Luton Town

Image source, Getty Images

Marissa Thomas, BBC Sport

Luton lost their first league match of 2024 against relegation rivals Sheffield United.

The Hatters' six-game unbeaten run came to the end as their usual fighting spirit was lacking in front of a home crowd at Kenilworth Road.

In the 20th minute of the match, Luton fans applauded in memory of fellow fan and steward Hassan Ali who passed away at the age of 20 after a battle with leukaemia.

Carlton Morris scored from the penalty spot to reduce the deficit but Luton did not do enough to get an equaliser before Vini Souza made it 3-1 to the Blades.

Despite their recent good form, Rob Edwards' side are just a point above the relegation zone in 17th position and they will now be looking nervously over their shoulders.

Luton host Man United next weekend and will look to get back to winning ways with the threat of relegation still looming large.

Here are the key facts and figures following Saturday's game between Luton Town and Sheffield United in the Premier League.

• Sheffield United won their first Premier League away game since March 2021 (1-0 against Everton), while they have scored three goals in an away match in the competition for the first time since October 1993 (3-3 against Southampton), ending a run of 84 games without doing so.

• Luton have lost a home league game against Sheffield United for the first time since December 1994 (6-3 in the second tier).

• The Blades have conceded 60 goals in just 24 games in the Premier League this season, the fewest number of matches to concede 60 goals in the competition ever.

• Luton’s Carlton Morris has either scored (3) or assisted (2) in each of his past four Premier League games, as many goal involvements as in his first 19 games in the competition this season (also three goals, two assists).

• James McAtee’s 36th minute penalty put Sheffield United two goals ahead for the first time in a Premier League game this season.

Luton boss Rob Edwards speaking to Match of the Day after the defeat: "A tough day, disappointing to lose the game of course. They defended the box very well, we made a couple of errors and got punished. We were not our usual self in terms of being snappy and creating chances.

"At the end, it came down to two mistakes. There were a couple of moments in the game where we huffed and puffed. The players gave everything. Once Sheffield United were very low and defending that lead, they were difficult to break down."

On the penalty decisions: "I don't think either were penalties, but I don't know what is a handball anymore."

On picking themselves up from this: "This is the best league in the world and the toughest league in the world. Today we've had a bad day, but we've had some good days.

"The players will pick themselves up ready to attack the week."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Tom Gayle speaking after Luton's defeat at Kenilworth Road: "Sheffield United's first victory on the road this season.

"What a response to last week's home humiliation at the hands of Aston Villa, wrapped up by Vini Souza becoming the first Brazilian to score a Sheffield United Premier League goal.

"Those away fans won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

"Luton's unbeaten start to 2024 comes to an end."

Sheffield United secured a vital Premier League win at relegation rivals Luton.

Cameron Archer beat Gabriel Osho for pace on the right flank and slotted into the bottom corner before James McAtee converted from the penalty spot, as the Blades led by two league goals for the first time this season.

Carlton Morris got one back for Luton, scoring a spot-kick shortly after the break.

Vini Souza restored United's two-goal cushion with a well-struck finish 18 minutes from time.

Chris Wilder's side remain bottom of the league, seven points from safety, while Luton are just above the drop zone in 17th position.

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

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

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

Follow all of the reaction here

There are seven games being played in the Premier League on Saturday and we will bring you every moment.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

All times are GMT

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Liverpool v Burnley

• Nottingham Forest v Newcastle

Chris Sutton is taking on Sexy Beast star Stephen Moyer for the latest round of Premier League predictions.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

I am not going to back against Luton any longer - although that will probably jinx them now.

They beat Sheffield United at Bramall Lane a few weeks ago, although they were a little fortunate to see the Blades score two late own goals.

I love what Luton boss Rob Edwards has done, and he has proved me wrong, but he has still got work to do to keep them in the Premier League.

All season, the Hatters have not been a team who have just sat in and I am expecting them to go after the Blades here.

As for Sheffield United, well how can you make a case for them to stay up after they were humiliated by Aston Villa last week? I have got a lot of time for their manager, Chris Wilder, but I think this is going to end up being another defeat.

Stephen's prediction: 2-1

I've always really rated Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend and they have both fitted into the really cohesive way of playing that Luton have got. I think Luton are going to stay up, but it's a different story for Sheffield United. They have had their moments in recent weeks but they have not been picking up points and I don't see them getting anything here either.

See the full list of predictions

Image source, Reuters

Luton Town boss Rob Edwards would not stretch to demanding an England call-up for rejuvenated midfielder Ross Barkley but conceded the 30-year-old was proving his talent in a Hatters shirt.

The 30-year-old has taken plaudits for his fine form during Luton's recent run of one defeat in their past five games and Edwards said the benefit of a settled spell in the side is paying dividends.

"I am not going to give you a headline," said Edwards. "It is not for me to say. I am just happy that he is playing really well for Luton.

"That is all any player who wants to get selected for their national team can do."

Barkley has 33 caps and six goals for England but has not featured for his country since scoring twice and assisting once in a 6-0 win in Bulgaria in October 2019. That game was overshadowed by racism from the crowd.

So far this season, he has thee goals and three assists from 21 appearances for Edwards' side.

"We love Ross and are delighted with him," Edwards said. "He has got a home here with a group of players, mates, staff and a football club that support him and love him for what he is really good at.

"He is hungry and wants to show people how good he is. He had a couple of difficult years by his really high standards, but all he has shown [since joining Luton] is how good a player he is."

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Luton's match against Sheffield United on Saturday.

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• Teden Mengi took "a slight knock" to his ankle in training on Thursday so he will not be available and neither will defender Mads Andersen.

• New signing Daiki Hashioka is “still adjusting” to the squad and "will probably need another week or two."

• Edwards expects a "tight battle" against Sheffield United because "both teams are fighting for their lives."

• On going into the game with momentum from positive results against Brighton and Newcastle results: "I wouldn’t say we’re big favourites but we’re going into it in good form and confident. There is no game that’s easy, if we step off it then we can get punished."

• Ross Barkley "has shown how good he is" since signing for Luton and the "players, staff and club support him and allow him to be himself."

• On their improved attacking style: "We’ve been more aggressive in our pressing and in possession and we’ve been trying to hurt teams by getting in behind them. We’ve been on a good journey so far and been getting more of a threat."

• Luton have left an available position in their named 25-man squad for Tom Lockyer but there "is no pressure" on the captain to take up that place.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences here

BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Frank asked: Teams like Wolves who play without a number nine are doing very well. Are old fashioned strikers needed anymore? Has the game changed?

Michael replied: The game has changed. I think we've seen a different type of striker.

But look at Liverpool and Arsenal for example, people mention they still need a number nine, so people are saying it, but we're not necessarily seeing those old-fashioned nines.

Manchester City did so well with the false nine, but then Erling Haaland came in and scored 50 goals. They still needed him and they still wanted a number nine, but it depends on your playing style.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Luton have beaten Brighton and earned a hard-fought point against Newcastle, but can they beat bottom-of-the-league Sheffield United on Saturday?

The latest episode of BBC Three Counties' Luton in the Prem podcast looks ahead to the enormous game at the bottom end of the table and they discuss how the narrative around Luton's hope for survival has changed.

Listen now on BBC Sounds

BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Russell asked: The January transfer window was very quiet compared to recent years, probably due to Financial Fair Play and points deduction worries. Do you think the days of teams spending hundreds of millions each window are over? And if so, what long-term effects might that have on the Premier League?

Michael replied: I think we are going to see different spreads of spending. We're not going to see hundreds of millions in the January window because people will be more conscious of spreading those payments and their budget will already be in place.

They will probably do a lot more of it before the season, so I think we are going to see less of the the excitement of the January window because of quite obvious reasons.

The business will be done in the summer and clubs will say ‘this is what we've got'. They might have to send others on the way out first, rather than just spending that money and getting rid of players later.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

• Sheffield United lost the reverse fixture 3-2 against Luton in December. They haven't lost both league meetings against the Hatters in a single season since 1976-77 in the second tier.

• After only scoring 10 goals in their first 12 Premier League matches, Luton Town have found the net in each of their past 10 games, netting in 22 goals across these games. Only Tottenham are on a longer run of scoring (35 games) than the Hatters.

• The Blades have conceded 59 goals in 23 Premier League games this season. The last top-flight side to concede 60 goals in as few as 24 games into a season was Ipswich Town in 1963-64.

• Oli McBurnie has more goals and assists combined than any other Blades player in the Premier League this season (4 goals, 2 assists). However, Sheffield United haven't been on the winning side in any game which he has scored or assisted in.

• Alfie Doughty has taken more corners that have led to a goal (not necessarily providing the assist himself) in the Premier League this season than any other player (8).

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

In our commentary position at St James’ Park, we were privileged to be really close to the pitch, with a great angle to view the action. You can get a real feel for a player and in the 4-4 thriller at Newcastle United on Saturday, you couldn’t help but be drawn to the majestic Ross Barkley.

The midfielder has a natural talent which is bewitching. Technically, he’s elite level.

What is striking is his balance, his poise, his smoothness, his close control and the way he glides across the pitch with the ball at his feet. In possession, he can get himself out of situations which seem impossible when he's counter-pressed by up to three players because he is so natural on the ball.

It looks so easy for Barkley and it’s a delight to see him return to the confident character we saw when he was a kid at Everton.

He scored one and was involved in two others. So why is he back to the form of his life?

When I spoke to him afterwards, he told me he always believed that, if offered the chance to find his rhythm and play game after game, he would return to his best. Stop start and in and out of the team is no good for Barkley.

He needs to be consistently in the side and at Luton he knows he will be - and will continue to be considering his magnificent form.

What was also interesting in our chat was how he spoke of the togetherness in the changing room and his view that he’d "probably never been a part of a team that’s so close".

It's simplistic, but ultimately Barkley is happy again on a football pitch, he’s playing happy football and he is certainly making Luton Town fans happy. And as each game passes, more believe he's the best player to have ever worn a Luton shirt.

Calls for an England return grow stronger with each match he captivates us. He's a joy to watch.

What do you think, Luton fans? How highly do you rate Barkley? Could he be the best to have worn a Hatters shirt? Let us know here

Listen to commentary of Luton Town v Sheffield United on BBC Three Counties Digital Radio at 15:00 GMT on Saturday

Ollie Kay, We Are Luton Town, external

It just keeps getting better and better this season. Four goals scored in back to back games now, a 4-0 demolition of Brighton and a gripping 4-4 draw with Newcastle. That is a record that hasn’t been matched by Luton Town in the top flight since the 1982-83 season.

I try not to draw parallels, however, during that run we beat Brighton 5-0 at Kenilworth Road, before drawing 4-4 with Stoke City on our travels. That season ended with a gripping relegation battle which culminated on the final day of the season, with that famous Raddy Antic goal, which kept us up and relegated Man City.

Certainly, we aren’t relegating Manchester City this season. However, like that team - who after staying up enjoyed a decade in the top flight before being relegated the season before the top tier rebranded as the Premier League - we have a core of players who have been on the journey with us and have relished the step up and continue to flourish.

The parallels are fantastic, just like with Ricky Hill, Brian Stein and Mal Donaghy in that classic team, we now have Alfie Doughty, Elijah Adebayo and Gabe Osho. They look as if they have played in the Premier League for their entire careers. The main difference is the sprinkling of budgeted extra Premier League magic we have in the team with Ross Barkley. I have simply run out of superlatives to describe him.

Hopefully we continue to channel that team of 1982, by continuing to navigate our way through this league, stay up, and follow their footsteps in enjoying an extended period in the top tier. Next up Sheffield United.

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton tells BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club that Rob Edwards has been "remarkable" with Luton Town in the top flight and deserves manager of the season if he guides the Hatters to survival.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Michael Brown
BBC Sport pundit

BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown will be answering your questions, giving his insight and opinion around your club.

So what would you like to ask the former Premier League midfielder?

How the season rates so far? Who has been your best player? What does the manager's future hold?

Let us know what you want answered by sending in your questions here

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

Geoff asked: What do you think of the Ross Barkley for England call, Phil?

Phil: Hello, Geoff. If I am being brutally honest, I think that ship has probably sailed - but the rejuvenation of such a talented footballer, who appeared to have lost his way, has been one of the great things about this season.

Be selfish and just enjoy what Ross is giving to Luton Town and don’t worry about England. He looks totally reborn, fit and full of confidence and will be vital to the rest of your season. No distractions.

On a separate note, I have to congratulate Luton Town and manager Rob Edwards. They have been an absolute breath of fresh air and may make a mockery of my prediction that they will be relegated.

I’m at Kenilworth Road for the Manchester United game on 18 February and can’t wait to sample the atmosphere again.

We asked you for your thoughts on Saturday's Premier League match between Newcastle and Luton.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Billy: Dan Burn was once again left in the wake of a winger with speed. Once up field he has not got the pace to take up his defensive duties. He is no Kyle Walker or Andy Robertson. Not his fault for he is playing out of position. Tino must be given his chance now before it's to late. For me the defence as a whole had their worst game of the season.

David: Thought the referee lost control of the game in the second half; fair play to Luton though, who had a plan and stuck to it. Nice to see Barnes back but typical Newcastle; Gordon went off injured; it seems to be the way this season; one player comes back and another one gets injured.

Kenneth: It’s the first time I’ve questioned whether the Newcastle players want to achieve the club's targets for this season since Eddie Howe arrived. Poor performance.

Luton fans

Harish: What a pulsating match. Such a shame Luton couldn’t hold the lead but just shows how much this team has evolved. They’ve got better and better each match. That’s eight goals in two matches against top top oppositions. On this evidence I’m confident that we will stay up. Come on you Hatters!!

Gary: What spirit and determination. Taking a leaf out of Ben Stokes’ Test team mentality. COYH. Top six on the cards!

Malcolm: Another good result for the Town. It could easily have been a win but the two-goal advantage was lost. Again the poor performer was Sambi Lokonga. He just looks lost running around telling his team-mates who to mark while he marks nobody. As the highest paid player he should be trying his heart out but all to often is missing in action. Drop him.