Luton’s focused could be their saving grace as Rob Edwards’ team aims to take control in the PL relegation battle.
When moving up from the Championship to the Premier League, it’s almost necessary to have a kind of amnesia—a skill to forget the outcomes of the previous weekend and concentrate on the upcoming one.
Luton possesses this ability by completely disregarding any setbacks from the last match. Lose 2-0 against Arsenal? No problem. They can still beat Bournemouth. Lose 5-1 to Manchester City? That’s in the past. They’re focused on Brentford now.
Luton’s resilience after a defeat seems to stem from a collective learning journey between the players and their young manager, Rob Edwards. Edwards has instilled a strong sense of belief in this hardworking group.
During their promotion campaign, Luton didn’t focus on possession statistics but rather on effective defending. Edwards stuck to a tactical approach with a 3-4-2-1 formation, utilizing fast wing-backs who deliver crosses whenever possible.
This strategy has led them to produce the highest number of crosses in the Premier League this season, with Carlton Morris being the player with the most headed attempts—a testament to their commitment to their style of play.
Luton Town find themselves 18th in the Premier League table but just one point from safety
Rob Edwards’ team can capitalize on an advantage over their relegation rivals, as Everton and Nottingham Forest are set to face each other on Sunday afternoon.
The acquisitions of Ross Barkley and Andros Townsend have been pivotal, bringing valuable Premier League experience. Alongside them, players like Tahith Chong, Teden Mengi, Issa Kabore, and Alfie Doughty have made notable contributions. It’s also worth noting that Luton is dealing with numerous injuries, including their captain Tom Lockyer.
Barkley plays a central role, setting the tempo for Luton when they are in possession. At 30, he’s displaying the finest form of his career, adept at gaining possession in deep areas, evading challenges, and using both feet to supply the attacking wide players.
Brentford will face the challenge of dealing with Luton’s aerial threat today, but with towering center-back options like Kristoffer Ajer (6ft 6in), Nathan Collins (6ft 4in), and Mathias Jorgensen (6ft 3in), manager Thomas Frank will rely on their ability to handle crosses into the box.
This weekend is crucial in the relegation battle, and Luton must take the initiative before Everton and Nottingham Forest clash tomorrow.
The points deductions for these rivals have given Luton a lifeline. Looking at Everton’s remaining fixtures, with four out of six games at home, they are favored to avoid relegation. However, one of their away trips will bring them to Luton.
Everton’s manager Sean Dyche would prefer not to have the survival battle go down to the wire, especially considering their final game is against Arsenal. In Premier League history, only once have all three promoted teams been relegated in the same season, which was in 1997-98.
Sheffield United seems destined for relegation, and Burnley’s chances are slim without a miraculous turnaround. Therefore, the pressure is on Luton to ensure they remain in the Premier League.