Luton Town made it 13 matches undefeated in the Championship with a 1-1 draw in front of the cameras at Blackburn on Monday evening. Here are our takeaways from the match.
Brilliant Bell shines bright at former home
We find out who will be the Player of the Season this evening (Wednesday, May 3) and one of the names who is likely to be on the shortlist of anyone who voted is Amari’i Bell and we got a reminder why at Ewood Park on Monday.
Likely fuelled by facing his former club, Bell kept Rovers forward Tyrhys Dolan out of the game completely, to the extent that home boss Jon Dahl Tomasson had to replace him on 54 minutes and change plans completely.
The natural athleticism and instinctive reading of the game meant that Bell always had more than a slight edge in that duel, and so dominant was he in it that he was able to support a number of Luton attacks, particularly in the first period when the game was at its most competitive.
As Luton head into the play-offs the left side of the defence looks nice and secure thanks to the Jamaican international.
Lockyer providing an extra source for goals
Tom Lockyer has played two matches since being named in the EFL Championship Team of the Season and in both of them he has found the back of the net, proving that he could be a huge asset over the next month at both ends of the pitch.
We already knew of his defensive talent, one which continued to shine at Ewood Park even in the unfamiliar right side of the back three.
His ability on the ball, which is getting better all the time, allows him to complement the Town attack when the chance arises, and as we’ve seen in the last two matches, he is a real threat in the opposing box now.
It was he who threw himself at a wonderful Carlton Morris cross to put Luton 1-0 ahead, a lead which if this was a game which the Hatters needed to win you would think would have been enough to do the job.
Priorities lie elsewhere at the minute so it wasn’t enough to win but it was plenty to remind us of the threat the Wales international poses.
Midfield rotation highlights squad strength
With Luton already secured of third place in the Championship table courtesy of Middlesbrough losing earlier in the day to Rotherham, manager Rob Edwards was able to rotate his midfielders in a bid to get minutes into some and rest others.
As a result, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Allan Campbell began the game on the bench with Jordan Clark and Luke Berry getting the starting berths. As the match progressed, Clark and Marvelous Nakamba were withdrawn in the second period with Mpanzu and Campbell coming on, while Luke Freeman also got more minutes late on too.
With Henri Lansbury not even involved at Blackburn the options available to Edwards in the middle of the park looks as strong as we can remember.
Defensive duo get valuable minutes too
It is not just in midfield where Edwards was able to get minutes into the legs of players, he was able to introduce two defensive players to the fold too and protect both wing-backs, saving them for much more important tests which lie ahead.
Dan Potts was back in first-team action for the first time since the trip to Wigan in January. He slotted into the centre of defence for the last few minutes, while there was a longer cameo for Fred Onyedinma, whose inclusion from the bench allowed Alfie Doughty some much deserved time off.
With Edwards seemingly buoyant about having at least one of Gabe Osho or Reece Burke fit for the final game of the regular season against Hull City on Monday, options are improving by the game in that department too.
Amazing achievement deserves full recognition
Whatever happens over the remainder of May – and here’s hoping the month ends in the sort of ultimate glory that was so far in the distance just a decade ago that it was barely worth dreaming about – for Luton to finish third in the Championship table represents an incredible effort. It’s one which everyone involved, both on the pitch and the many people off it, deserves an endless amount of credit for.
The budget and size restrictions that the Hatters battle in this division have been documented to the hilt since the return to the second tier but when you factor it in and see the level of clubs Luton have outsmarted on and off the pitch and will finish above this season, to be the 23rd best team in the country really can’t be underestimated.
Go back 10 years and a spot in the top 95 in the pyramid was beyond them. The rise has been incredible and hopefully the next chapter of the story involves an army of Lutonians descending on the national stadium to bask in a top flight return 31 years after the Hatters last graced that level.
