PREVIEW: LUTON TOWN (H)

30 December 2022

All you need to know ahead of our next Sky Bet Championship fixture

- Huddersfield Town vs Luton Town
- 3pm kick-off at the John Smith’s Stadium
- Available to watch on iFollow HTAFC

For our first home game in the new year, we welcome Luton Town to the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday 1 January; 3pm kick-off in the Sky Bet Championship.

It was an end-to-end affair in the reverse fixture earlier this season, with Town coming away from Kenilworth Road with a point following a 3-3 draw. Having since changed coach with Nathan Jones joining Premier League side Southampton, the Hatters will be looking to build on their two successive wins under new boss Rob Edwards as they come off of a home win over Norwich City and a 3-0 away win against QPR on Thursday 29 December.

Town come into this game looking to build on their first back-to-back wins of the season against Preston North End away on Boxing Day and then a 2-0 win at home against Rotherham United on Thursday 29 December.

THE OPPOSITION

Luton Town have made a remarkable comeback in the EFL, having been playing in League Two to five seasons later returning to the Sky Bet Championship after a 12-year absence.

A season of change for the Kenilworth Road based side, Rob Edwards was appointed manager of Luton Town in November 2022 following the departure of Nathan Jones. Edwards signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with the club, coincidentally having been relieved on his duties by Luton's rivals Watford earlier this season.

The Hatters currently sit seventh in the Sky Bet Championship table, after their win against QPR, on 36 points.

ONES TO WATCH

Carlton Morris

Morris is the top scorer for Luton Town so far this season, joining the Hatters over the summer from Barnsley. He has become well established in the EFL after playing for clubs such as Shrewsbury Town, Rotherham United and Barnsley and, in his first season with the Tykes, scored seven goals in just seven starts as the Tykes burst into the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs. The 27-year-old has already scored 10 goals and assisted five more so far this season.

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Luke Freeman

Freeman joined the Hatters as a free agent in July after leaving Sheffield United and is best known for playing in midfield. Prior to his move to Sheffield United, he had long stints with Stevenage, Bristol City and QPR – making over 100 appearances at each club. During his stay with the Blades while they were in the Premier League, he went on loan to Nottingham Forest in the 2020/21 season to get more regular game time. The 30-year-old has appeared in 20 matches for the Hatters so far this season, scoring two goals and one assist and has made over 14 key passes.

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Dan Potts

The former West Ham defender has made over 200 appearances for the Hatters having joined the club in 2015. The 28-year-old has captained Luton in FA Cup matches against Cambridge United and Chelsea, before leading the team to successive league victories against Preston North End and Hull City during the 2021/22 season. Although he was mssing due to injury for a large period of last season, Potts has a noticeable presence when he’s on the pitch which he’s come to show this season, with an average of 61.5% of his shots on target.

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TEAM NEWS

Head Coach Mark Fotheringham will provide full team news at his next press conference on Friday 30 December 2022.

KIT

Town will be wearing their famous blue and white stripes when they welcome Luton Town to the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday afternoon to start off the new year.

CLICK HERE to get your 2022/23 home kit!

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HOW TO WATCH

Tickets are on sale online now – CLICK HERE – and are available to purchase from the Ticket Office.

Adults - £25
65s and over - £20
18s and under - £15
Under-11s - £10

DISABLED SUPPORTERS

Disabled supporters should pay their relevant price class, with a companion ticket free of charge.

Tickets for wheelchair users are priced at £20, with a companion ticket free of charge.

iFOLLOW HTAFC

If you’re unable to attend the game on Sunday afternoon, you can watch and listen along via iFollow HTAFC!

A single match pass for the Terriers game at the John Smith’s Stadium is just £10, and supporters will be able to stream the full 90 minutes of action for that price.

Live audio commentary will be available for the game when you purchase either a Monthly Pass or Audio Match Pass. You can purchase a Monthly Pass for £4.49 or an Audio Match Pass for £2.50.

CLICK HERE to sign up to iFollow HTAFC.

Match Reports

REPORT: TOWN 1-2 LUTON

1 January 2023

Holmes scores again, but winning run ends

- Huddersfield Town 1-2 Luton Town
- Duane Holmes scores second goal in as many games
- Terriers take lead, but defeated

Town were defeated in the first fixture of 2023, with visitors Luton coming from behind to grab a late victory in an even contest.

Duane Holmes scored his second goal in as many fixtures to give Mark Fotheringham’s unchanged side a first-half lead, but goals at the end of each half gave the promotion-chasing Hatters a rare win in HD1.

Facing a strong wind, Fotheringham’s side started the game fairly well and looked to have created a good opportunity inside the first five minutes through a set piece when centre back Tom Lockyer fouled Rhodes. Rudoni’s ball into the box was nodded down by Helik into the path of Lees, but the assistant’s flag went up as he forced goalkeeper Ethan Horvath into a low save.

Luton grew into it and forced Lee Nicholls into an excellent save five minutes’ later. Striker Elijah Adebayo got behind Boyle thanks to an excellent pass from danger man Carlton Morris, but our custodian got his angles right and deflected the forward’s eventual shot over his crossbar.

The visitors always carried a threat and it took a block from Helik – in an uncomfortable region – to stop Morris getting a shot on target soon after.

However, it was Holmes who opened the scoring in the 25th minute. Kaine Kesler-Hayden deserved a lot of credit in the build-up, keeping Kasumu’s overhit cross in play by the corner flag under heavy pressure from Bell. Rudoni then took over, cutting inside and trying a low shot that fell into Duane’s path in the area; he took one touch to steady himself before firing low across countryman Horvath and into the far corner!

That was Rudoni’s fourth assist this season, but his first at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Town were dealt a blow in the 37th minute when skipper Hogg was forced off with an apparent calf injury, and another setback followed when Luton equalised in the 43rd minute. A good move down our left set winger Alfie Doughty into space, and his cross was flicked by the heel of Allan Campbell into the path of Bell. His powerful, right footed effort was adjudged to have crossed the line by technology, despite an excellent effort to clear from Helik.

The second half was a very even affair overall, with very few chances.

Nicholls showed really good hands early on to gather in a powerful Doughty free kick that bounced right in front of him, before a pacey free kick from Sorba Thomas was expertly headed out of the danger zone by Adebayo at the other end.

Luton threw on two strikers to try and create more as the half progressed, whilst Town introduced Danny Ward and Etienne Camara as they enjoyed decent territory. Neither side created a chance in the next 25 minutes until Kesler-Hayden tested the opposition goalkeeper with a low left footed shot with 10 minutes left.

Sadly, Luton’s only genuine chance of the second half led to the vital third goal of the game, with Fotheringham left frustrated at the way his side defended it. The ball was worked down Town’s left and no player managed to block the eventual cross from James Bree, with the ball rolling behind Boyle to the feet of substitute Reece Burke. The defender’s first touch set the ball perfectly and he rolled it beyond Nicholls’ reach with his second.

Town tried to respond late on, with Camara’s excellent forward pass finding the inside run of Josh Ruffels. Unfortunately, the goalkeeper easily claimed his tame right-footed effort.

Town’s team (5-4-1)
Lee Nicholls; Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Tom Lees, Michał Helik, Will Boyle, Josh Ruffels; Jack Rudoni, David Kasumu (Etienne Camara, 64’), Jonathan Hogg (c) (Sorba Thomas, 38’), Duane Holmes (Brahima Diarra, 73’); Jordan Rhodes (Danny Ward, 64’)

Unused substitutes
Nicholas Bilokapic; Tyreece Simpson, Loick Ayina

Booking
Will Boyle (34’)