After achieving the double against the Eagles last season, Luton will be eager to repeat the feat. However, Peter Taylor says his team are ‘up for it’ and want to avenge last season’s results.
Vital Quotes:
Luton manager Mike Newell has said he has no new injury worries ahead of Saturday’s Crystal Palace match. Russell Perrett is still ruled out, and Chris Coyne is unlikely to make it, but they could be back in action sooner than first thought.
Newell told www.lutontown.co.uk:
‘They’re getting there. Their injuries are not as long term as maybe we thought at the time, which is a bonus, but it looks very doubtful that either of them will feature on Saturday.’
Newell was keeping his team selection to himself and said:
‘We don’t pick the team until Saturday lunchtime. We never do. We don’t know what will happen on a Friday night or a Saturday morning, but I’d be surprised if Sam (Parkin) doesn’t play some part in the game.’
Although he would like to see 6 points from the next 2 home games he was not taking either game lightly, and said of Palace:
‘They’ve lost a good player in Andy Johnson but they’ve got a lot of firepower still there.’
Peter Taylor told cpfc.co.uk:
‘To have two points a game is good form, but we also know we can play a lot better although we have played well in certain periods of each game.
‘We’re always looking to improve, but I must say the boys are looking fresh and up for it and there seems to be a nice spirit in the camp too.
‘Luton is always a difficult place to go and play and Mike always has his team well organised and up-for-it. I know they got the double over Palace last year, so we’re certainly going there up for the match.
‘They’ve made a good start and had a few changes in their team with Nicholls and Howard leaving, the same as here really, but you’ve got to give credit to them, because they’re always a hard working team and to me, they are quite entertaining.
‘We’re ready for it though and we’re looking forward to going there to get a point or three hopefully.’
Luton Town Team News:
Other than the Perrett/Coyne situation, Mike Newell will pick from a full squad.
Player to watch: Sam Parkin
If he gets on he will want to prove himself and get the crowd on his side, something that never happened for him at Ipswich.
Crystal Palace Team News:
New signing Shefki Kuqi is likely to make his debut,after his last ditch deadline day move from Blackburn Rovers.
James Scowcroft, Clinton Morrison and Dougie Freedman are all hoping for the second strikers berth alongside Kuqi, and other new signing Stuart Green, from Hull City, could also feature for Peter Taylor’s men.
Player to watch: Shefki Kuqi
Any player with 2 ‘k’ s and a ‘q’with no ‘u’ after it has to be carefully watched!
Match Facts & Stats
Record v Palace
Played 54 Won 33 Drawn 8 Lost 13 For 42 Against 33
Last Home match vs Palace
Luton 2 (2) – 0(0) C Palace
Heikkinen 11
Vine 21
At Kenilworth Road on 26-11-2005
Luton: Beresford, Underwood, Heikkinen, Coyne (Perrett,52′), Foley, Morgan (Howard,88), Robinson, Holmes, Edwards, Vine (Feeney,88′), Showunmi.
Subs not used: Brkovic,Brill,
C Palace: Kiraly, Borrowdale (Andrews,62′), Hall, Ward, Boyce, Hughes, Watson (Johnson,68′), Soares,McAnuff (Macken,68′), Freedman, Morrison
Subs not used Leigertwood,Speroni,
Bookings: Holmes, Robinson (Luton) Boyce, Soares (C Palace)
Attendance: 10248
Referee: M D Messias (W. Yorkshire)
Ref Watch:
Paul Armstrong from Berkshire. He Refereed 3 Luton games last season, awarding us two penalties. The games were the 2-0 away victory at Leicester, the 2-0 away win at Sheffield Wednesday and the 1-1 draw at Brighton.
Match Prediction:
The bookies have it as Luton 11/8, draw 11/5 and Palace 13/8
Sky have it as Luton 1 Palace 3
and I have it as Luton 2 Palace 1
Next Fixtures:
Tuesday 12 September 2006 – 7-45 pm KO: Colchester United at Kenilworth Road.
Saturday 16 September 2006 – 3 pm KO: Cardiff City Away
