Luton Town – The Hatters Connection Theme

Yesterday, whilst lying on the settee and enjoying the Easter Monday football fest, I almost missed the fact James Bree was in the Southampton starting XI.

James, who left Luton Town back in January 2023, at around the same time Nathan Jones defected to the south coast, has struggled to make an impression with Southampton.

This season, including yesterday, he has made just 9 EFL Championship appearances for the club with 4 of those appearances coming from the bench.

Yesterday he gave a competent performance as Southampton looked to enhance their promotion prospects.

Sadly, for both James and Southampton, he received a straight red card for pulling back an Ipswich Town player late on in the game.

To me the decision looked harsh but what made it worse was that 10-man Southampton, drawing 2-2 at the time, went on to lose the game 3-2 with Ipswich Town scoring a stoppage time winner.

Elsewhere, continuing the Luton connection theme, Joe Taylor continued to grab the headlines as a revitalised Lincoln City grabbed a goal and an assist as Lincoln City beat Carlisle United 3-1. The win enhances Lincoln’s chances of securing a play-off place but, virtually, condemns Carlisle to relegation.

While on loan at Sincil Bank, Joe, who only joined in the January transfer window, has established himself as the clubs top-scorer, with 9 goals in 12 games, it’ll be interesting what the Hatters hierarchy have in store for Joe next season, although that could ultimately depend upon which division we are competing in.

Continuing on a scoring theme, John McAtee continues to impress. On loan to Barnsley, for the season, McAtee scored a brace yesterday, away to Burton Albion, with Barnsley coming from behind to win 3-1.

McAtee, so far, has netted on 12 occasions and is the South Yorkshire clubs second top scorer behind Devante Cole.

Once again, as with Joe Taylor, it remains to be seen where John will be playing his football next season.

COYH