Players, manager, coaches and staff deserve huge praise... whatever happens
- Published
Luton have nine games left to try to stay in the Premier League.
Generally, 38 points is the benchmark for survival. However, if you look at the past 10 years, 35 points has nearly always been enough - and this season that could easily be the case again when you consider points deductions and the struggles Sheffield United and Burnley have had.
So that is four wins the Hatters are likely to need and with matches at Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City to come, home form is likely to be vital.
Luton's next two fixtures are away to the north London clubs. Both Spurs and Arsenal will be under a different kind of pressure with Champions League and title challenges at stake.
Optimistic Hatters fans might hope the international break will have unsettled them (particularly Arsenal) and that Tottenham's defensive lynchpin Micky van de Ven remains injured for Saturday’s fixture.
Spurs love that really high defensive line, but without Van de Ven's phenomenal pace it can be exposed.
Luton have hit a winless run of form at the wrong time and still remain one of the favourites to be relegated. But every neutral fan I've spoken to this season has been wholesome in their praise of the Hatters' performances.
Rob Edwards' side have won the hearts of plenty of football enthusiasts who enjoy the attitude of this team.
Considering it is their debut Premier League season, the cost of the squad and the injuries (nine first-teamers still out), this goes down as a fine campaign for Luton whatever happens in terms of survival/relegation. The players, manager, coaches and staff deserve huge praise.
It has already been a season of overachievement and in these last six weeks we will see whether they can cap it all off by staying up.