Luton travel to Carrow Road hoping to continue their 100% record to the start of the season in what should be an entertaining match against Norwich City. I think it’s fair to say that Norwich underachieved last season; one of the favourites to go up after their relegation from the Premiership, they failed to live up to their potential. Are they stronger this season? Well in Dean Ashton they had in my opinion the best striker in the Division, and any team that loses quality like that are going to be the poorer for it, however, with players like Green, Huckerby, Doherty and Earnshaw they should still be a match for anyone at this level. In the summer they added Lee Croft to their books, a £700,000 signing from Manchester City who plays on the right side of midfield and, in addition, they were also reportedly interested in Steve Howard but were put off by the £1 million pound price tag that Derby paid; it would seem that they had the money but they just didn’t think Stevo was worth that amount. One thing’s for sure though, the pressure will be on manager Nigel Worthington to take them up this time as surely failure to do so will spell the end of his tenure at Carrow Road.
Vital Quotes:
Mike Newell on the Norwich match:
‘They won against Preston in midweek and by all accounts they played well against Leeds as well, had some good spells there, but unfortunately for them ended up losing.
‘They have players who can hurt you and the likes of Huckerby and Earnshaw are a handful at this level.
‘Earnshaw’s got a great goalscoring record and that’s why he went for £3million.
‘It didn’t quite work out for him in the Premier League but, a bit similarly to Huckerby, he’s proved that in this division he’s a real danger.’
Speaking of the Norwich match last season where we lost 0-2 Mike added:
‘It was one of the games where we didn’t play really well, down at Carrow Road.
‘The first half against them here (at Kenilworth Road) was fantastic, but even then I felt that if they had put away a couple of chances early on it could have been different.
‘The second-half we knew we were in a game and you don’t often say that when you’ve been 4-0 up at half-time.
‘They’re a big club Norwich no doubt about it. It’s a nice place to go and play. We want to come away with something and if we do it will have been a fantastic week for us.’
Source: www.lutontoday.co.uk
Norwich City Team News:
Robert Green is back in training but is unlikely to play, Ian Henderson is out with a groin injury while the match has probably come to soon for Mattheu Louis-Jean to feature. On the plus side for the Canaries, midfielder Andy Hughes is available after injury.
Player to watch: Robert Earnshaw
The diminutive striker has an eye for goal and the Town’s defence will have to be on top form to keep him at bay.
Luton Town Team News:
There are no new injury problems for Mike Newell to worry about which leaves the influential Paul Underwood the only one on the treatment table, though the sanity of Carlos Edwards could be questioned after admitting that he would take the chance of joining *them* with both hands, perhaps Carlos likes the idea of falling to the floor, time wasting and watching balls played 50 foot over his head! Mike is a believer in keeping a winning team together so it looks likely that Chris Coyne will have to settle for a place on the bench, and rightfully so after the performances of Heikks and Barnett in the two matches played so far. Also looking at a place amongst the subs will be new signing Adam Boyd, who has yet to start for the Hatters.
Player to watch: Warren Feeney
The hard working striker is doing eveything but score, all he needs is a goal and I’ve a feeling he’s going to deliver against Norwich.
Match Facts & Stats
Luton have played Norwich 66 times in the Football League, the Canaries are just on top with 25 victories to Luton’s 23.
At Norwich Luton have won 7 times (and twice in the last four trips to Carrow Road)the Town’s biggest win being 4-0 which they have achieved twice, first in 1937-38 and then in 1961-62.
Norwich’s highest win was also 4-0 which they recorded in 1933-34.
Match Prediction:
Norwich City 1 Luton Town 2. A tough and hard fought win for the Hatters.
Next Fixtures:
Saturday 19th August 2006
Home vs Stoke City
KO 3.00pm
