you are offended by any discriminatory abuse of any kind at any of our games, you can report it by clicking HERE, or by contacting your nearest steward immediately.
Alternatively, email myvoice@lutontown.co.uk or report the incident via Kick it Out's free, confidential reporting app on the App Store and Google Play.
We're all Luton.
This week we're mostly liking...
A mature full debut from Harry Fox against Swindon followed by a mature first interview in front of the LTFC+ cameras. Nice one, Harry.
Come on Luton!
