Luton Town

Image source, Rex Features

Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield said his side were below par in the home defeat against Blackburn Rovers.

"We really felt we were building momentum and our performances have been good," Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"But that wasn't good enough for the standards we have been setting and we are very disappointed.

"Blackburn have had a tough run of results but they have a very good group of players.

"We gave a goal away just after half-time which gave us a mountain to climb and we lacked that bit of composure at the top of the pitch.

"There were loads of final-third entries and we hit the bar twice but we have not been clinical enough to get the equaliser and then chase the winner.

"We believe in the group we have. We've had some tough moments and have always come out the other side and it's up to us to do it again."

With four games remaining, the result leaves the Hatters next to bottom of the table, effectively four points from safety with their poor goal difference.

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Luton Town's Matt Bloomfield says it is important that managers "respect and love" their surroundings, whichever club employs them, to have a chance of finding the right formula for success.

Bloomfield left a League One promotion race with Wycombe Wanderers in January to step up a division and take charge of The Hatters.

Luton have taken 15 points from the 15 matches Bloomfield has overseen, but they are only two points from safety with five to play.

"Every club is different, every job is different, and you have to respect and love your surroundings and give supporters a team they can resonate with, that they can feel really represents them. That's really important to know," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

Tightening up their defence was an immediate priority when Bloomfield was appointed, but Luton remain next to bottom ahead of Saturday's home game against Blackburn.

"The job we built over a number of transfer windows at my previous club, you were able to get it to a place where it was attack-minded first," he added.

"We looked at the numbers when we came in (here) and the goals against was too many and we felt there were improvements that just had to be made. To win games and get points, we needed to tighten up at the back.

"That had to be our main focus so we played a couple of different formations and tries to make them suit the players we have available, and try and play in a character and style of football and a philosophy that suits the club and the group."

Bloomfield confirmed that forward Elijah Adebayo had now had surgery on the ACL injury suffered in last weekend's draw with Leeds.

"It's the first step. I've done the (same) injury myself so I'm hoping I can really connect with him on that level, I've been through that process. It's a long road but what I do know about Eli is he's a really courageous young man and against Leeds he was unplayable at times."

Luton Town will be looking to boost their Championship survival hopes when they host Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon (15:00 BST).

The Hatters are two points from safety in 23rd and are unbeaten in their past five games (W2 D3).

Rovers are on an eight-game winless run (D2 L6) which has seen them drift nine points behind the play-off spots, while Valerien Ismael is still awaiting his first win as boss.

• Luton Town have won just one of their past seven league games against Blackburn Rovers (D4 L2), though it did come in their most recent home match against the Lancashire side (2-0 in September 2022).

• Blackburn Rovers have failed to win any of their 22 away league games against Luton Town (D9 L13); it's the most times they've faced a side on their travels in the EFL without ever winning.

• Luton have won just one of their past eight home league games (D4 L3), with those matches seeing a total of just eight goals (3 for, 5 against).

• Blackburn have lost seven of their past eight away league games, including their last four in a row since beating West Brom 2-0 in February.

• Blackburn's Valerien Ismael has won both of his two previous Championship games against Luton, each with a different club (Barnsley in April 2021, West Brom in August 2021). The only sides he has beaten while in charge of three different teams in the competition are Birmingham, Blackburn, and QPR.

Image source, Rex Features

Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield rated Tuesday 1-1 draw at Stoke as "the best away performance we've put in since I became manager".

Despite only snatching a point in injury time thanks to Millenic Alli's late equaliser, Bloomfield claimed: "It would have been very unfair if we had been beaten by a deflected free-kick. A draw was the very least we deserved.

"We were excellent. The first half was very even but, second half, we were the better team and it was a bit deflating to go behind like that. Thomas Kaminski gets it if it doesn't get deflected.

"You're then thinking the worst. But it felt like we were in the ascendancy, so to find that moment for Milly at the end, I'm really pleased.

"It was a great strike. We knew from his time at Exeter that he can shoot with both feet."

Lewis Baker's free-kick, which deflected off Reece Burke, looked to have put Stoke on course for three points at the bet365 Stadium.

But Alli found space at the far post in injury time.

Luton stay two points from safety with five games remaining after their fifth game without defeat.

And that left Bloomfield admitting: "Away from home, you've always got to respect a point. We hope it's a big one.

"Stoke have been in good form at home and are real tough opponents so, if you find yourself 1-0 down with not long left, hopefully that's a big moment for us."

Luton's bid to avoid back-to-back relegation takes them back home against Blackburn Rovers this Saturday, an Easter weekend menu of Derby away and Bristol City at home, then a home test against Coventry City before rounding things off at West Bromwich Albion.

Luton Town visit Stoke City on Tuesday (19:45 BST) as they look to claw themselves out of the relegation zone.

The Hatters are undefeated across their past four league games, earning a point at home to promotion-chasing Leeds United last time out.

Victory could give them safety, with the two teams ahead of them (Cardiff City and Derby County) just two points in front as well as get them within one point of Stoke.

On the other hand, should the Potters lose and both Cardiff and Derby take all three points at their respective matches, then the Hatters will see their hosts join them in the drop zone.

• Stoke have won seven of their last 10 home league games against Luton (D1 L2), most recently a 2-0 victory in November 2022.

• After their 2-1 win in December, Luton are looking to complete their first league double over Stoke City since 1984-85 in the top-flight under David Pleat.

• Stoke have won both of their last two home league games, last winning three in a row within a single season in September 2021.

• Luton have won both of their last two away league games, more than their first 18 of the season beforehand (W1 D2 L15), and could win three in a row for the first time since January 2023.

• Stoke boss Mark Robins has only won one of his last 10 league meetings with Luton Town (D5 L4), although that was his most recent with Coventry in October this season (3-2).

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Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield said he was "proud" of his side's performance in their 1-1 draw with Leeds United.

Isaiah Jones' opener was cancelled out by Dan James' strike in the first half at Kenilworth Road.

Although the Hatters are still in the relegation zone, two points from safety, Bloomfield praised his players' showing against a promotion-chasing side.

"It's a performance to be proud of, and a point to be proud of, against extremely good opposition who we all expect to be in the Premier League next season," Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"The resilience we showed out of possession, the structure and discipline. We also created some good chances and the variety of our play was good, so there's a lot to be pleased about."

Bloomfield singled out the performance of striker Elijah Adebayo, who picked up an injury.

"Eli was fantastic today, his work out of possession, and the way he gives us a platform to build. Clicker [Jordan Clark] has a little bit of quality at the top end of the pitch and it was a nice finish from Izzy (Isaiah Jones), so it was a very good goal.

"He [Adebayo] twisted his knee and he has some ice on it, so we're not sure where it's at, so it was right at that time to get on some fresh legs."

Image source, Rex Features

Saturday lunchtime sees a potentially pivotal game at both ends of the season as Luton entertain Leeds at 12:30 BST.

The Hatters are second-bottom, effectively four points from safety with seven games remaining, while Whites are second, two points behind leaders Sheffield United, who play later on Saturday.

Daniel Farke's side have won only one of their past five league games and taken just one point from their past two on the road.

For all their struggles this season, Matt Bloomfield's men have only conceded eight goals in their past 13 games at Kenilworth Road in the Championship.

• Luton have won one of their past 12 league games against Leeds (D3 L8), beating the Whites 5-1 in the Championship in October 2006.

• Leeds United are looking to complete a league double over Luton Town for the first time since the 1991-92 top-flight season, when the Whites won the title.

• In March, only Burnley (13) and Sheffield United (13) picked up more Championship points than Luton Town (10), who won three of their five games (D1 L1). It is four more than Leeds picked up (6) during the month.

• Leeds go into this game 43 points ahead of Luton Town (81 points vs 38 points), their most ahead of an opponent before playing them since the final day of the 2018-19 season against Ipswich when, despite being 55 points ahead of the Tractor Boys, they lost 3-2.

• Since the start of last season, Leeds United have scored 25 Championship goals in the opening 10 minutes of games, 11 more than any other side. Three of their seven goals within March were scored in this timeframe.

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

This weekend's match between Luton and Leeds is set to be a humdinger of an occasion.

It's second from bottom versus second from top. Contrasting positions and contrasting form of an unusual kind.

The Hatters' win at Hull and Leeds' late heartbreak at home to Swansea has added to the mouth-watering encounter.

Luton have gained confidence from three wins in five, while Leeds are having a wobble at precisely the wrong time with just one win in five.

Nerves are going to be heightened - which team handles the pressure best is likely to be the victor.

The Hatters appear to have their mojo back. It's taken Matt Bloomfield longer than he would've liked but it seems the team have turned a corner and their belief, which was rock bottom three months ago, has been restored and that fighting spirit and togetherness is back.

It's not down to just one player. Bloomfield has organised the team into a structure and shape which is much tighter, conceding fewer goals as a result.

But one player deserves special praise. Young defender Christ Makosso made his full debut a month ago with the team in desperate trouble. Since then, Luton's points per game percentage rate has risen from 27% to 67%. The Hatters have kept three clean sheets in five.

Image source, Getty Images

Despite having experienced duo Kal Naismith and Reece Burke available, Makosso continues to get the nod on merit.

The 20 year-old arrived in January from Belgium side Molenbeek with no experience of British life or English football let alone the stresses of the Championship.

He can barely speak any English and yet he's already proved he is a more than capable Championship player. The Congolese centre-back has a very bright future.

Luton still have a lot to do to stay up. They probably need three or four wins from their final seven games but they've given themselves a much better chance with these improved displays.

The Hatters will need to recreate the atmosphere seen at Fratton Park a month ago when Portsmouth got the better of Daniel Farke's side. The Pompey fans helped their players over the line and the Luton supporters must do likewise.

Kenilworth Road needs to be sizzling to see if Leeds can handle the pressure. Luton should relish it knowing they are in their best form of the season.

Image source, Rex Features

Luton Town believe every game is now winnable, according to defender Mark McGuinness.

The Hatters have won three of their past five Championship matches with just one defeat, moving them within two points of safety.

"Every game is winnable and we're going into any game thinking we can win," McGuinness told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"We need to win, there's no two ways about it but it's that confidence and momentum which is building that's going to make it easier for us."

Luton won 1-0 winners at relegation rivals Hull City on Saturday and host second-placed Leeds United this weekend.

"We've got eight games left and everybody knows the importance of it," said McGuinness.

"It starts in training - we've been working hard and been consistent and it's showing so we have to go back in and do the same thing."

Image source, Rex Features

Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield was delighted by his side's "grit and determination" in their vital win at relegation rivals Hull City.

He admitted that Alfie Jones' own goal was a big stroke of luck for his team, but the three points narrowed the gap to safety to two points.

It is 10 points from their last five games and the Hatters are giving themselves a fighting chance of avoiding a second successive relegation.

"We've got to be incredibly proud of the performance today, Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"We started well, hit the post and had a couple of good chances.

"Being the away side, there's a time when you're going to have to defend and we did that.

"The goal was obviously extremely fortunate but in terms of our performance, the endeavour, the way the boys are playing, the shape, there's a lot to be pleased and proud about.

"The fans want to see our boys' grit and determination. That's what our club stands for and they saw that today."

Image source, Rex Features

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield has promised to "be careful" with Reece Burke as the centre-back looks for minutes on the pitch following a lengthy injury lay-off.

Burke returned as an 87th minute substitute in the 2-1 win at Cardiff City on 11 March, his first game back after suffering a quad injury in November, but was unused against Middlesbrough before the international break.

He will be hoping for another opportunity against former club Hull City on Saturday, when fellow defender Kal Naismith will also be hoping to get onto the pitch having recently served a one-match ban following his red card at Burnley.

"[They have] great experience, fantastic knowhow - obviously Burkey's been out for a while, so we have to be careful with him, we can't over-expose him to too many minutes but he's been a key player for this football club and we expect him to be so again," Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Kal was unfortunate he lost his place because of the sending off, but he's chomping at the bit and he's ready to go."

There is also promising news about Teden Mengi, who had surgery on a knee injury suffered in training in December.

"Teden is now starting to join in a little bit with the group. He's not ready to take in games just yet, he's not in full training yet, but he's done a little bit," Bloomfield added.

Midfielder Tahith Chong is back in full training though and could make his first appearance since early January against Hull.