Luton picked up a second point of the Championship season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against recently relegated Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday. Here are our takeaways from the match.
Precise Potts impresses in good Kompany
After surprisingly being named in the Town starting XI for the draw with Birmingham last week, Dan Potts kept his place for the trip to take on Vincent Kompany’s charges and he rewarded Nathan Jones’ faith when he popped up with the goal which for 40 minutes or more looked like it would down the Clarets. Finding himself with plenty of space he coolly curled past Muric to convert an Amari’i Bell cross which landed at his feet.
Not only did Potts shine with his goal but his defensive display was immaculate, with the long-serving Town defender heading anything that came into the box away in a showing which in the first half in particular was close to perfect. With Town looking for a left-footed option to replace Kal Naismith long-term, Potts did his chances no harm in Lancashire.
Brilliant Bree back to top form
Potts wasn’t the only Town defender to catch the eye at Turf Moor as right wing-back James Bree put in another complete display.
Tasked with keeping the Burnley match-winner from last week, Ian Maatsen, quiet, Bree was more than a match for the Chelsea loanee with the home left-back unable to have a telling impact on the game. Bree was still able to get forward as he usually does and regularly contributed to the attacking play of the Hatters. Bree nearly snatched a winner in the second period when a cross looped over Muric in the home goal only to drift just over the bar, to the relief of those with a home persuasion.
Campbell closing in on top energy level
One issue which could have potentially caused Luton concern in the early part of the season was how long it would take Allan Campbell to get up to full speed.
Having finished the previous campaign nursing an injury and then seeing his rest time ahead of pre-season cut short by a deserved Scotland call up, the midfielder would understandably be playing catch up to get to full pelt this term. After a quiet showing a week ago there was much more of the Campbell we know and love at Burnley. He pressed relentlessly in the first period and although he tired in the second before being replaced in the final quarter, the signs are that Town’s chief presser isn’t far away from having full resources to call upon.
Energetic Elijah looks closeri to expectations
After some daft comments on social media about the Town talisman Elijah Adebayo looking disinterested last week, no shortage of eyes were on him at Turf Moor and what was seen was a striker who had come on for the run to use a racing parlance.
It should be remembered that prior to last week, the last time Adebayo was seen in a Town shirt in a competitive match was when he could barely move at Huddersfield. Given that he didn’t play all the pre-season games it is clear that the former Fulham academy graduate is being monitored closely to ensure he doesn’t go down again and steadily building up to full steam. This was a much improved display from Adebayo with his energy levels visibly getting better. With another week before Luton are in league action again, there is time for Elijah to continue to work towards the levels which will see him dominate opposing defences once again.
Fitness is improving but character is never in question
While the Town players have clearly had to build the fitness during thei opening two matches after a short turnaround between last season and this one, one thing which is never in question with regards any Luton team at present is the character of the team.
They showed it again at Turf Moor as after conceding from a Josh Brownhill thunderbolt just after half time, weaker sides would have wilted and suffered a defeat. Not Luton though. They picked themselves up and went again and had chances to win the game only to be repelled by last-ditch defending. Burnley came on strong in the final 20 minutes but Ethan Horvath had little to do in the visiting goal. To grind out a point at potentially one of the toughest places in the league to go should give the Hatters players a huge boost and the belief that anything is possible this season.
