Or should that headline read TEN now becomes SIX? I’ll explain why later in the article.
Yesterday, the Hatters once again battled hard to obtain something from a game many expected them to win.
Trailing Nottingham Forest 1-0, an injury ravaged Luton Town side never gave up and it took an 89th minute equaliser, from Luke Berry, to secure a point for the Hatters.
When the team shees were announced, our injury predicament became clear with Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu appearing to start in an unuual, for him, position. But, despite my doubts, our longest serving player performed admirably and it is perhaps typical of the way our luck is going that Pelly also ended up on our ever growing injury list, leaving Rob Edwards with, in his squad, more injured players that players available.
Although the Hatters snatched a point at the death, the result still leaves us in one of the three relegation places and three points adrift of our opponents yesterday, Nottingham Forest.
Thankully, due to a curtailed Premier League fixtue list, we are no worse off than before the game started, except ten Cup Finals has now become nine, or should that be six?
Out of those fearing relegation, only Burnley earned three points, beating Brentford, but are those below us, Burnley and Sheffield United, capable of catching us?
However, recent form shows that Luton’s form is of great concern.
When it comes to the Premier League, the Hatters have not won in their last eight fixtures, picking up just a meagre three points from the twenty-four available.
To those who are looking for a sudden upturn in form, an upturn influenced by the possible return of some of those currently out injured, a stark reality faces us.
Of the next four games, three are away, but away to three of the most accomplished, attacking sides in the Premier League, namely Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Manchester City, with the latter two hell bent on blazing a trail to Premier League title glory.
With those three games, in my opinion, unlikely to provide any points for the Hatters, it leaves the following six games for the Hatters to salvage their season:
• AFC Bournemouth (h)
• Brentford (h)
• Wolverhampton Wanders (a)
• Everton (h)
• West Ham United (a)
• Fulham (h)
Now, I’m still of the belief that we can survie, despite the odds being against us, but in true Luton Town fashion, we are making it extremely hard for ourselves and it wouldn’t surprise me if, our survival now depended upon point deductions for those above us, due to financial irregularities.
Giving an honest opinion, how do you see our fate, this season, panning out?
Please feel free to have your say in the comment facility beneath this article.
COYH
Tottenham Hotspur v Luton Town?
Tottenham to Win!
Luton Town to Win!
A Draw!
Previous article by Mad Hatter
Luton Town – The Legends Series – Mark Pembridge
A couple of personal opinions of the season.firstly if berry had been given as many minutes on the pitch as Clark he would have 5 or 6 goals in the same time as Clark and I think we possibly could have 3 more points than we now have. Second it was a mistake to let Taylor go on loan to a second club in January. His exploits last season in the championship showed he has enough about him for an impact subs in the premier. A mistake in my view as for staying up with our injury list points deducted will decide if we stay or go.
Can’t disagree with that, it has puzzled me why Luke Berry hasn’t been given more minutes;coming on as a sub, he has proven to be an impact player for Luton. Joe Taylor scored a hatrick yesterday, without checking I think he must have a combined 15 goals this season for Colchester United and Lincoln City. Would he have 4 or 5 for Luton this season coming on as sub if he stayed?
20 in total, top scorer for both Lincoln and Colchester!
I have to agree everything Chris has said. Unless Everton or Forest are hammered with a points deduction we are doomed. I also think any points deduction will be applied next season so perhaps we are doomed anyway. We have, however, given it a good shot given our resources. Well done Rob and the lads.
Agree Chris. I thought Taylor looked capable and Berry, although not selected often has a back of scoring. As I said previously our way of playing puts huge pressure on the defence. Even with our full complement each game usually results in one or two mistakes at the back. Usually a goal results from that. I accept Rob plays it as he sees best. So I’m not complaining.
We’ve come off a very challenging last few weeks facing sides with resources way beyond our dreams. We preformed reasonably well and were not embarrassed. But this week was our big week. Bournemouth away and Forest at home. This was our chance to climb the table and put even more pressure on the teams around us and we didn’t take it. I don’t want to survive because of points deductions – I want to survive on merit but with the injuries we have it’s a big ask. But Luton being Luton will no doubt keep us hoping until the last game of the season!
I for one am hopeful we can still stay up but things will ebb and flow game by game and it’s too early to predict. If we don’t get players back before those final 6 games it will be very tough, however not impossible given the spirit of our squad .I said very early in the season that I would have preferred Joe Taylor to stay in and around the first team, but then again the scoring of goals does not seem to be our problem. This team has given me many smiles this season by giving it a right old go, and I find it hard to be too critical given our current circumstances.