Luton Town

Michael Beardmore, BBC Sport

Adversity can often bring out the best in us all - and there is no doubt it did so with Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon.

Yes, victory over Newcastle was a big win for the Hatters' hopes of Premier League survival, bringing them within touching distance - two points - of safety.

But it was far more important in the grander scheme of things - for what it meant to a clearly united club following the heart scare suffered by captain Tom Lockyer.

The past week has proven there are more important matters than whether Luton stay up this season and boss Rob Edwards was keen to emphasise he would never want to use such a serious issue as motivation.

Nonetheless, as Andros Townsend admitted afterwards, the players wanted to "do it for our captain" - and, in finally picking up the scalp of one of the big boys, having several times already come so close, they did just that.

Luton Town manager Rob Edwards speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I'm an emotional wreck at the moment, really proud of everybody. It's been a tough week for the football club, it's been the greatest challenge of my football career. No coaching badges prepare you for something like this. I've needed the support of everybody and the players have been incredible - to go and perform as they have, after last week, words fail me.

"We wanted to do it for Tom. It wasn't extra motivation, we just wanted to embody what he is about. He's brave, determined, a fighter, and I thought we showed all of those attributes today. It feels strange talking about a football match with everything that's gone on, but it's a huge win.

"We've had good performances and maybe that changed the narrative a bit. We know it's going to be a huge challenge but we're moving in the right way. I like the way we're shaping up at the moment. We were incredibly aggressive against a really good Newcastle team and we've got a good blueprint that we'll continue working hard on."

On what Tom Lockyer has said to him: "He text me and said he could feel three points coming. He's already getting bored sat at home on the sofa. I just told him to chill out and enjoy everyone looking after him."

• Newcastle have lost their last four Premier League away games, as many as in their previous 21 games on the road. It is their longest losing streak since a run of five in December/January 2020-21.

• Luton Town kept their first ever clean sheet in the Premier League (17th game) and they have now scored in eight of their nine home games this season.

• Andros Townsend scored his first Premier League goal for Luton Town and he has now scored for six different sides in the competition (also QPR, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Tottenham and Everton), with only Craig Bellamy scoring for more clubs (7).

• Including penalties, 50% of Luton’s Premier League goals this season have come from set pieces (9 out of 18), the highest percentage in the competition.

• With his assist for Luton’s goal, Ross Barkley has now been involved in more Premier League goals against Newcastle United than he has against any other opponent (6 – 5 goals, 1 assist).

Luton lived up to their pledge of making it "a special day" for convalescing captain Tom Lockyer by beating Newcastle United at an emotionally charged Kenilworth Road.

Andros Townsend headed home the Hatters' winner against his former club in Luton's first Premier League game since Lockyer's collapse at Bournemouth seven days earlier.

Townsend held up Lockyer's number four shirt in celebration after the goal - one of a number of tributes paid by Luton players and fans to their stricken skipper before, during and after the game.

Only the woodwork denied Luton a more straightforward victory as Ross Barkley struck the bar with a 35-yard thunderbolt and Jacob Brown also hit the frame of the goal from closer in.

Newcastle mounted increasing second-half pressure as Alexander Isak had an equaliser ruled out for a marginal offside while Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon also went close.

However, they slipped to a fourth successive away league defeat to stay seventh while Luton remain 18th but move within two points of safety and have a game in hand on Nottingham Forest, the side directly above them.

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, Newcastle fans?

Follow all the reaction here

BBC Three Counties Radio's Luke Ashmead on Luton's match against Newcastle on Saturday: "Newcastle are coming into this game with so many matches in Europe where they've struggled and losing on penalties in the League Cup, that will have dented them. Trippier is one of the best full backs in the world and he's making so many mistakes. This is a great time to play Newcastle."

Simon Oxley added: "They've had so many injuries and added to it when Anthony Gordon limped off, and they've got others just coming back. They're good at home, but away from home they aren't getting the points.

"They've still got some fantastic players, but you'd feel because they played midweek and haven't been so good on their travels, it's an opportunity to get some points. They need to pick something up against Newcastle or Sheffield United, or both.

"It should be a great occasion for initially a very wrong reason, but for so many right reasons since. I think people will hugely get behind them."

Listen to the full episode here

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

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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 Felix White, guitarist with 86TVs and a Fulham fan.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

First and foremost, it's a relief that Luton captain Tom Lockyer is in a stable condition after his collapse during the Bournemouth game.

Luton have been really competitive at Kenilworth Road but they've still only won one out of eight league matches there this season, and picked up five points in total.

Mind you, Newcastle's away form is hardly convincing either. It is actually identical to Luton's home record in terms of wins and points, so there is plenty of room for improvement.

Eddie Howe's side have got to address that if they want to challenge for the top four and I think they will address it here, although it is going to be close.

Felix's prediction: 3-2

I think what happened at Luton last week with Tom Lockyer will inspire them this time. They have been great in every single game at home this season, without getting much reward.

So, for that reason, I think fortune will balance out and the emotive feeling in that ground is going to change something. It will be another smasher of a game and, this time, Luton will win.

Read all of Sutton's predictions for this weekend's games

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

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• On the events of last weekend's game at Bournemouth, during which Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest, Edwards said: "It's been a difficult week for everyone. His family have been the main concern all week, and then it's the players and staff that have been affected. All that matters is that he's come through and he's home."

• Edwards spoke about the emotions he went through at the time: "It's difficult. I won't be able to articulate all my feelings, but my initial feeling was I sensed something was different to May and it was about just raising the alarm and clearing the area. I'm so proud if the medical team and staff - they made every decision bang on."

• He added: "I need to say thank you to everyone at Bournemouth [and] a special mention to Phillip Billing who reacted quickly. We'll have a special bond with the club going forward."

• On how the team are preparing for the next game, Edwards said: "We already had a plan to have a few days off after the game, so we've stuck to that plan. We thought it was right to give everyone a bit of time to digest so we came back together on Tuesday. We spoke about what he [Tom Lockyer] means to us and we want to embody that as a team. If we can all act, behave, play like Tom going forward, we'll be going the right way."

• On Lockyer's current condition, Edwards said: "His dad described it to me yesterday. He said that he feels like he's had a fight with a bear. He's tired, he's been through a lot, but he's in good hands and he's recovering well at home."

• On squad availability, Edwards said: "We're as we were last week, minus Tom. Other than that there's no changes. Cauley Woodrow was available last week, but the squad is growing so that's the decision we made. Other than that, we're the same as last week."

• On Saturday's opponents, Edwards said: "Energy, quality and clear way of playing. Huge respect for what Eddie Howe has done in his whole coaching career, and what he's done at Newcastle is really impressive. I love the way he goes about it and handles himself. They've had a lot of games this year, but they've been able to churn them out. It will be an exciting game."

• On the upcoming January transfer window, Edwards said: "There needs to be some time to see where we're at. Like always, the window is quite fluid and things change, but I don't want to be talking about that. It's too soon for me to be talking about stuff like that."

• Edwards confirms Marvelous Nakamba is still suspended for the Newcastle game, but flagged a potential issue for full-back Alfie Doughty, who picked up a booking in the abandoned game at Bournemouth: "For some reason, Alfie Doughty's booking still counts. It's like the game didn't happen, but Alfie's booking still counts. It's a strange one. It will be nice if I can get an answer on it or if it can get changed."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conference

Eddie Howe expects Newcastle United to face an "emotionally charged game" against Luton Town as the Hatters play for the first time since their captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest.

Lockyer has been discharged from hospital but Howe said seeing events unfold put things into perspective.

"Watching the game was a really difficult moment for everyone connected with Luton," he said.

"Tom himself is the most important thing and his family. It really puts football into perspective. His health is paramount.

"It’s difficult to know quite what the atmosphere will be like, but I’m sure it will be an emotionally charged game. The Luton fans will be thinking of Tom the whole game and I think the build-up will be reflective of that.

"For us, we just have to focus on our performance. We can't let that emotion overcome us and our delivery of what we do."

Howe was complimentary of Luton's performances this season and is expecting them to give his side another tough game, just like they have against other top sides.

"It’s a very difficult place to go," he said. "I’ve been there many times as a player.

"I’m looking forward to the game. Their games at home have been very interesting. They ran Manchester City very close, couldn’t have run Arsenal much closer and they got a really good draw against Liverpool and competed really well.

"I think they have competed well in every game. They have been physically very good, fully committed to how they play. I think Rob has done a brilliant job there and knowing the stadium as I do it is never going to be an easy game for us."

BBC Three Counties Radio's Luke Ashmead on the relationship between Luton and Bournemouth after their match last weekend: "As bleak and as difficult as it was, it has probably forged a bond between the two clubs forever now.

Commentator Simon Oxley: "Who would have thought this in the aftermath of that dramatic game the last time they played? [Luton 3-2 Bournemouth, January 2022]. What had gone on in the game was not particularly pretty and Luton were not particularly happy with the way Bournemouth approached the game.

"To then have that turned around by the response to what happened to Tom Lockyer? There is forever a bond, absolutely. Phillip Billing will get a standing ovation when Bournemouth come later in the season.

"Whenever the game is rearranged for, you can see that being a real moment for fans to come together."

Listen to the full episode here

Ollie Kay, We Are Luton Town, external

Considering how our performances have been excellent, and our losses very tight affairs. It would be too easy to ask for Luton Town to turn those performances into more points.

For me, I would simply ask for that first clean sheet of the season. Because of his performances so far this season, I think Thomas Kaminski really deserves it. It would also go some way to reward the excellent displays our defence have been putting in.

But in reality, there is only one thing I think Luton Town and their fans want for Christmas, and it’s for Tom Lockyer - our warrior, our captain - to be happy, healthy and be back at home on Christmas morning surrounded by his family.

I hope he has a restful Christmas period but can also cheer the team, hopefully from Kenilworth Road at some point very soon.

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

We are all still waiting for further news on Tom Lockyer and everybody remains concerned, hoping for the best for the popular Hatters captain.

The huge positive has been how the football world has come together to offer their support. Rivalries, tribalism, petty squabbles are put aside as everybody understands that some things are more important than this silly, beautiful game.

This started with the conduct of Bournemouth and their fans as events unfolded last week. Luton as a club and as a supporter group will not forget that.

Because of the tremendous story of Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu going through the leagues with Luton from non-league to Premier League it can sometimes be forgotten that Lockyer has done the same thing - the only difference being it has not been entirely with Luton.

He was part of the Bristol Rovers defence which played in the National League and won promotion via the play-offs. He played against Luton in both games in the 2015-16 season in League Two and again in the 2018-19 season in League One.

From there he moved into the Championship with first Charlton and then Luton. Lockyer has earned his right to play in the Premier League.

He has got there by sheer hard work as well as talent - and his character and personality has led to him captaining the Hatters in the top flight.

This season Tom has got better and better in the middle of the defence. He was excellent against Manchester City, Liverpool and Crystal Palace recently and on Saturday had a brilliant battle with Dominic Solanke. In a fairly young defence, Lockyer’s leadership skills have stood out.

Get well soon, Tom.

• This is only the second meeting between Luton and Newcastle in any competition this century, with the Magpies winning 3-1 in an FA Cup third-round tie in January 2018.

• Luton have only failed to score in one of their eight Premier League home games this season, a 1-0 defeat against Tottenham in October. The Hatters have dropped points from winning positions in three of their past four home league games, drawing 1-1 with Liverpool, and losing against Arsenal (3-4) and Manchester City (1- 2).

• Newcastle are unbeaten in their past 16 Premier League games against promoted sides (W9 D7) since a 2-1 home loss to Leeds in January 2021. They have won both such games this season by an aggregate score of 10-0.

• Elijah Adebayo is Luton's top scorer in the Premier League this season with four goals, and is looking to become the first player to score in three consecutive top flight games for the Hatters since Mick Harford in April 1992.

• With six goals and four assists, Anthony Gordon has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other Newcastle player this season. It is also the first campaign in which he has reached double figures for goal involvements in the competition.

The annual feast of festive Premier League football is about to get under way.

So what is your best memory of following Luton at Christmas?

Mince pies on the train for a Boxing Day away trip? Squinting through the snow to see your team score a late winner? Ending the year with a Christmas cracker?

Let us know here

Image source, Getty Images

Pat Nevin, writing for the BBC Football Extra newsletter: Trying to find reasonable perspective in modern-day top-level football isn’t always easy, but when something truly serious happens the game understands its’ place.

Luton’s Tom Lockyer had a cardiac arrest on the pitch against Bournemouth on Saturday and football was immediately reminded of its’ significance in the grand scheme of things.

Maybe Pope John Paul II summed it up best, “Amongst all unimportant subjects, football is by far the most important.” It isn’t more important than life!

Fortunately, other than a hospital A&E department, a football ground at this level is the best place to have a serious medical problem like this, and Tom was given the best care quickly.

He is responding well we hear and thank goodness the game is now prepared for these situations.

We have lost many over the years to cardiac arrests, I was there when Marc-Vivien Foe died back in 2003 in Lyon playing for Cameroon and there have been others, some very close to me, who didn’t make it.

The heart screenings and the checks are compulsory in the game at the top, and the further they can be rolled down the levels the better.

This multi-billion-dollar industry owes it to its grassroots. I was PFA chairman when the union first set up those mandatory heart screening tests, but we have gone further in the game by getting specialists and specialist equipment on the scene and at the ready as well.

It may have saved Tom’s life, and we wish him well.