Luton Town

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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."

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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."

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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.

Luton Town make the trip to fellow strugglers Hull City on Saturday lunch time (12:30 GMT) as they look for much needed points.

The Hatters currently reside in the relegation zone, four points away from safety and with only bottom dwellers Plymouth Argyle with a lower goal difference.

All three points will prove mighty beneficial to Luton, but they will need to defeat a Tigers side that have not lost any of their past four league games (W2 D2) and looking to clear away from the threat of relegation themselves.

• Hull City are winless across their prior six league games against Luton Town (D1 L5), scoring just one goal in total across that time.

• Luton Town are unbeaten across their last five away league games against Hull City (W4 D1), keeping four clean sheets in the process.

• Hull are unbeaten across their last four league games (W2 D2), the Tigers' longest streak since a six-game spell in April 2024.

• Luton have won two of their last four league games (D1 L1), as many victories as across their prior 18 matches combined (D4 L12).

• Luton's Carlton Morris has won more aerial duels than any other player in the Championship this season (177), though has also lost more aerial duels than any other player in the competition too (171).

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Luton boss Matt Bloomfield says Hatters midfielder Thelo Aasgaard looks at home on the international stage.

The 22-year-old, signed from Wigan Athletic in the January transfer window, scored and provided an assist on his senior Norway debut in their World Cup qualifying win in Moldova on Saturday night.

He lined up in midfield alongside Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard and behind Manchester City's Erling Haaland as Norway ran-out 5-0 winners in Group I.

"Thelo is a top performer. We know that," Bloomfield told the club website, external. "He's someone who we believe can go on even further in the game and I think what he's shown for us already is glimpses of that.

"He's been great, receives in tight areas and can knit the game together for us, which we love.

"He's gone away, in elite company and he looks like he's right at home. It was lovely to sit and watch his game at the weekend."

Meanwhile, Izzy Jones became the first Luton player to score a hat-trick for his country when he scored all three in Guyana's 3-2 Concacaf Gold Cup win over Guatemala on Friday night.

Bloomfield added: "Since we've gone to three at the back and Izzy's been wing-back, his form has been fantastic – he's really got the bit between his teeth.

"We knew he was a top performer for the level and I think it was probably a big move for him coming down from Middlesbrough, moving his family down and it took him a couple of games to adapt, but I think he looks in great form.

"He's gone away and got himself some goals and we hope he can carry that form through to Saturday at Hull."

Image source, Getty Images

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Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield declined to put a number on how many points he thinks they need to stay up as the club prepare to return to Championship action.

The Hatters are 23rd, four points from safety, the same number they achieved from their last two games before the international break.

They take on Hull City on Saturday and will be without Jacob Brown, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season, while Amari'i Bell picked up a knock with the Jamaica national squad.

"Historically, there's usually a figure that's round about the mark (needed), but different seasons that goes up and down slightly," Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"We just have to make sure we attack every game individually but with an understanding of what the season may look like.

"If we keep doing what we can do, we believe we can get to the figure that we're going to need."

The average points achieved by teams staying up over the last five seasons in 21st place is 46.8 - Plymouth managed 51 points last season, Cardiff City 49 in 2023, but Reading only needed 41 to beat the drop in 2022.

Luton currently have 35 with eight games left to play.

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

Image source, Rex Features

Luton are likely to need four wins from their last eight games to avoid relegation.

On the evidence of the season so far that ratio looks unlikely, but the good news is the Hatters are playing better now than they have done for the previous seven months.

They should've won against Middlesbrough on Saturday to follow up a crucial victory at Cardiff before that.

With players returning from injury Matt Bloomfield is going to have a much better squad than the one he inherited when he arrived in January.

Kal Naismith and Reece Burke are good additions to an already tighter defence. It's up the other end where Luton now need to improve to stay up.

Carlton Morris has been playing with an injury which could be a reason why he hasn't scored in the last three months.

Elijah Adebayo's form all season has been even more of a head scratcher when you consider how good he was so many times last season against the very best defenders in the Premier League - he hasn't scored since 10 December.

Both are lacking confidence as you would expect and both have missed big chances recently. Luton do have back-up but Jacob Brown has never really been considered a prolific scorer and Lasse Nordas is new to both the Championship and English football.

This is the conundrum Bloomfield has to figure out. Does he persist with the two regular strikers in the hope that their form will eventually turn or does he have to try a different combination? The Hatters need their strikers to start firing.

In these remaining eight matches Luton are up against sides who are either battling relegation or aiming for promotion. Games are likely to be tight and tense affairs.

Luton have got to hold their nerve and produce the type of form that they showed under Nathan Jones in 2020 when they won four and drew three of their last eight games to stay up.

All of Luton's traditional values of work, fight, passion and hunger will be required to stop a second successive relegation.

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Luton Town goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski says his side's performance in the 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday should give them confidence in their bid to stay in the Championship.

The Hatters dominated play-off hopefuls Boro but wasteful finishing meant they were unable to turn one point into three as they remain in the relegation places, now four points from safety following Cardiff's win at Blackburn.

"I think if we play that game a couple of times, you win it," Kaminski told BBC Radio Three Counties.

"Defensively and organisation-wise we did well. Obviously the boys will be frustrated at not scoring but the performance was really, really good and we have to get the momentum going.

"I think it is a positive. We didn't lose against a good opposition.

"If you perform like that, come on, that has to give us confidence."