Luton began 2023 in the same way they finished 2022 on Sunday – with a win on the road. This time the win was extra sweet as it exacted revenge on Huddersfield Town after the play-off semi-final defeat last season. Here are our takeaways from the 2-1 win at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Edwards makes history within a month!
Whoever took over from Nathan Jones would have to get a monkey off the Town’s back, that animal being that in just over three-and-a-half seasons in the Championship, Luton had not conceded the first goal on the road and come back to win the game in front of a crowd. For so long, Hatters fans who travelled the length and breadth of the country knew that scoring the opening goal away from home often led to success, but concede it and defeat loomed, with the motorway home growing immediately more appealing.
Prior to Sunday, you had to go back to Oxford away in League 1 on October 2, 2018, for the last time the Town turned a deficit around to pick up three points away from Kenliworth Road with fans present.
Step forward Rob Edwards who has achieved the feat in two away trips. He did it courtesy of installing a calmness and a patience to this Luton team, not to mention a belief in what they are capable of and a transition (more on that later) which adopts itself for having more control of the game and reaping the rewards.
I was fortunate enough to interview the new Luton boss ahead of his first game for the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust podcast and we discussed that horrendous record with Edwards claiming it was something he was keen to fix. Luton fans will be delighted he has done it so soon.
Watson does the elementary things well
When the team sheet was revealed ahead of the match in Yorkshire, there was a surprise inclusion for Louie Watson, the summer signing from Derby. Watson made his first league start and had big boots to fill as he came in for Jordan Clark, who missed out with a knock.
Watson was employed in a traditional holding midfield role and in a Town side which is looking to control the ball much more than it had done previously, he was to be a key cog in the formation.
The 21-year-old was very assured, showing for the ball from the defenders at every opportunity and was able to receive the ball under pressure and move it on swiftly to allow the Hatters to beat the press when it came along. He immediately looked at home in this team and his progression will be something to follow in 2023.
Morris much more than just a goalscorer
Carlton Morris stole the show in the win at QPR in the final game of 2022 for his goalscoring exploits but at Huddersfield he showed there is plenty more to him than just scoring goals. Morris regularly came short to bring a centre-half out of the Huddersfield formation and link play to willing runners in what was a tactical masterclass from the visiting side.
The first time the former Barnsley man did this he sent Elijah Adebayo through on goal with his strike partner forcing Lee Nicholls into a good save to keep the game goalless. Later in the half, Morris did it again, returning an Alfie Doughty pass into the path of the willing wing-back. Doughty got behind the defence to put the ball across for the opening goal.
This was a real statement of intent under Edwards as, previously, the job of the striker was to run the channels looking to turn a lost cause into something valuable. Under the new manager, there is no aimless whacking into the channels and turning teams around. Instead, pulling players out of position to create space for team-mates is the masterplan, and it worked a treat at Huddersfield!
Adebayo showing signs of hitting top form
While his strike partner will have taken much of the attention over the Christmas period, Elijah Adebayo just quietly is beginning to come to the boil nicely. He was excellent in the win over Norwich City on Boxing Day prior to exiting with an injury and while he missed a chance to open the scoring at the John Smith’s Stadium, his display should not have gone unnoticed.
Adebayo produced a brilliant centre-forward performance without the ball, regularly stalking opposing defender Tom Lees, who appeared to be targeted as the man to go after when he was in possession of the ball, and forcing him either into a mistake or a long ball which Luton could turn into a spell on the ball of their own.
The only thing missing from the festive period for the striker was a goal but that will come soon. Adebayo was withdrawn on 83 minutes and received a huge hug from his manager who clearly enjoyed the display the Town number 11 provided him.
Bell likes the Yorkshire air
When Luton trailed 1-0 with half-time approaching they needed a hero to step forward and restore parity to give them something to build from for the second period. That hero was the unlikely source of Amari’i Bell who fired an Alfie Doughty cross towards goal and thankfully over the line before the Huddersfield defender sprawled in the way could keep it from going in.
This was the second goal the defender has scored for the club and the second time he has notched in the county of Yorkshire. His first goal for Luton was the winner at Barnsley last season with the quirk to both goals being that he has fired home with his supposedly weaker right foot on both occasions! We know all about the defensive qualities of the Jamaica international and if he can start to add more goals to his game he will be even more invaluable.
Burke is back with a bang!
Another surprise name on the team sheet on Sunday was the return of star defender Reece Burke. The former Hull City man began the game on the bench but as muscles strained after a third outing in six days it became more apparent that he might be called upon for the first time in three months.
Burke was eventually introduced for Alfie Doughty who suffered from cramp with just over an hour gone and 20 minutes later he made the telling contribution that saw the Hatters take three points back to Bedfordshire with them.
Picking the ball up just inside the opposing half from Cameron Jerome, Burke laid the ball off to Allan Campbell and continued his run into the box. Four passes later a James Bree cross fell at his feet and the big defender controlled it, turned and fired home the winner for a stunning return to first-team action.
Positive intent reaps its reward
Luton fans have got used to substitutes, or game-changers as they have been christened over the past few seasons, coming on and making a big impression on a game and twice in three outings that has been the case with players Rob Edwards has introduced to the fray.
After Cauley Woodrow came from the bench to score the winner against Norwich City, it was the turn of Reece Burke to turn a point into three when he was sent on.
Those were the successful side of the substitutions but a theme of them have been the positive nature and intent of them. If you think back to Boxing Day, Woodrow was sent on while the Town were down to 10 men and the same player came on at the John Smith’s Stadium for a defensive midfielder in Louie Watson, with Edwards clearly sending out a message on both occasions that his team were there to win.
That message clearly reached the players who achieved the mission that was given to them. Long may such a positive message continue to serve the Town well!
History suggests this could be a special season!
The win at Huddersfield completed a perfect nine-point festive period for the Town, just the third time in the 21st century that they have achieved such a haul. The two previous times were under Joe Kinnear in 2001/02 and John Still in 2013/14.
Luton fans won’t need me to tell them that both of those campaigns ended with the Hatters winning promotion, from League 2 under Kinnear and the Conference under Still.
There is a long way to go in the current Championship campaign but if history is anything to go by this one could end with a very special prize upon its conclusion!
