Luton Town

After a couple of seasons with lots of managerial comings and goings by this stage of the campaign, some changes in the summer for clubs seem to have given some time to some teams. The three managers of the bottom sides themselves would have had a lot of credit in coming up from the Championship.

Looking at it, I think we've seen talk of managers leaving, but again, we've seen teams just wait. Bournemouth for example got a result against Burnley when possibly they might have been thinking 'do we change?'

I just think it's nice to see that clubs are giving these managers more time and not making those rash decisions, that's the most important thing, because who are you going to replace him with? If Manchester United lose to Luton, where are they going to look to change? Who would it have been? So it's nice that we're sitting and giving them a touch more time to think about the situation.

I spoke to a very experienced manager recently and he said jobs are starting to go, people are getting offered in and around, but also said, when you get to that January window is when you see a change as well. Obviously managers will believe they can go and make a difference at that time of the season.

Sometimes if you're a manager wanting to go in and change, you'd rather go in when you know you've got the chance of changing the team a bit closer to what you want. So teams have got to be pulling along and getting results until January and around that time otherwise we will inevitably start seeing some managerial changes.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Image source, Getty Images

In the latest episode of Luton in the Prem, BBC Three Counties' Luke Ashmead, Geoff Doyle and Simon Oxley discuss what a position in the relegation zone means for the Hatters.

Ashmead said: "The Bournemouth win sees Luton drop into the relegation zone, psychologically that’s not great.

"I think a lot of us have been clinging to the fact that we were still out of the relegation zone, that’s not the case now."

Oxley referenced the mini-league that is now forming at the bottom of the table.

On this, Doyle said: "They don’t want it to be a mini-league of four though, they need more down there with them, if it’s only four, the odds then are far worse.

"Look above Bournemouth and the gap is six points now, Luton to Fulham – six points, that's two wins plus something else to catch up and we know how hard it is to get victories.

"Luton haven’t had one in the last five. Even though they’ve done well and at United it had a feel of not quite being good enough but putting in a lot of effort.

"They've got to stay in touch with as many teams as they possibly can, they don’t want to start drifting away from it, I hope that doesn’t happen.

"These games that are coming up, they’re going to have to try and get a victory from at least one of the next two."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

It's a strange situation the international break.

The injured players who weren't available to be called up have got no one to bounce off, it's a lonely place. When you're injured it's a lonely place anyway, but in the season you can catch players in the changing room or in the gym, but it's even worse when no one else is around. There's no one to bounce off, you realise you're injured, you realise you can't contribute and it's just a strange place.

For players who are fit but left behind, when it's only half a session and you can't get all the numbers in, you're just waiting for players to return. For teams like Liverpool and Manchester City where nearly all the team is gone there will be a week off in the building before players start coming back in dribs-and-drabs in the the few days before to build-up to the weekend games, so it's strange.

What's difficult is when you have a team like a Nottingham Forest who signed a load of new players on deadline day and then they're off and away, you can't have the two weeks you want to build up and capitalise on it. So while you want them to have international experience, you also want them around to work with them and improve.

For some players who aren't on international duty or injured, you're just looking forward to having three or four days off to go and get some sunshine, so there's many ways to go and do an international break.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

It was another big effort from Rob Edwards’s side at Manchester United, with the manager encouraged by the "bravery" of his team. Luton supporters – as they have all season – gave them rapturous applause at the end.

There is no shame in losing at Old Trafford, although conceding from the third phase of a set-piece was annoying for Edwards and his players.

What Hatters fans had not anticipated was the result later that night - Bournemouth beating Newcastle United. It meant Luton, in this international break, are back in the relegation zone.

Everyone knows it is going to be difficult, but if Luton cannot get ahead of teams outside the drop zone they have got to try to keep within touching distance of those teams above them.

They do not want a gap opening up, knowing just how difficult it is to win matches in the Premier League.

It is three points at the moment to Bournemouth and then six to the one above them, Fulham. Being cut adrift in the Premier League relegation zone is no place to be.

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Meanwhile, fans enjoyed seeing Jordan Clark return from injury and feature in the first Premier League game of his career.

'Clicker', as he is known, was playing League One and League Two football with Shrewsbury and Accrington Stanley in his early 20s before helping Luton out of the Championship, scoring in the play-off final win.

He’s another player to have gone through the leagues and deserving of getting his opportunity in the top flight.

These are the type of players trying to keep Luton in the Premier League - and why succeeding would be such a heartwarming story.

Every club has a dozen games under their belt in the Premier League.

But what’s the one thing you wish you could change about Luton Town's season?

Was it a poor signing? Disharmony in the boardroom? A player sale that should never have been? Or maybe just some patchy form here and there?

Let us know here

Phill Macbeth-Seath, We Are Luton Town, external

An away trip synonymous with Premier League football ended in narrow defeat, but as per recent tradition, the fans stayed until Old Trafford was empty - to cheer, serenade and show love to this ever-improving team.

Fresh from their point against Liverpool, Luton Town travelled to Manchester with way more confidence than anyone would have predicted during pre-season, also helped by their hosts' shock midweek defeat in the Champions League. Ultimately though, it was still Manchester United. The quality was still there - if you scratched the surface.

Luton went in at half-time fortunate to be level, but still in the game and had had some half-chances. This is perhaps where the crux of Luton's current predicament lies: we make half-chances but struggle to take them - and that makes all the difference at this level. United took their chance and we took no points back to Bedfordshire.

Luton have played seven of their 12 league games away so far and home advantage is going to be key moving forward. The footballing world saw us put in a great performance against Liverpool and we will need to repeat that and more against upcoming opponents at Kenilworth Road.

The takeaway from the game was that we are operating at Premier League level. We are not being steamrollered and we are in with a shout of survival.

We just need to win the mini league of four that Bournemouth currently top.

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Winger Andros Townsend said Luton Town "fully believe they are good enough to be in the Premier League" after recent results.

The Hatters head into the international break third from bottom and three points from safety, but on the back of impressive performances against Liverpool and Manchester United.

"I think that’s what got Luton to the Premier League and hopefully what will get Luton to survive in the Premier League," Townsend told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club about the club's belief.

"The good thing I have noticed is that confidence is growing. This is a group who now believe they are good enough to be in the Premier League.

"You saw that against Liverpool, how the confidence grew throughout the game. You’re in the dressing room after the game and you’ve taken a point off Liverpool but everyone was devastated not to take three points. That shows how far this group has come.

"Again, in the dressing room at Old Trafford after narrowly losing 1-0, everyone was distraught. It just shows this is a team now who fully believe they are good enough to be in the Premier League.

"After the international break, there are some games - I won’t say winnable - but games we need to win if we are to stay up. Hopefully we can take that confidence from the past two games into games moving forward."

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Luton Town winger Andros Townsend told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club why he eats five or six chicken feet every night.

Listen to the Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been taking questions from supporters on Monday.

@Mr_RibZ asked: Which three teams do you think will be relegated this season?

Phil answered: Let me refer back to my pre-season predictions and point out that (not for the first time) I may have blundered on these. My three tips were Luton Town, Sheffield United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

I went for the first two because I simply was not sure they had the quality and Wolves because at the time they were in turmoil after the departure of Julen Lopetegui.

Wolves will not be going down. Gary O’Neil has demonstrated why I believed it was wrong for Bournemouth to sack him. I thought they were outstanding against Spurs and deserved the win.

I thought Burnley would stay up but now I fear for them because Vincent Kompany has not adapted (not yet at least) to playing in the Premier League. They are simply too open and too easy to score against. The danger is they will be pleasing on the eye all the way back into the Championship.

Unless Kompany changes, I really fear Burnley will go down and I still think Luton and Sheffield United will go – although I think they are showing real fight.

We asked for your views on Saturday's game between Manchester United and Luton Town.

Here are some of your comments:

Manchester United fans

Edward: At present the team is 'blowing hot and cold'. They are not working for each other. Some give the ball away and do not chase back to retrieve it. They play like statuettes - possibly zombies - and some are selfish! Passes are wayward. Rasmus is paying the price. He has not scored a goal in a Premier League match! What is happening? It is abominable.

Paul: We are putting results together and we are not playing well. However, it is a positive that we are collecting points and still we could make the top four if we can hang in there. Still more to come from this United side! Erik ten Hag is missing balance in his team with injuries.

Dave: It’s comical really as United are potentially above Newcastle as we speak yet you would think they were adrift at the bottom the way some people are talking. I suppose that’s how big a club they are, but come on.

Gery: It wasn't pretty but it's three points. I see a few pundits saying it was a poor performance. However in fact it wasn't that bad against a team getting everyone behind the ball. They were very patient and moved the ball well. When Hojlund finally gets his Premier League goal he will go on a long run. For a young player he gets into great positions.

Luton fans

Adrian: If two weeks ago you'd have told me we'd get an aggregate score of 2-1 against Liverpool and United I'd have thought you must be joking. But we did and are getting to grips with this Premier League. Super proud of how we are going about things, the manager, players and board. Stay up or not the club is growing and achieving way beyond expectation.

Muaz: Not our best performance given that we gave Liverpool a hard time at the Kenny but, on the other hand, this is Old Trafford and United so we shouldn't feel gutted. Plenty of positives and improvements. We defended well and Kaminski is starting to get used to the Premier League.

David: Luton have matured massively, they certainly passed the ball around with more confidence and accuracy than United. I think they will take their confidence into future games and climb up the table. If this match had been at Luton with a decent referee- Ten Hag would have been looking for a new job.

Harry: I thought Luton defended well against the so called 'elite' of the Premier League. Every pundit and commentator would have given no chance to the Hatters so to hold them to a single goal was an achievement for Town. United looked a rather ordinary side having a fairly good home win and did not stand out as exceptionally good.

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

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

And Match of the Day 2 brings you a round-up of Sunday's games here.

Listen back to Saturday's commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

Manchester United 1-0 Luton

Bournemouth 2-0 Newcastle

Listen to Sunday's commentaries here:

Liverpool 3-0 Brentford

Chelsea 4-4 Manchester City

Luton manager Rob Edwards, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "They [my players] gave absolutely everything. They [United] dominated the game in those opening stages, which we kind of knew would happen.

"But I thought we grew into the half and there was a big chance for Carlton Morris. We rode our luck once or twice but when you come to Old Trafford you are going to have to do that. Most teams will. Getting in at half time at 0-0 was crucial and then I look at the second half and I am just so proud of the players.

"We showed bravery with the ball and had almost half the possession. For Luton Town to come to Old Trafford and do that shows progression. The disappointment is how we conceded - second or third phase from a free-kick. And then creating chances and speeding the game up in those moments was difficult for us in the second half.

"We had more of the ball in the second half than we did against Liverpool. We have controlled the game. It allowed them to get more men behind the ball and for us to speed it up in the right moments. A lot of our attacks against Liverpool were in transition.

"The biggest chance was in the first half, from a faster attack, with Carlton's header.

"I can see us building and progressing with my own eyes. It is one thing coming to Old Trafford and being fearless but ultimately it is about getting points. The return we have at the moment isn't enough after 10 games.

"Everyone in the world can now see that we are competing. We now have to find a way to get something when maybe we don't quite deserve it. We are a little bit flat. I am so proud of them and the supporters applaud us.

"But today it was an opportunity to get something and we haven't done. We have had three tough away games recently and we have learned. We will keep doing the things that keep us in games and build on that."

Simon Stone, BBC Sport

In a season to remember for Luton Town, now a day to remember for Jordan Clark.

The 30-year-old Yorkshireman's CV includes a loan spell at nearby non-league club Hyde United in 2014 and spells at Chesterfield, Scunthorpe, Shrewsbury and Accrington Stanley.

It's not exactly a glamorous CV, so to make a Premier League debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford is an unquestioned career highlight.

Evidently, Clark will hope to make a more substantial contribution to Luton's survival fight but this was one of those days when the achievement was more substantial than the result.

• Manchester United have won each of their last 19 home league games against Luton in a run stretching back to 1899. In English Football League history, only Everton against Fulham (22, 1961-2018) have had a longer home winning run against a specific opponent.

• Erik ten Hag has won 30 of his 50 Premier League games in charge of Manchester United (D6 L14), which is the most wins of any Red Devils manager in their first 50 top-flight games in charge of the club.

• United have won each of their last 11 Premier League games against newly promoted sides, their longest such run since winning 12 on the bounce between May 2011 and March 2013.

• Only fellow newly promoted sides Burnley (10) and Sheffield United (9) have lost more Premier League games this season than Luton (8).

• Victor Lindelöf scored his fourth Premier League goal for United with all four of those coming at Old Trafford. Only Ronny Johnsen (7/7) and Gary Neville (5/5) have scored more Premier League goals for the Red Devils while seeing them all come on home soil.

Victor Lindelof scored from close range as Manchester United secured a narrow Premier League win against Luton Town.

Luton failed to deal with a Marcus Rashford cross, leaving Lindelof to thump home into the roof of the net.

Rasmus Hojlund, still searching for his first Premier League goal, was denied from close range as goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski made a great save to deny the Danish striker.

Luton's best chance came when Carlton Morris got on the end of an Issa Kabore cross but his fierce header was kept out by a flying save from Andre Onana.

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

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

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

Follow all the reaction here

There are five games being played out in the Premier League on Saturday and we'll bring you every moment.

Follow all the action and reaction here

Live match commentaries:

• Manchester United v Luton Town - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Bournemouth v Newcastle United - BBC Radio 5 Live

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

This week, he takes on two Manchester City fans - frontman and guitarist Tom Ogden and drummer Joe Donovan from indie band Blossoms - and a Chelsea supporter - Madness singer Suggs.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Manchester United played really well for the first 40 minutes or so against Copenhagen on Wednesday, until Marcus Rashford was sent off.

They were brave on the ball, and used it really well. That didn't last, though.

On the run they are on, this is a nightmare game for them, because Luton showed how resilient and awkward they are in their draw with Liverpool last week.

And, as we head into an international break, this is an absolute must-win game for United manager Erik ten Hag. A draw isn't enough for him.

I don't think he will get sacked if that happens, but it will just continue the conversation about his future and add to the pressure on his shoulders.

Bearing all that in mind, I think United will do just about enough to win it, much like they did at Fulham last weekend - but it won't be easy for them.

Tom's prediction: 2-0

Joe's prediction: 0-7

Suggs' prediction: 1-1

Read the rest of their predictions here