Luton Town

Simon Stone at the London Stadium
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The applause at the end between players and fans was genuine.

On and off the pitch, Luton have done themselves proud this season.

No-one really expected them to be here. Few thought they would have any impact.

As it turned out, their journey was a memorable one.

But the brutal reality is they were simply not good enough. A return to the Championship beckons and, with a new stadium to pay for, it remains to be seen when they will be back.

It was fun whilst it lasted though. For all the disappointment, Luton can hold their heads high at their contribution to this Premier League campaign.

Image source, Getty Images

Luton striker Carlton Morris spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Luton' defeat to West Ham: "It's a fresh wound right now, it's upsetting and the dressing room is down. The lads care, they have given absolutey everything and I couldn't ask for any more from anyone this season.

"I am proud to lead these boys out and some of the performances we have done this season. The reaction from the fans at the end is incredible, it's what this club is about and what got us here in the first place. There hasn't been one second when the fans have turned on us this season, even when we have deserved it.

"We were written off at the start of the season but it shows the character we have to bring something to the division. We've scored goals, we've been on the front foot and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. We can be proud of ourselves and we can bounce back."

Rob Edwards spoke to Match of the Day after Luton's defeat to West Ham: "I was emotional at the end with the way our supporters reacted. I can only say thanks to the players, the staff and our fans. We haven't got over the line but we've done it before and we can be back here again.

"It's a world all about results but our fans have shown understanding, compassion and total support. There is a connection and a bond that you can see. That doesn't happen very often.

"We have grown so much, this club is only going in one direction. The growth this team have shown makes me really proud. I do care about how we go about it and to show the competitive nature we have been able to bring to the league makes us all better.

"In the end it's just been too much for us."

• Luton Town have lost five Premier League games despite leading at half-time this season, the most ever by a team in a campaign.

• Excluding the first Premier League campaign in 1992-93, Luton Town (50) are one of four teams to score 50+ goals in their debut season after Newcastle in 1993-94 (82), Reading in 2006-07 (52) and Blackpool in 2010-11 (55). However, only Swindon in 1993-94 (100), Barnsley in 1997-98 (82) and Burnley in 2009-10 (82) have conceded more in their debut season than the Hatters (81).

• Only Jarrod Bowen (16) has scored more Premier League goals for West Ham United this season than James Ward-Prowse (7) whilst since the beginning of the 2020-21 campaign, Phil Foden (46) is the only English midfielder to score more goals than the West Ham man (34).

• Albert Sambi Lokonga scored his first Premier League goal on his 50th appearance (25 for Arsenal, 16 for Luton, 9 for Crystal Place), becoming the 11th player to net their debut goal on that milestone appearance, and the first since Takehiro Tomiyasu for Arsenal in October 2023.

• Each of Tomas Soucek’s past five Premier League goals have been winning goals – that is the most by a West Ham player in a Premier League season since Kevin Nolan in 2012-13 (also 5), while only Trevor Morley has scored more for the club in a campaign (7 in 1993-94).

• George Earthy (19y 249d) scored with his first touch in this match, 67 seconds after coming on as a substitute; he is the first teenager to score in the Premier League for West Ham since Declan Rice in January 2019 against Arsenal and the youngest since Junior Stanislas in May 2009 against Middlesbrough (19y 179d).

Luton are on the brink of relegation from the Premier League after West Ham came from behind to mark David Moyes' final home game with a win at London Stadium.

Albert Sambi Lokonga's first-half opener threatened to turn the final game of Moyes' tenure into a damp squib while breathing new life into the Hatters' survival fight.

But Moyes rallied his troops at half-time and Luton were unable to repel the hosts after the break.

James Ward-Prowse drove home the 54th-minute equaliser after Thomas Kaminski had turned Jarrod Bowen's cross-shot into his path.

Tomas Soucek fired the Hammers in front with a brilliant finish, finding the net with a first-time volley from 25 yards after 65 minutes when Luton cleared a corner straight to him.

Mohammed Kudus should have added a third as the hosts dominated the second period, but the midfielder only managed to hit the post from 10 yards out when unmarked.

But that miss did not matter as 19-year-old George Earthy, on as a substitute for his second league appearance, turned in Kudus' cut-back from close range.

The result leaves Luton three points behind fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest with only one game left to play and a significantly worse goal difference.

Forest will send them down if they get a point against Chelsea in Saturday's late kick-off at the City Ground (17:30 BST).

Were you at the ground or following along from home?

West Ham fans, give us your thoughts on the game.

Tell us what you made of the performance, Hatters supporters.

Follow all the reaction here

There are eight Premier League games taking place today, and you can stay updated with all of them via our live page.

Keep up with all the action and reaction here.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's matches, he takes on Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

You could argue this is the perfect time to play West Ham, now we know David Moyes is set to leave as Hammers boss.

They have been on a poor run but I just wonder whether all the rumours that he would be stepping down at the end of the season affected some of the players.

I am not saying they have downed tools but, even sub-consciously, if you know your manager is not going to be there much longer, you may lose your edge.

So this is a chance for Luton, although they have wasted plenty of them already.

I don't actually think the Hatters should be in this situation and, if you go back through their games since the end of January, then their players should be really angry that they have not made more of the positions they have been in.

It means they really have to make this opportunity count, but I'm not convinced they can. They have not won an away league game since the end of last year.

Instead, I am going for West Ham to give Moyes a happy send-off in his final home game. He deserves one, anyway.

Serge's prediction: 1-2

I don't necessarily believe it will happen but just for the romance I really want Luton to win this one.

Read all of the predictions here

Luton Town are three points from Premier League safety with two games remaining. But if they were to be relegated, are they well placed to bounce straight back up?

Former Hatters defender Matthew Upson and Michael Brown tell The Football News Show why they should be confident of challenging in the Championship and why keeping manager Rob Edwards is key.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Saturday's visit to West Ham United in the Premier League.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Chiedozie Ogbene will be available for the weekend after training with the squad "for the last couple of days". There will be no other players returning from injury.

• Elijah Adebayo is feeling "good" after playing 80 minutes last week: "The plan was to just keep him on and push him as long as we could. He started looking over and saying that was probably the right time. So we did well with that - we listened to him and he listened to his body."

• The club still believe Premier League survival is possible despite the three-point gap at the bottom of the table: "I don't think it would be a miracle at all. We have been in worse situations as a football club and still got out of it. We know what we have to do. We've got to pick up points and that's got to start tomorrow."

• Therefore, he is not considering the possibility of relegation this weekend: "I'm not thinking about that at the moment. All I can think about is making sure that we get the right result. We will talk after the game and see where we are after that."

• On needing a result against West Ham, who will be playing their final home game under David Moyes: "There's loads of different dynamics at the moment, but that doesn't matter if we don't get something tomorrow. We will go and give it absolutely everything. It's always the time to leave it all out there, but now is when you need to do that more than ever."

• Edwards has "unbelievable respect" for the Hammers boss: "Anyone who has had that longevity and career, I look to and have unbelievable respect for. The demands of this job are difficult. Moyes has built teams, managed massive clubs, gone abroad, taken risks and won a trophy at West Ham as well. That just shows the level of him."

• Edwards thanked the "incredible fans" for their support in the Premier League, stating: "I would like to think we gave them some really good memories. Our fans have produced performances that will live with me forever."

• On his future at the club beyond this season: "I hope I'm kept on. I have a contract for another couple of years so I don't envisage losing my job. I think we have done a very good job together and we will come back stronger - whether that is in the Premier League or in the Championship.

• Edwards added: "This club is on the up, we said that when we got promoted. I love it here and I think they enjoy having me as well."

Follow the rest of Friday's Premier League news conferences

Full commentary of West Ham United v Luton from 15:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City are prepared to listen to offers for two of their players this summer in Yan Couto and Issa Kabore.

The pair moved to the blues in 2020 from Coritiba and Mechelen respectively but neither has made a first team appearance.

Couto has been on loan for the last two seasons in La Liga for Girona - a sister-club of City in the City Football Group - and has the second-most assists within the squad this campaign from right back. He has also made his Brazil national team debut this year.

The defender is well liked at Manchester City but is likely to want first-team assurances - something that may not come soon enough at the Etihad Stadium.

Premier League clubs are expected to show interest, as are Serie A teams and possibly Bayer Leverkusen should Jeremy Frimpong (a City academy graduate) depart.

It's expected he could fetch a fee for near £40m which would be similar to Pedro Porro, who departed for Sporting Lisbon for Spurs having previously been at Manchester City.

Midfielder Issa Kabore has spent the season only loan at Luton with 24 appearances and is thought to be in a similar position.

Ollie Kay
Fan writer

So Nottingham Forest have heard back regarding their appeal they lodged. They have not got back any of the four points they were deducted, but why have the Premier League not put back the two points that were mitigated on the penalty for "co-operating"?

After all, lodging an appeal and - in my view - bringing the Premier League into disrepute with their complaints about VAR, penalties and saying certain individuals are Luton fans.,means Forest should took a look at themselves. They should think about how they have spent so much on so many players and ended up in this position.

But I digress. Is this a lifeline for Luton Town? Well yes. If points had been given back to Nottingham Forest, would it have been fair for them to have safety all but guaranteed when they have knowingly broken the rules? No.

It certainly makes the final two weeks of the season more interesting for Hatters and Burnley, especially for the latter as they play Forest on the final day.

Like it always has been this season, survival depends on Luton earning points. With six points on offer and more players back in the fold, if we are to do it, this would go right up there among our greatest of escapes!

Mark Mitchener
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

A lot of teams play their penultimate Premier League game of the season this weekend.

Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have qualified for the Champions League. Aston Villa can finish no lower than fifth so will be in the Europa League at worst. Liverpool’s Europa Conference League place for winning the Carabao Cup reverts to the league and Sheffield United have been relegated.

But much is still to be decided.

Despite nobody being able to win the title just yet, here is what could happen...

Aston Villa can clinch the fourth and final Champions League place despite not playing until Monday:

• If Tottenham lose on Saturday, Villa qualify without kicking a ball;

• If Tottenham draw, Villa qualify if they draw with Liverpool on Monday;

• If Tottenham win, Villa qualify if they beat Liverpool.

Tottenham can ensure a top-five finish:

• If they win, Newcastle United lose and Chelsea and Manchester United both fail to win.

Failing that, Spurs can ensure a top-six finish - Europa Conference League at worst:

• If they win AND Chelsea and Manchester United both fail to win;

• If they win AND Newcastle lose AND one of Chelsea and Manchester United fail to win;

• If they draw AND Chelsea and Manchester United both lose.

The other two relegation places could also be settled this weekend.

Burnley will be relegated:

• If they fail to win at Tottenham on Saturday, whatever happens elsewhere;

• If Nottingham Forest win against Chelsea.

If Burnley win and Forest draw, the Clarets will be teetering and will need a huge swing in goal difference on the final day of the season when the two sides meet.

Luton Town are slightly better off than Burnley, but will be relegated:

• If they lose at West Ham AND Nottingham Forest avoid defeat;

• If they lose AND Burnley win, even if Forest lose;

• If they draw AND Forest win.

If Forest match Luton's result, the Hatters will be on the brink as they would need a big swing in goal difference on the final day.

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between West Ham and Luton in the Premier League.

• West Ham are looking to complete their first league double over Luton since 1983-84 following their 2-1 win at Kenilworth Road earlier this season.

• Luton are winless in their past five away league games against West Ham (D3 L2). This is their first visit to West Ham since a 2-2 draw in December 1992, and first in the top-flight since a 0-0 draw in August 1991.

• West Ham have conceded 70 Premier League goals this season - their joint-most in a single campaign along with 2010-11 when they finished bottom. They last conceded more in a league season in 1975-76 (71).

• Since beating Brighton 4-0 in January and moving outside the relegation zone - Luton have won just one of their past 15 Premier League games (D4 L10). Defeat in this match would leave them on the cusp of relegation back to the Championship.

• Jarrod Bowen has scored 16 Premier League goals this season – the last West Ham player to net more in a single top-flight campaign was Tony Cottee in 1986-87 (22).

• No player has scored more headed goals in the Premier League this season than West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (five). Of all players to score 10+ goals in the competition this season, only Chris Wood (42%) has scored a higher share with his head than Luton’s Elijah Adebayo (40%).

Follow live commentary of West Ham v Luton from 15:00 BST on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

Watching Elijah Adebayo start a Premier League game again for the first time in nearly three months was magic. With the help of adrenaline, he was very much back to his relentless best, pressing well, holding the ball up and bringing others into play.

He gave the Everton defence a real test and of course scored a brilliant strikers' goal in the first half. He tired later on but that was to be expected and was eventually taken off to a standing ovation after the break. Like partner Carlton Morris, he has proved he is a Premier League player.

As great as it was to have him back, my overriding feeling was frustration - that Luton have not had him for these past 11 weeks. They are a different side with him in it and much more of a threat. When you think that they still do not have Chiedozie Ogbene, Tom Lockyer and Amari'i Bell, as well as others, it becomes a case of what might have been for the Hatters this season.

Opposition fans will say all teams pick up injuries but for Luton to have 13 out at one point, with 10 of those being senior players, that is out of the ordinary and has completely stuffed them. Understanding why there were so many injuries at the same time is for another day.

Adebayo’s goal means Luton have two strikers on double figures for the season and, considering they are currently in a relegation position, is fantastic.

Scoring has not been a problem for Rob Edwards’ team. They have got more than Everton and Nottingham Forest and scored the same number as Wolves and Crystal Palace. Conceding has been the issue. Adebayo's height in defending set-pieces has been missed so he has been a loss in both boxes.

Luton now head to West Ham on Saturday needing a result or they are realistically down. It is still not over though and the hope is they can take it to the last day of the season.

Commentary of West Ham v Luton on BBC Three Counties Radio and online (UK Only) via BBC Sounds from 15:00 BST

We asked you for your thoughts on Nottingham Forest's failed appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

Here are some of your comments on whether it helps Luton Town's relegation survival hopes:

Paul: Nottingham Forest should have been docked more points for having the audacity to appeal against an already discounted penalty and then their comments that effectively brought the game into disrepute.

Dave: Glad Forest did not have their punishment reduced any further but they really should have had a larger deduction in the first place. Cooperation with the panel should not be an incentive for a reduced sentence - surely that should be the default position and lack of cooperation should result in larger punishment?

Sue: The decision is just and fair. It is about time the Premier League stuck to its guns. Now we know what we need to do: win. I always have believed and still do.

Chas: The Nottingham Forest appeal decision is not exactly a lifeline, but it does at least provide certainty that efforts in the next two games will not be for nought. But I still think that, having appealed, the two "cooperation points" should have been reapplied to the sanction. That would be a lifeline.

Ben: Obviously happy that we still have a fighting chance. We need to improve our own game before anything else but I cannot describe how proud the team have made me this season, whatever the outcome.

Paul: Forest have got away lightly and should have had a larger points deduction (as Everton should have as well). Also, Forest should have had a further deduction for a frivolous appeal. However, it does not get past the fact that as well as Luton played this season, unfortunately the results have not been good enough.

Christian: Clubs should not moan about points deduction when they have breached rules - and so blatantly in Forest's case. I have nothing personal against Forest and so admired them in the 1980s, but their owner signing the daft amount of players he did was going to need to be answered at some point. Feel sorry for their fans. We need all six points - and that is unlikely!

Nottingham Forest have failed with an appeal against their four-point punishment for breaching Premier League profit and sustainability rules.

This means that Nuno Espirito Santo's side remain on 29 points with two games remaining - three clear of 18th-placed Luton Town.

How are you feeling, Hatters fans? Is it a lifeline to your Premier League survival?

Let us know your thoughts here

Former Premier League winger Andros Townsend says Luton are "still alive and kicking" in the relegation battle, and believes the team would have been delighted to be in this position with two games remaining if offered the scenario at the start of the season.

However, Townsend admitted there is "massive amounts of frustration" over certain results in 2024 that could have helped the Hatters earn crucial points.

Listen to Townsend on Monday Night Club here

On the latest episode of Monday Night Club, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says the points deduction situation has been unfair on Burnley and Luton, describing it as an "absolute shambles".

Listen to the full episode here