Luton will kick off their 2020/21 Championship season at away to Barnsley – but fans will almost certainly miss the first chance to travel to Watford’s Vicarage Road in 14 years.
The derby clash is their third league game of the season after a home match against Derby County.
Town will face the Hornets in the return fixture at Kenilworth Road on April 17, and fans will hope they’re allowed back in stadia again, as there has been talk that reduced capacities could be allowed from October.
Supporters have been shut out since March when the Coronavirus pandemic struck. Though football returned in July, it was behind closed doors for the final nine games of the season that saw Town and first opponents Barnsley secure their Championship status with final day victories.
Watford lost their Premier League status on the final day of the top-flight campaign, and so the two teams can now renew old rivalries again in five weeks time – just without fans there to witness it.
Supporters were left expressing their disappointment on social media with one Hatter, Matt Storey, posting on Twitter: ‘Hard to feel any enthusiasm for the upcoming season.’
Luton will begin their season on September 5 with a home Carabao Cup first round south clash against another relegated Premier League outfit, Norwich City.
The league action follows a week later and Town face an opening month that culminates with the visit of Wycombe Wanderers on October 3.
The busy Christmas period sees the Hatters face Bournemouth (h – 19 December), Reading (a – Boxing Day), Bristol City (h – 29th), QPR (h – January 2, 2021). They also end their campaign with a return fixture at Rangers on May 8.
Full fixtures:
September
Sat, Sep 5: Norwich City H (Carabao Cup)
Sat, Sep 12: Barnsley A.
Sat, Sep 19: Derby County H.
Sat, Sep 26: Watford A.
October
Sat, Oct 3: Wycombe Wanderers H.
Sat, Oct 17: Stoke City H.
Tue, Oct 20: Millwall A.
Sat, Oct 24: Sheffield Wednesday A.
Wed, Oct 28: Nottingham Forest H.
Sat, Oct 31: Brentford H.
November
Wed, Nov 4: Rotherham United A.
Sat, Nov 7: Huddersfield Town A.
Sat, Nov 21: Blackburn Rovers H.
Tue, Nov 24: Birmingham City H.
Sat, Nov 28: Cardiff City A.
December
Wed, Dec 2: Norwich City H.
Sat, Dec 5: Swansea City A.
Tue, Dec 8: Coventry City A.
Sat, Dec 12: Preston North End: H.
Wed, Dec 16: Middlesbrough A.
Sat, Dec 19: AFC Bournemouth H.
Sat, Dec 26: Reading A.
Tue, Dec 29: Bristol City H.
January
Sat, Jan 2: Queens Park Rangers H.
Sat, Jan 16: AFC Bournemouth A.
Wed, Jan 20: Brentford A.
Sat, Jan 23: Rotherham United H.
Sat, Jan 30: Blackburn Rovers A.
February
Sat, Feb 6: Huddersfield Town H.
Sat, Feb 13: Birmingham City A.
Tue, Feb 16: Cardiff City H.
Sat, Feb 20: Stoke City A.
Tue, Feb 23: Millwall H.
Sat, Feb 27: Sheffield Wednesday H.
March
Tue, Mar 2: Nottingham Forest A.
Sat, Mar 6: Norwich City A.
Sat, Mar 13: Swansea City H.
Tue, Mar 16: Coventry City H.
Sat, Mar 20: Preston North End A.
April
Fri, Apr 2: Derby County A.
Mon, Apr 5: Barnsley H.
Sat, Apr 10: Wycombe Wanderers A.
Sat, Apr 17: Watford H.
Wed, Apr 21: Reading H.
Sat, Apr 24: Bristol City A.
May
Sat, May: 1 Middlesbrough H.
Sat, May 8: Queens Park Rangers A.
