Luton Town

Image source, PA Media

Luton manager Matt Bloomfield says Millwall produced the only moment of quality in a "scrappy" game.

"That wasn't as good as the first two performances we've seen this week - they were very good in different elements but we only picked up one point and it could have been more," he told BBC Radio Three Counties.

"Today, that wasn't us. We were leggy and didn't have the same energy and intensity about us, but a lot of the players who have gone again today are not used to three-game weeks.

"We made four changes and maybe could have done more to get the energy on the pitch.

"We're disappointed. We had some big chances and it was scrappy but unfortunately for us the one quality moment was the one Millwall came up with."

Alex Neil's Millwall head to Luton on Saturday (12:30 GMT), having been denied their first win under their new boss by a last-gasp Cardiff goal on Tuesday.

Six places, but just five points, separate the second-bottom Hatters from the Lions, after Matt Bloomfield's men twice allowed leads to slip in their defeat at Oxford United the same evening.

• Luton Town are unbeaten across their past six league games against Millwall (W2 D4), keeping a clean sheet in each of their last two meetings with the Lions.

• Millwall have failed to win any of their past six away league games against Luton Town (D5 L1) since a 1-0 victory in October 2000. Each of their last five visits, however, have finished as a draw.

• Luton have lost just one of their last eight home league games (W4 D3), a 1-0 defeat by Norwich City. Across that stint, the Hatters haven't conceded more than one goal in any of those matches.

• Millwall have failed to win any of their past six away league games (D4 L2), last enduring a longer run without victory on the road between March and October 2022 (12 matches).

• Millwall boss Alex Neil has won none of his three Football League away games against Luton (D1 L2), losing his last two visits with Preston (December 2020) and Stoke City (February 2023).

Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield's move to sign 21-year-old striker Richard Kone from former club Wycombe Wanderers has been rebuffed by the Chairboys. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip page.

Image source, Rex Features

Luton boss Matt Bloomfield spoke to BBC Three Counties Radio following their 3-2 defeat at Oxford United.

"There was some real good stuff especially in the first half," he said.

"We sunk a little bit too deep for my liking in the second half and ultimately invited a little bit of pressure.

"That's not what we wanted to do. It's frustrating because there were some good elements but we've come away with nothing because we have to defend our box better.

"It's (Oxford's winner) very disappointing. The game will never change, the two 18-yard boxes are the most important areas of the pitch.

"You have to defend one end with your life and you have to stick the ball away in the net the other end, that's what the game comes down to."

Oxford United welcome strugglers Luton Town on Tuesday evening, looking to extend their unbeaten run under manager Gary Rowett to seven games.

The U's have won four and drawn two since Rowett took over following their 1-0 win over Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, which moved them up to 15th.

Luton are 23rd in the Championship and without a win in five league games (L4 D1), but did earn a goalless draw at home to Preston North End in new boss Matt Bloomfield's first game in charge at the weekend.

• Oxford United have failed to win any of their past 16 EFL games against Luton Town (D6 L10), scoring 15 goals in that time and conceding 31.

• Luton have won each of their past two away league games against Oxford and will be looking to win three in succession against them in the Football League for the first time.

• Oxford are unbeaten in each of their past three midweek league games (W2 D1), while they are unbeaten at home in such games this term (W2 D1).

• Luton have lost each of their past 10 away league games; only twice in the EFL have the Hatters endured longer losing runs on the road, losing 12 successive matches in March 1928 and 11 in February 2020.

• 25% of the goals Luton have conceded in away league matches this season have come in the final 10 minutes of games (7/28).

Image source, Rex Features

Can Matt Bloomfield find a solution to the problem which perhaps was the main factor in the downfall of Rob Edwards, his predecessor as Luton Town boss?

Bloomfield takes charge at Oxford United this evening, with the Hatters looking to end a dismal run of 10 successive defeats away from home in the Championship.

And that run was extended to 11 by their loss at Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup prior to Bloomfield's appointment.

The former Wycombe boss was encouraged by what he saw from his new team in their 0-0 home draw with Preston on Saturday.

He expects to have wing-back Alfie Doughty back in the squad at the Kassam Stadium, although he is unlikely to start - and work is ongoing to add new faces before the end of the transfer window.

"We've already had a recruitment meeting," Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"There's a lot of work already been going on behind the scenes before I got here.

"It would be fantastic to add to the group. But I'm grateful to the players for the way they've received the messages and gone about their business and this is a good starting point for us to move forward."

Image source, Rex Features

Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield spoke to BBC Three Counties Radio following his side's 0-0 draw against Preston North End.

He said: "It's a good point and good to get a clean sheet - and they didn't have any shots on target.

"Coming off a run of five straight defeats, it was nice to get that - the first one in 12. [in all competitions]. We had a good out-of-possession shape

"We didn't quite have the right touch in the final third. We would have liked to have created more and shot more but we understand where we are as a team.

"There's a lot of work to do, but in terms of a foundation, I have to say I'm pleased.

"And we've had a very nice welcome from the fans, so I thank them for that."

Matt Bloomfield's reign in charge of Luton gets underway with the visit of Preston North End to Kenilworth Road on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Only five teams have won more than Town's six at home this season, while Paul Heckingbottom's men have won only one of their dozen games on the road.

• Luton Town have failed to win any of their past three league games against Preston North End (D1 L2), with those matches witnessing just four goals scored in total.

• After winning the reverse fixture 1-0 at Deepdale in August, Preston North End will be looking to complete a first league double over Luton Town since the 1999-2000 season.

• Luton Town have lost each of their last four league games, last losing five in a row back in November 2019.

• Preston North End have won just one of their last 17 Championship away games (D6 L10), beating Cardiff 2-0 in December.

• Including caretakers/interims, none of the last six Luton Town managers have won the first game of a spell in charge (D5 L1), since Andy Awford's Hatters beat Exeter City 3-2 in December 2015.

Image source, Getty Images

New Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield believes he can implement his style of play quickly.

The 40-year-old has left League One promotion challengers Wycombe Wanderers to take over a Hatters side who are just two points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

"I believe we can implement it quickly otherwise I would not have left my previous job," Bloomfield told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I believe in what we have in the building, I believe in the work we can do with the group of players."

Luton are on a four-game losing streak in the Championship and have been beaten in each of their past 10 away matches and 11 on the road in all competitions.

"There are some very good footballers here who have obviously been on the wrong end of a few defeats this season.

"We really hope if we can implement the work quickly and bring a bit of freshness then we can get off to a good start."

Bloomfield's first game in charge of Luton is at home to Preston on Saturday.

Geoff Doyle
BBC 3CR sports editor

Image source, Rex Features

Matt Bloomfield ticks a lot of boxes as he makes the move from Wycombe to Luton.

A young, hungry, ambitious manager with his former team punching above their weight in League One. They have been in the top three for the majority of the season with a fairly limited budget.

Bloomfield has changed Wycombe's style of football from a fairly direct team under his predecessor Gareth Ainsworth to a quicker, more attacking, style with the emphasis on getting players into the opposition penalty box.

His Wycombe team have scored the most goals in the EFL and had the most touches in the box.

His character is a major plus point too. Bloomfield is well respected within the game and conducts himself with great integrity and honesty.

Luton will hope he can replicate his success at Kenilworth Road. He inherits a squad short in confidence and belief.

He will be delighted that his first game in charge is at home where the majority of Luton's wins have come from.

Image source, Rex Features

Luton Town have named Matt Bloomfield as their new manager.

He has led Wycombe Wanderers to second place in League One and is now charged with hauling the Hatters clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Is he the right choice to replace Rob Edwards?

You can have your say here.

Here are some of the views from fans:

SoulsUnknown - Excellent news for Luton. Let's hope he can kick start our season. COYH

Simon - The irony would be if Luton go down and Wycombe go up.

Whathojeeves - Good, no messing about with the appointment. Now Matt get to it and have the Kenny rocking again.

Gabs99 - I think he might regret not finishing the project at Wycombe. If they got promoted his stock would have been higher for a better job in the summer.

Neil - is this a good choice? Personally I don't know because of the other names being bandied about, this is the dark horse. To Wycombe, all I can say is, good luck for the rest of the season, and who knows, may be seeing you next season.

Dan - This is a very cheap appointment indeed, the hierarchy didn't need to do this, they have the money and they should have gone for Championship experience (Steve Cooper) or (O'Neill) someone who knows the division and knows how to get them out of a relegation fight. This is an extremely underwhelming appointment indeed and unproven too which only highlights the board's lack of knowledge.

Graham - It is a huge gamble by the board. I can't understand it when giving Cooper the job would have guaranteed remaining in the Championship.