Great expectations? There are now. This is not a drill and this is not a fluke. This is where Luton belong (currently).
Nathan Jones told me about the “level of expectation” on Saturday after beating West Brom 2-0, but after seeing off Stoke, despatching that wet Wednesday football cliche, ending a 22-year hoodoo and now ending a 26-year wait for a hat-trick of Championship wins on the spin, then why not dare to dream?
When Danny Hylton’s hitting the net in consecutive games, the old tingles can’t help but return and a sense that anything’s possible. When Danny was last banging them in for fun, Town were a runaway train. Destination Championship. Boss Nathan Jones even called him the “catalyst” for that rise. So why can’t the signs now be slightly changed to point to the Premier League promised land?
It’s not all Hylton’s doing, of course, but if you’re looking for good omens, it’s a start. And that’s coming for me who, when asked at the start of the season, would’ve bitten your hand off for top 10 finish and left it at that.
Even on this month’s episode of the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Podcast I was warning against getting too carried away by a play-off push.
Well, a week’s a long time in football and Luton’s just keeps getting better. So, ignore that, I’m all in. Never too high, never too low? Uh-uh, not this time. Let’s stick our heads in the clouds and at least have a mooch about.
Cameron Jerome bagged two in two against West Brom and Stoke, now Hylton has, Allan Campbell can hit ‘em from anywhere, the defence is clean sheet crazy, game-changers keep living up to their name, Town are in the play-off places with games in hand and everything’s ticking along tremendously.
What’s more, whoever is named in the starting line-up (as long as it’s not against Birmingham!) they are absolutely relentless. Town saw off bogey side Stoke with barely a recognised midfielder available. No, I’ve not gone loopy! Against Derby, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jordan Clark and Luke Berry were all missing. They still won.
Progress and evolution are the talk of the town this term, and rightly so, but Saturday against the Rams was a big next step on that journey.
Before that, the Hatters were yet to win three on the spin in the Championship, not just this term, but since their return to the second tier. In fact, since the 1995-96 season. That stat has now been overcome. And now only runaway league leaders Fulham have taken as many of the available points as Town since the turn of the year (25, for those counting).
Not content with that, Jones said after being Stoke: Realistically, the objective is to make sure we’re a Championship football club, first and foremost. That’s secure, three or four games ago, so now let’s see where it goes. We want to push boundaries, we’ve got a group here that wants to win games, and that can take you a hell of a long a way.”
Then after beating Derby and infiltrating the top six, he said: “If you’d asked any sane Luton fan that, ‘on the 1st March, we’d be top six, playing Chelsea in the fifth round (of the FA Cup), playing at Kenilworth Road with a full crowd, would you take it?’ I think pretty much everyone would.”
Just where this wild ride ends, who knows? But great expectations? You bet.
Your logo looks awesome, can you tell me who made it?
Sorry, I can’t hangout. My uncle’s cousin’s sister in law’s best friend’s insurance agent’s roommate’s pet goldfish died. Maybe next time.
F*ckin¦ awesome issues here. I¦m very glad to look your article. Thanks so much and i am looking ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
Pretty! This was a really wonderful post. Thank you for your provided information.
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!