Luton Town

Ollie Kay, We Are Luton Town, external

What a difference a week makes.

This time last week we were cut adrift from the pack with nine points, our captain had been stretchered off and the fanbase and team were in shock about what had happened.

But now the team have banded together and pulled off back-to-back wins, against Newcastle and Sheffield United, the latter being a textbook six-pointer.

We now sit on 15 points, well within touching distance of the rest of a division that once appeared so far away.

Could we do the impossible and grab that third win in a row when Chelsea rock up to Kenilworth Road?

Our home performances have been sensational. And since the last time we met Chelsea, in our second game of the season we have grown very accustomed to the Premier League, our new signings have settled in, and our naiveties have all but gone.

As a side note, I’m delighted that my Christmas wishes I wrote about last week have been answered. I’m delighted that Tom is home and recuperating with his family.

I’m also sure he is delighted that the team not just pulled off a clean sheet, but they are putting teams to the sword and carrying his shirt around with them after every victory.

We asked you for your thoughts after Tuesday's match between Sheffield United and Luton Town.

Here are some of the top comments:

Sheffield United fans

John: I thought United fought back very well but were robbed by two very poor refereeing decisions. It was never a corner leading to the first “own goal” then a clear foul on Jack Robinson caused his “own goal”. Total travesty.

Tom: We were unlucky today in some ways but overall I think our league position is a fair reflection of our quality. This side just isn’t able to compete at this level. We look lost in possession and terrified when defending. We seem incapable of hanging on to a lead. I can't wait for this season to be over.

Chipper: No pressing for long spells and soaking up pressure like it's the UV rays of the Algarve. We know we can't defend set pieces and it was inevitable that we would face balls into the box from wide areas. Architects of our own demise. Utterly useless.

J: Three major issues: 1) The standard of refereeing is beyond poor. At 2-1 up, a situation that was “goal kick or foul” was given as an impossible corner. Why do we have VAR? 2) These players cannot handle adversity. Once that happened and the first own goal dropped in, the lack of response was what caused the 3-2. 3) We’re just not good enough.

Luton fans

Harish: Absolutely delighted with this win after coming from behind, well deserved. In previous matches, Lady Luck was not with us, but she was definitely with us today. Come on you Hatters!

Stephen: Never say “die”. Leave it all on the pitch. Want-to-win mentality. These are essential ingredients in Rob’s magic. Luton are now “getting” Premier League football but the season is long, hard, remorseless and without compassion. Go again against Chelsea in four days. Come On You Hatters!

Alexander: I can’t believe we’ve won that. Absolute class and resilience from every man in a Luton shirt. Barkley with a deserved man-of-the-match performance as well. We can consider ourselves lucky with the two own goals but we didn’t put our heads down and kept the pressure up after going down. Chelsea, we’re coming for you. Unlucky Sheffield.

Sue: The last two wins were always on the cards as our performances just get better every game. Last week was for Tom Lockyer - now we're winning because we are really good.

Image source, Getty Images

Beating Sheffield United on Boxing Day was a "monumental result" for Luton says former Premier League defender Stephen Kelly.

The Bramall Lane victory moves Rob Edwards' side to within a point of safety, with a game in hand on some of the teams above them.

The Hatters have won both games since captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest.

Kelly told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily: "Sometimes is can be a horrendous moment like that that galvanises you as a group of players.

"Quality-wise I don’t think Luton are there when it comes to the Premier League and they can’t compete with the finances. But they compete with hard work, energy and desire.

"I still think they will struggle, but beating a team like Sheffield United away from home who are a direct rival for staying in this league is an absolutely monumental result for them. I know it’s such a cliche saying this was a six-pointer - but that was a massive one to win."

ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden thinks the Hatters do have a chance of staying in the top flight.

"Of the teams that came up, I think the one that has an outside chance is Luton," Ogden said.

"They have managed to blend the squad they had last year. They brought some players in and they have a tremendous spirit. Whether it’s the smallest budget and the smallest stadium, they have given it a go.

"You look at the teams above them and if I was Crystal Palace, I would be a little bit worried about Luton. Crystal Palace aren’t getting results and Luton have got something there. I think Luton have got a chance, but it’s an outside chance."

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Neil Johnston, BBC Sport

Luton's players celebrated in front of their own fans after an extraordinary win that strengthened their hopes of climbing out of trouble.

The Hatters remain in the bottom three but a second successive win leaves them one point from safety, with out-of-sorts Chelsea the visitors to Kenilworth Road on Saturday (12:30 GMT) as they hunt a third successive league win.

Luton will now believe survival is a real possibility going into the second half of the campaign.

Hatters boss Rob Edwards, who celebrated his birthday on Christmas Day, said: "It brings us closer to where we want to be. Back-to-back and within four days we have two thirds of the points we already had, it's big for us.

"We all know it was a big game, they all are, it was important and it was very, very special to do it in the end, one that we will remember for a long time.

“We have won these two games in a row, the performances are going the right way, we have been consistent for a long time and we are getting rewards for our performances."

Luton boss Rob Edwards, speaking to BBC Sport: "The second half was a rollercoaster of emotions. The first half I thought we were excellent. We had really good control.

"They adjusted at half time and covered the length of the pitch and made things a bit difficult for us.

"I can't credit the players enough to show that character. To be able to find a way, maybe with a bit of luck, but to turn it around the guys deserve credit.

"It has been a tough period as we all know. We have a structure and way of playing but I want the players to play with bravery and they have done it again.

"Goals are coming from everywhere. The performances lately have been brilliant.

"We are perhaps changing the narrative about ourselves but we have to back that up with performances.

"I do sense a belief and a confidence in the players. We are playing well at the moment and we want to keep it going. This is a special group."

• Sheffield United conceded two own goals in the same Premier League match for the first time. They became the first team to do so overall since Leicester City v Liverpool in December 2022. No team has conceded more own goals in the competition this season than the Blades (3).

• Luton Town came back to win a Premier League match after being behind for the first time. Prior to today, the Hatters had lost 11 and drawn two of the 13 matches in which they had went behind.

• Alfie Doughty scored his first Premier League goal in what was his 17th appearance in the top-flight. He was Luton Town’s 12th different scorer in the Premier League this season (excl. own goals) – only Newcastle United, Everton and Arsenal have had more different scorers this season (all three with 14).

• Sheffield United are only the second team to concede 47 or more goals after their first 19 matches of a Premier League season, and the first since Barnsley in 1997-98 (50 conceded).

• Only against Birmingham City (6) has Sheffield United’s Oliver McBurnie scored more league goals than he has against Luton Town in the top four tiers of English football, with McBurnie netting five league goals against the Hatters.

Bottom club Sheffield United suffered a demoralising home defeat as Luton Town snatched victory in an extraordinary Premier League game at Bramall Lane.

A howler by Wes Foderingham gifted Luton the lead when Alfie Doughty's 17th-minute attempt slipped through the keeper's legs and into the net.

The Blades thought they had turned it around after the interval, Oli McBurnie equalising after Sam Allison - the first black referee to take charge of an English top-flight match for 15 years - played a smart advantage when James McAtee appeared to have been fouled.

With fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest winning earlier at Newcastle, the Blades - who are at Manchester City on Saturday (15:00 GMT) - needed all three points and captain Anel Ahmedhodzic fired them in front from close range after Luton failed to clear.

But two own goals in the space of four minutes - first a flicked header by Jack Robinson and then by substitute Anis Ben Slimane - allowed Luton to seal back-to-back Premier League wins after their 1-0 victory over Newcastle last Saturday.

Were you at Bramall Lane, or did you watch the match at home?

Sheffield United fans - how do you rate your team's performance?

Luton fans - submit your post-match thoughts here

Follow all the reaction

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

For the fixtures over the festive period on 26, 27 and 28 December, he takes on Samuel T Herring, frontman of Baltimore-based synth-pop band Future Islands and an Everton fan.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

I wouldn't quite say they have turned a corner, but both teams have shown recently why they shouldn't be written off as relegation certainties.

Luton in particular have really surprised me this season. They got a great win against Newcastle last time out and their reaction after Tom Lockyer's collapse in their previous game spoke volumes about the spirit in their team and the club as a whole. It was great to see.

Sheffield United got a brilliant result too at Villa Park and surprised everyone with their draw - although they are probably disappointed they didn't win.

Blades boss Chris Wilder has already got one home victory under his belt, against Brentford, since taking charge at the start of the month, and I think his side will edge this one too.

Samuel's prediction: Luton are putting up one heck of a fight. 0-1

Read all of Sutton's predictions here

There are five games being played in the Premier League on Boxing Day and we will bring you every moment.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

• Sheffield United have lost just one of their past seven league games against Luton, though it was at Bramall Lane in the most recent meeting in March last season (0-1).

• Sheffield United’s last Boxing Day victory in the top flight came against Luton Town in 1990, a 1-0 win at Kenilworth Road. Since then they are winless in six such matches, failing to score on five occasions.

• Luton Town have won three of their past five league games on Boxing Day, having been winless in seven such matches in the Football League before this.

• This will be Sheffield United’s 100th league game on Boxing Day since the Football League was formed, with only Manchester United (53), Aston Villa (46) and West Bromwich Albion (45) winning more such games than the Blades (44).

• Carlton Morris scored both of Luton’s goals against Sheffield United in the Championship last season, netting home and away against the Blades. The only team he has scored in three consecutive appearances against in his English league career are Blackburn Rovers.

We asked you for your best memories of the festive football period as a Luton fan.

Here's what you had to say:

Steve: My best memory was going with my dad and brother to the home game against Chelsea on New Years Day 1980. The pitch was completely frozen and players struggled to stand up. It was an absolute thriller ending 3-3 with David Moss scoring with what seemed like his first header ever!

Alan: Luton v Wolves, December 1974. Ron Futcher's home debut - it will never be beaten, a hat-trick at 19.

Paul: A big memory for me is a Boxing Day game against Manchester United. I think it was 1957 as it was just before the tragic Munich crash. My favourite player Gordon Turner was out with injury and we were 2-0 down but came back to draw in the last minute. Also I remember in the game Duncan Edwards hit the bar with a tremendous strike from the halfway line.

Image source, Getty Images

Luton boss Rob Edwards believes the club showed "real intelligence" in their recruitment before their debut Premier League season.

The Hatters beat Newcastle 1-0 on Saturday with summer additions Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend combining for the goal.

"I fully believe in the group that we've got and we assembled," Edwards said before Boxing Day's meeting with fellow promoted side Sheffield United.

"We have 13 new players in total with Andros coming in a little bit later - we believe in every single of them.

"Some have come to the fore more than others but others will get their time and their opportunity going forward as well. I really like the way that the group is looking."

Saturday's victory moved Luton within two points of 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, and having played a game fewer and Edwards is thrilled his team has not compromised their style upon promotion.

"We have to do it our way and we're not going to change the way we do things," he said. "I was absolutely, completely fine with that going into the summer.

"I think we've shown a real intelligence in the window and how we go about things and maybe showing people you don't have to spend £500m to compete.

"We haven't got the results and the points yet to start shouting off about that. It's down to us to get those points - but we have showed that we can."

The end of another year is almost upon us - how much do you remember about Luton Town over the past 12 months?

Test yourself with a question from every month of 2023.

Have a go here

The Christmas spirit and the deluge of games that come with it is upon us.

For a player, it’s a crazy time. What’s mad is everything is happening festive wise and you want to enjoy it in some way – like a party for the lads if you can fit it in. It means you feel you have some kind of Christmas.

But the games keep coming, especially at the top end if you’re in several competitions. Then you have the training load and training on Christmas Day. I won’t lie, that is psychologically a challenge not to feel a bit sorry for yourself. Sometimes you think everyone is having a good time, but you have to think how many people would swap with your position. You have to realise and think about what you are doing.

But when you have your kids there playing with their new toys and you have to go training, that is a big sacrifice It’s not about money, it’s just human nature.

What I think they should do is make it compulsory that you cannot train as a club on Christmas Day. That way, no one gets an advantage. What happens is you see is the owners will question why you didn’t train if you lose on Boxing Day.

Boxing Day is brilliant to play on. You can see the bigger crowds and feel the festive spirit. I used to love having Christmas Day off and playing on Boxing Day. But only a few managers will trust you to have that day off, Neil Warnock was one of them.

It’s a tiring spell and I will admit, I have been set to play on Boxing Day and wondered if I’ll get through the game as I’d had too much Christmas dinner.

Playing in this spell, you have to take it as a privilege. You are playing so everyone else is able to watch football at that great time of year.

We asked you for your thoughts after Luton Town hosted Newcastle United at Kenilworth Road.

Here are some of the top comments:

Luton fans

Bob: Really deserved that. They have worked so hard for so long and finally keeping a clean sheet was great too. Barkley is getting better and better every game, and Lokonga was immense too. They were all brilliant today. The crowd were up for it and right behind the team all the way. This one's for you, Locks.

Stephen: Fantastic from Luton yet again. They finally got the points their recent performances have deserved. I knew they would do it for Tom Lockyer.

David: I enjoyed the way 26-year-old Chiedozie Ogbene skinned past 19-year-old Lewis Hall in the 85th minute. Speed!

Gordon: This is an honest team with few individual skills for a Premier League side, but they always give 100% in effort and endeavour. But mark my words, irrespective of where they finish in the league, they will turn over one of the top teams before the season ends.

Newcastle fans

Wilfry: Absolute rubbish. It looked like they had already clocked off for Christmas. They couldn’t pass the ball correctly and barely tested the goalkeeper. Eddie’s team is becoming too predictable. Wake up team - losing to a third from bottom team is totally unacceptable!

Marianne: Another away performance where we were lacking in several areas and ended up second best. We can't complain about injuries. We had a good team out there today who lost against relegation contenders. We need reinforcements in January.

Barratone: Very poor performance from Newcastle United. I watched it on TV and was surprised with how easily Luton overpowered Newcastle most of the time. Luton played well, but that is no excuse! It is Howe's job to get them focused and put together 90 minutes of football. They should be hanging their heads after that effort.

Karen: I've said this before, as much as I think Eddie Howe is a great coach, I don't believe he is a manager or a leader. I do believe he's had a hard hand to play, but he persistently uses the same flat language when we lose. We are a football team, football teams have to play home and away. I think St. James' is his safety net and where he feels safe.

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Luton's match-winner Andros Townsend on beating Newcastle just a week after captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest: “It feels amazing to get the points, but it’s been a tough week. All the chat throughout the week was ‘do it for our captain’. He’s an incredible person. He’s obviously had the issue [a previous cardiac arrest] at Wembley and put his body, his life, on the line for the first 16 games.

“So we are doing it for him. We got the three points for him and we are going to keep doing it for him until, if and when he is fit to come back. We're going to keep doing it for our skipper.

“We’ve had it tough at home. We’ve almost got there, almost got over the line a couple of times, but we've conceded leads in the last seconds. It was an emotional rollercoaster but thankfully we got the win at the end of it.

“Things like this [Lockyer's scare] put things into perspective. We didn’t do much tactical work in the week, it was all about making sure we were in the right frame of mind, making sure we know what we are playing for, knowing that there are more important things than football.

"In a way, it was easy to not feel too much pressure, to not be anxious or worried about where we are in the table. It was about, listen, we are alive, we are healthy, our captain is alive, our captain is healthy, and what will be, will be."

Luton defender Amari'i Bell, who stood in as skipper for Hatters captain Tom Lockyer, speaking after the game: “It meant a lot [to take the armband]. Tom has done a fantastic job captaining the team, so it was a great honour to do that in his absence.

“I haven’t seen him yet but the boys have spoken to him and we have been updated on how he’s doing. He’s doing well, thankfully, and that’s all that matters."

On the atmosphere in the win against Newcastle: “The crowd are amazing, every game we play here they spur us on and give us that extra motivation. It’s great that they are always behind us and give us the last push in the dying moments."

On the Boxing Day trip to Sheffield United next up: “It’s a massive game. We are near each other in the table, so it’s going to be a six-pointer for both of us. We need to dust ourselves down, recover right, and make sure we are ready to go.”