Football, bloody hell!
So said Sir Alex Ferguson back in 1999.
While the Hatters’ late win over Northampton on Wednesday wasn’t quite as dramatic as Manchester United’s late, late show in the Champions League 27 years ago, it might just have been the overriding emotion of 10,000 Town fans walking out of Kenilworth Road after Kal Naismith’s wonder free-kick earned three massive League One points against Northampton.
But what a week! It’s not hard to get carried away and swept up in it all, right? A win at Wembley on Sunday and a victory at home under the lights™ to close the gap on the top six to three points is definitely, maybe, absolutely, possibly, 100 per cent cause for optimism. It is the hope that football gives you.
That’s right, we’re all aboard the momentum train with four games left but can the Hatters make it seven wins in their last eight at Mansfield on Saturday?
Let’s get into it.
Stag do
While the Town chase the points for play-off places, our opponents will go into this knowing a win would go a looooooong way to securing a third straight season in the third tier.
Nigel Clough’s side sit seven points above the drop zone and 13 points behind the play-offs after a season that has seen their exploits in the FA Cup take centre stage. Wins at Sheffield United and Premier League Burnley hit the headlines before the Stags the went onto push Arsenal close at Field Mill in the fifth round.
It goes to show that Saturday will be anything but easy for the Hatters especially given the Stags have only lost once in their last 10 games – drawing six of those. Plus this term they’ve won on home soil against Reading, Bradford and Plymouth. We have been warned.
Haven’t we met before?
Jack Wilshere had a rude awakening to life in League One when the Stags saw off the Town in his first game in charge back in November.
Now the Hatters boss will be aiming to turn the tables at Field Mill – a ground on which the Town have, historically, struggled.
Admittedly no Hatters team has lost in their last three trips – although thanks to Marek Stech’s last-minute penalty save on our last visit, that might have been the case.
The Town’s last win in this part of the world came in 2016 when goals from the mercurial Paddy McCourt and the mischievous Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.
However, down the years it’s just two wins from 18 visits. Okay, so far from a happy hunting ground, but we’re not sure that’s something that will enter the mind of Jake Richards, for example, who wasn’t even born when the Hatters were thumped 4-1 at Field Mill in 2001 and match sponsors declared the man-of-the-match was ‘the whole team’ – yes, we still remember and yes it hurt!
In charge
Edward Duckworth takes charge of his third game involving the Town this season. If you believe in bad omens (you really shouldn’t) then look away now: unfortunately, the two games have both been away defeats: at Bradford and at Reading. In the 37 games he’s overseen this season, he’s shown 149 yellow cards and seven reds.
OTD
And so to the 18th April – a day to believe in GOOD omens. Well, recently, anyway. Town teams of the past have won their last four on this day in history, and the last two away from Kenilworth Road both 1-0.
Last season Milli Alli’s winner secured victory at Derby while back in 2022 a fine header from Harry Cornick saw us triumph at Cardiff.
Turning the clock back further, Mick Harford helped us to a 1-1 draw at home to Manchester United in the top-flight.
Jack’s presser
Watch the manager’s press conference on LTFC+ as he fields all the media’s questions about the play-off chase and the Town’s squad. Just under 20 minutes of discussion are here for all to see for free without any logging in faff. Enjoy.
Team news
One man definitely missing on Saturday will be winger Izzy Jones who picked up a hamstring injury in the Wembley win last Sunday which saw him miss out Wednesday’s win.
Hakeem Odoffin also missed the midweek triumph and the manager says he will make a decision on the centre-half’s inclusion ahead of Saturday. “He trained on Friday, the first time this week, and it was good he missed a game as he will be fresher for it,” said Wilshere. “We’ll make a decision as we know what’s coming up. Everyone is available apart from Izzy.”
Pay on the day!
If reading this preview has got you thinking MANSFIELD. SATURDAY. LET’S GO. Then first of all, thank you. But seriously, if you haven’t got a ticket, make sure you get up to Mansfield early, as the remaining 350-odd tickets will be on sale on the day. All the prices and information can be found here. Safe journey, everyone.
Tune in, turn on.
Simon Pitts will be, as ever, on the mic on LTFC+, with one eye on the action, one eye on the scores elsewhere, one eye on his ream of statistics and another – wait what – on social media of the clip of his commentary to Kal’s Wednesday winner.
Anyway, if you’re overseas and want to watch the game, 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.
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 – including any type of object that is thrown onto the pitch during a match – 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.
Come on Luton!
What we’re liking this week
We won a cup final at Wembley and it was just a great day.
(ps – stay tuned the documentary!)
UTT.
