Luton Town have been handed a Carabao Cup second-round trip to Chelsea, which could mean a rethink of two League One fixtures.
The Hatters were drawn away to the Premier League giants last night, following Saturday’s impressive 3-0 first-round victory at Gillingham, setting up a return to Stamford Bridge later this month.
However, the timing of the tie could have consequences beyond the cup itself, with Chelsea already scheduled to face Fulham on Monday, August 24.
With the second round of the Carabao Cup due to be played during the week beginning August 24, that means Chelsea’s existing league fixture could potentially push their meeting with Luton towards Thursday, August 27.
That would then leave the Hatters facing a possible rearrangement of their next two League One fixtures and Town could potentially find themselves playing three matches in the space of eight days.
Luton’s scheduled trip to Mansfield Town, currently due to take place on Saturday, August 29, could have to move to Sunday, while their home meeting with Stockport County, currently scheduled for Tuesday, September 1, could potentially move back 24 hours to Wednesday.
Nothing has been confirmed yet, with the date and kick-off time of Luton’s trip to Stamford Bridge still to be announced alongside ticket information.
The Hatters’ official website confirmed that the fixture is currently scheduled for the week commencing August 24 and highlighted Chelsea’s clash with Fulham on the Monday.
In a statement, Luton said: “The Hatters will face a familiar opponent of recent times after the Carabao Cup second round draw threw up a trip to Chelsea. The Town’s reward for a 3-0 first round win at Gillingham is a return to Stamford Bridge, where we have played in both the FA Cup and Premier League in recent campaigns.
“Our visit, scheduled for week commencing Monday 24th August, a night when the Blues already have their Premier League fixture against Fulham, will be the clubs’ fifth meeting in the last five-and-a-half years. It follows on from an FA Cup fourth round tie played behind closed doors at the west London ground during the covid restrictions in place during 2020/21, and our second game of the 2023/24 season in the top flight.
“Sandwiched in between was a home FA Cup fifth round tie in 2021/22, as well as the Premier League return at Kenilworth Road in December 2023. Details of the date and kick-off time of this second round tie in the Carabao Cup will be confirmed, along with ticket information, in due course.”
The trip will be Luton’s fifth meeting with Chelsea in just over five years, but the first since the Blues became Club World Cup champions last year.
The most recent came during the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, when the Luton lost 3-2 at Kenilworth Road, following a 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture.
Luton have also faced Chelsea twice in the FA Cup in successive seasons, losing 3-1 behind closed doors in west London in January 2021 before a 3-2 home defeat in March 2022, when Town took an early lead through Reece Burke.
The Hatters’ last victory at Stamford Bridge came 40 years ago, when Mike Newell scored twice and Brian Stein was also on target in a famous 3-1 Division One victory in September 1986.
Chelsea will be under new management for the latest meeting, with former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso taking charge during the summer.
Full Carabao Cup draw:
Southern Section: Walsall vs Leyton Orient; Ipswich v Leicester; Cardiff v Norwich; Stevenage v Reading; Cambridge v Millwall; Birmingham City v Brentford; Southampton v West Ham; Watford v Peterborough; Fulham v AFC Wimbledon; Plymouth v Coventry; Chelsea v Luton; Tottenham v Charlton.
Northern Section: Stoke City v Hull City; Newcastle v West Brom; Blackburn v Sheffield Utd; Nottingham Forest v Leeds; Doncaster v Middlesbrough; Barnsley v Crewe; Preston v Everton; Blackpool v Lincoln; Sheffield Wednesday v Wolves; Bradford v Burnley; Fleetwood v Shrewsbury.
Be the first to comment