Luton Town

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Aaron asked: Are you surprised at how Luton Town are still fighting to stay up?

Phil answered: Having tipped them to be relegated before the start of the season, I have been very pleasantly surprised at what Rob Edwards and his team have brought to the Premier League.

We can discount results like Saturday's beating at Manchester City because their season was never going to be shaped by those games.

They have been bold and exciting to watch. If the art of good management is getting the best out of what you have at your disposal, then Edwards has done an outstanding job.

Obviously, points deductions for Everton and Nottingham Forest will play a part but Luton still have games where they will feel they can get something.

I am looking forward to reporting on their home game against Everton in that great Kenilworth Road atmosphere.

We asked for your thoughts on Manchester City's 5-1 victory over Luton on Saturday.

Here are some of your answers:

Manchester City fans

Nigel: Credit to Luton Town, they put up a strong defence and at one point they looked like they could draw but they faded at the end. Another good win for City, closing the goal difference gap. Let's see Madrid off on Wednesday and kick on for the Treble.

Martin: City dominated this game from start to finish and should have been well out of sight by half time. Several top players rested and system slightly tweaked. Doku is still raw but had an excellent game as did Kovacic. Luton rarely troubled City and scored to lax City distribution. Another vital three points and job done.

Luton fans

Christian: Proud of the club. Played four at the back - one centre half, two left wing backs and a winger/forward as everyone else was injured and there literally were no other alternatives. The two late subs had to put down their homework books before they came off the bench! Next five games are massive. All games where we can get points. Been a proud Hatter all year.

Sue: So proud of our players, they believe in themselves and each other. We are not down and out by a long shot. With some of our injured players ready to come back I still believe we will stay up.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Manchester City v Luton Town

Bournemouth v Manchester United

Rob Edwards speaking to Match of the Day after Luton's loss to Manchester City: “It proved to be [a difficult game].

“A long afternoon, the longest game of football I have ever had.

“We are really depleted at the moment, it was a difficult afternoon for us. The players gave everything and we didn’t get off to the best of starts.

“A great save for Thomas and then a deflected volley off Daiki Hashioka's head. They wore us down in the end but I cannot fault the players – it is done.

“We now have five huge games that we can get ourselves out of it, we almost have to write this off.

“They scored three worldies, there was lots of shots and Thomas had to make some saves.

“We kept going and they got the last couple later on when they wore us down. The players never dropped their heads and we wont accept that. What gives me belief is our fans right with us till the end and we are going to need them."

On injury concerns: “We have one fit centre-back at the moment. To go up against City it was always going to be difficult.

“One of our strongest strengths we have such a together group and the spirit is there. It is the biggest defeat we have had this season.

“It will not change how we feel we will learn from it and it can make us better at a group – it will not knock us.

“We want to come to places like this and we want to come next year. We are in with a good chance of doing that . It’s learning from it and taking some of the positives - there was a few."

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Reuters

Luton are now a point behind Nottingham Forest in the battle to stay up after Forest's 2-2 draw with Wolves.

But this was never a game manager Rob Edwards would have expected something from.

He practically said as much afterwards in the news conference.

The Luton fans who made the trip enjoyed themselves and made plenty of noise - these are the kind of games they would have been looking forward to, and perhaps fearful of, after last season's promotion.

Luton managed four shots, although they were good ones with Cauley Woodrow hitting the crossbar and Barkley finishing following a stepover after a City defensive mistake.

Luton's next game - at home to Brentford on 20 April - is huge.

• Manchester City extended their unbeaten home run in all competitions to 41 games (W35 D6), just one short of their club record of 42 between 1919 and 1921.

• Only Sheffield United (6) have conceded more own goals than Luton (4) in the Premier League this season. Daiki Hashioka’s own goal after 65 seconds in today’s match was the earliest in a Premier League came since Antolin Alcarez with Everton against Southampton in April 2014 (54 seconds).

• This was Man City boss Pep Guardiola’s 150th Premier League home match in charge. He’s won 117 of these (78%), the highest win rate for any manager with at least 10 home games in charge.

• Luton’s Ross Barkley scored his fifth Premier League goal of the season – only in 2013-14 (6) and 2015-16 (8) has he netted more in a campaign.

• Manchester City’s Erling Haaland became just the third player to score 20+ goals in both of his first two Premier League campaigns, after Andrew Cole (1993-94, 1994-95) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (first 3 in 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04).

Manchester City moved top of the Premier League for at least a day with a predictably dominant victory over struggling Luton Town.

City led after only 65 seconds at Etihad Stadium when Erling Haaland's wayward volley hit Luton's Daiki Hashioka before flying into the net.

It took City more than an hour to double their lead through Mateo Kovacic's sweet, rising strike from near the edge of the area.

Haaland put the game beyond any doubt with a penalty after Jeremy Doku was fouled by Fred Onyedinma.

Just after City made a double change, Ross Barkley took advantage of a Matheus Nunes mistake to pull one back for the Hatters.

But Doku cut in from the left to slot a fine solo goal into the bottom corner.

The impressive Doku set up City's fifth as he picked out Josko Gvardiol, who slammed a beauty into the top corner - the defender's second goal in a week having not scored for City before that.

City are two points clear at the top, although Liverpool - at home to Crystal Palace - and Arsenal, who host Aston Villa, can move back above them on Sunday.

Luton remain in the relegation zone.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?

City fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here

How did you rate the side's performance, Luton fans?

Follow all of the reaction here

Six matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries:

• Man City v Luton

• Bournemouth v Man Utd

All times BST

Follow BBC Radio 5 Live commentaries and live text updates here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's games, he takes on actor and Leyton Orient fan Daniel Mays.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Manchester City had to fight to see off Luton in the league at Kenilworth Road earlier in the season, then smashed them in the FA Cup.

This game is probably going to be more like their last meeting and I am expecting City to win comfortably but, whatever happens to them at Etihad Stadium, Luton will keep on fighting.

Coming from behind to beat Bournemouth last week was an enormous result for them because it means they are level on points with fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest, rather than a couple of points off safety going into this game where, let's face it, they are unlikely to get anything.

I still don't feel as if City are at their imperious best but they will be too strong for Luton.

Daniel's prediction: 4-0

I think City will have to win every single one of their league games to win the title from here, but Phil Foden is purring at the moment, and Kevin de Bruyne is just class. I don't see Luton even getting a goal.

See the full list of predictions here

Luton Town boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Manchester City.

Here are the key headlines from his news conference:

• On Luton potentially being without any recognised central defenders: “We’ve got seven centre-halves at this club and not one has trained this week. Maybe we get one, maybe we get both, but maybe we don’t get either. Teden [Mengi] twice pushed through to help us win the game last week against Bournemouth and was in a lot of pain.”

• On missing Issa Kabore, who is ineligible to play against his parent club: “He’ll be a big miss. He’s had a great attitude and filled in a number of positions.”

• On facing Manchester City: "We can go there with a belief and a confidence that stranger things have happened. They are a brilliant team with probably the greatest manager of all time and a fantastic group of players, no matter who he [Pep Guardiola] plays. There is pressure on them to win every game because they are fighting for every trophy. We feel the same, just for different reasons."

• On what Luton need to do against the defending champions: "We’ll have to ride our luck. We’ll need our players to play a 9, 9.5, 10, and Thomas [Kaminski] will need to make some saves if we’re to get something. We’re confident while recognising they are one of the best teams in world football. The players have responded well and trained well. If we get a result, given all the problems we’ve got, it’ll be one of the results of the century.”

• On the spirit of his players: "The players have been great. The players who are available have been amazing. For them to be giving us what they have over this past month or so when it's been really tough, they deserve so much credit. They are going to go and deliver again tomorrow, I know that. What I can't guarantee is a victory or any kind of points."

Follow the rest of Friday's news conferences here

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town find themselves in a battle against relegation the drop with Nottingham Forest and Everton, who have both received points deductions this season for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules.

With appeals processes still to take place for the most recent punishments, there is uncertainty about whether teams will know who will be relegated on the final day of the season.

"Luton are still in there with a chance [of safety]. There are some huge games coming up with Brentford and Everton and Fulham on the last day. But it all bubbles up again with this Everton points deduction," said BBC Three Counties Radio commentator Simon Oxley on the Luton In The Prem podcast.

"It just seems there is no consistency. Everton are unhappy because they have been done again and are appealing. Forest are unhappy because [they are wondering] how come Everton only have two [points deducted] and they have four. Luton are starting to make noises.

"They haven't done themselves any favours, the Premier League. They have taken too long and there is no specific 'if you do X you will get Y'.

"What people have been saying to me is 'what are Luton going to do? Are they going to go down the legal avenue if push comes to shove?'

"One thing I picked up from Gary Sweet's interview on the situation is when asked about possible legal action he said 'I don't think so'. They are making their feelings known at Premier League level and in their regular meetings, but it doesn't sound like they are ready yet to bring in the lawyers, but they are keeping across it."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The current situation around points deductions is a complete farce.

Players might ask "how do you approach it? We might need only four points from the next two games, but if the points deductions change we might need six."

So they will have needed to go all out in some of these games instead of taking the draw and that is where it is not becoming fair.

We need the decisions made. How can it be fair when you think a point is enough in a match but actually it is nowhere near enough and you needed all three? It just doesn't make sense.

Luton's chief executive Gary Sweet has understandably been going mad about the situation. It would be different if Luton were sat there on 17 points and out of it but they are right in it and have done everything right. If they realised the points difference was only going to be three or four points they might have decided to go and spend more money in January. That doesn't mean it is right, but if others are doing it and they think 'we will do it too and take a four-point hit for the overspend' then they might think it is worth it.

I have had points deducted when I was with Portsmouth when we went into administration. It is a big change around the setup and everything you are going to do. It relegates you, it changes things. But at this level in the main league in the world it is ridiculous. We are only getting these decisions made in April, why could it not have all been done in November?

I don't think we need to say anything to the Luton players about how to handle it because everything that has been thrown at them they have dealt with and it has been incredible.

They are setting themselves up for possibly the greatest escape we have ever seen and they are going to give everything.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Manchester City and Luton in the Premier League.

• Man City have won their last four home league games against Luton by an aggregate score of 12-1. They last hosted them in April 1999 in the third tier (2-0) and the last time they played them in the top-flight in February 1992 finished 4-0.

• Luton have never won an away league match against the reigning top-flight champions in 16 attempts (D3 L13), losing the last nine by an aggregate score of 27-2.

• Manchester City are unbeaten in their last 40 home games in all competitions (W34 D6), just two short of their all-time club record of 42 set between December 1919 and November 1921.

• Excluding penalties, only Arsenal (19) and Everton (15) have scored more goals from set-piece situations than Luton in the Premier League this season (14). However, Manchester City have conceded just two such goals so far, fewer than any other side.

• Phil Foden has scored nine goals in his last nine Premier League games, with his 14 overall this season his best return in a single campaign. His next goal will be his 50th in the competition. He would be the 10th player to reach this milestone for Manchester City, while aged 23 years and 321 days on the day of this game, he would be the second youngest to do so for the club after Erling Haaland earlier this season.

• Kevin De Bruyne has been involved in nine goals in just 11 Premier League appearances this season, scoring three and assisting six. He is averaging a goal or assist every 75 minutes this term, the best rate of any player (min. 500 minutes).

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

There was lots to be pleased about in Luton Town's performance against Bournemouth.

The three points was a necessity and it was achieved. Then there was the spirit shown to come from behind and prove once again that the Hatters will give everything to stay up.

Then there was the performances of the players. The defensive three - Reece Burke, Issa Kabore and Teden Mengi - just about coped with the Cherries' dynamic frontline. It was a great call from Rob Edwards to switch Burke to be the central figure and he handled Dominic Solanke well.

In midfield, Jordan Clark grabbed the headlines but Ross Barkley oozed class once again. And up front, Carlton Morris demonstrated, as he has all season, that he is a Premier League striker.

Luton's season now rests on five winnable games. No-one will say it at Kenilworth Road, but forget about Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on Saturday and concentrate on the last five - of which Luton will probably need to win three.

You would not put it past them and it would be a huge achievement.

The points deductions saga has been something I have been predicting for months and the integrity of the Premier League has been brought into question.

This is why there could be no argument if Luton gave a rest to Morris, Barkley and Mengi, for instance, at the Etihad this weekend in readiness for the final five, one of which is relegation rivals Everton...

They probably will not do it, but Luton should worry about themselves rather than an arguably devalued league.

Listen to match commentary of Man City v Luton on BBC Three Counties Radio and on BBC Sounds at 15:00 BST on Saturday

Luke Reddy
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It is proving a season of challenge at Goodison Park both on and off the pitch.

Changing figures in the points column have proved confusing and emotionally draining, while a long, winless run has tested patience.

One area of struggle continues to be in front of goal, where Sean Dyche's side are posting remarkable numbers in terms of chances passed up.

Expected goals v actual goals

Everton - differential: -14.57

46.57 expected goals v 32 actual goals

Brentford - differential: -6.96

51.96 expected goals v 45 actual goals

Chelsea - differential: -3.28

58.28 expected goals v 55 actual goals

The three clubs listed boast the worst records in the Premier League for scoring the chances they would be expected to put away, but Everton's tally appears extreme.

In contrast, their relegation rivals Luton have scored 6.56 more goals than they would have been expected to from their chances. The Hatters have found the net 45 times from an xG of 38.44.

That positive differential is the fifth best in the Premier League.

Will the numbers swing if Dyche's men start finding the net?

In a season of off-the-field complexity, it is one on-the-field metric that could prove significant.

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town chief executive Gary Sweet feels Everton's punishment for breaching financial regulations "doesn't fit the crime".

On Monday it was announced the Toffees would be deducted two points for breaking Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

Everton's second points deduction of the season sees them sitting two points and two places above the Hatters, who are in the relegation zone on goal difference.

Speaking to BBC Three Counties Radio, Sweet said: "It's quite astonishing really. One of the things that disappoints me is that the independent commission that value the level of the penalty clearly hasn't looked into it too deeply.

"If you look at what clubs do, we spend hundreds of thousands of pounds in data analytics to recruit the right players who are going to give us the goals, give us the points and defend the goals. So we know the value of a goal and the value of a point in monetary terms.

"If we know then it is not beyond the wit of man with such important decisions like this for an independent party to come up with that kind of data analysis to value an overspend amount and convert to points - and it is never two. It is much higher than two.

"From that perspective [I am] really disappointed that it is that little. The punishment simply doesn't fit the crime and ultimately what that means is it doesn’t become a deterrent."

Nottingham Forest - who are level on points with Luton - were also docked four points for financial breaches. Both they and Everton are in appeal processes.

"If you look at the Forest four [points] - which I was also disappointed with - two points off for co-operating is ridiculous," added Sweet. "You should have had two points added if you didn't co-operate - it should have been six.

"This is Everton's second time, albeit a smaller level - so it should certainly be a greater amount, but it is not for me to say how many that should be.

"As a club that has gone through a 30-point deduction for something I see as relatively less, then it is somewhere between the two. It has to be a punishment level that is a real deterrent."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Ollie Kay
Fan writer

We are up and running for this final stretch of the season!

The final seven matches were a daunting task, with Luton Town needing to simply get points on the board. This is obviously a tough ask with 10 senior first-team players out, but nonetheless at Kenilworth Road we found that magic touch.

The atmosphere at Kenilworth Road from when Carlton Morris put in that 90th minute winner till we all left the stadium was electric, with the air filled with belief in our ability to pull survival out the bag.

The players believe too. With three more crucial home games to come, they know what needs to be done.

I would also like to reminisce about Joe Kinnear following his passing at the age of 77.

When Joe was appointed himself as manager of Luton Town in 2001, after a brief stint as director of football, we had been at our lowest ebb for quite a few decades, obviously it would get worse, less than 10 years later.

After years of watching quite frankly dire football, with crowds dwindling at Kenilworth Road, Joe gave us back belief, brought back great football, had a variety of enjoyable press conferences and gave us a memorable season in 01/02 bringing in players that are still remembered fondly by the fanbase to this very day as legends of the club.

Ollie Kay can be found at We Are Luton Town, external

Luton winger Andros Townsend spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club about victory against Bournemouth on Saturday and how it was needed in an "emotionally draining" relegation battle.

The 32 year-old says "sprits are high" ahead of next weekend's match against Manchester City and that he wouldn't put it past the Hatters to get a shock victory.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Luton Town's Andros Townsend has been talking about what it has been like to face the Premier League's top three sides this season.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the winger said "all three of them have different qualities and that is why they are all at the top of the table by some distance".

He described Manchester City as the hardest to play against this season due to the fact they were able to beat Luton's "best press every single time," despite the Hatters being on "their top form".

Luton travel to Etihad Stadium on Saturday with the hope they can get a result after losing 2-1 at home to them in December.

At Kenilworth Road against Liverpool in November, Townsend's Luton conceded a 95th minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw. But Townsend said "the power of Anfield" was one of the reasons they lost in February.

Speaking about Arsenal Townsend said how they are "relentless".

He added: "They beat us in the last second at home. They beat us 2-0 away from home.

"They scored their first goal and they sort of sat off and just said 'listen we know we're good defensively we're going to sit off and you try and break us down'."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds