Thirteen? Unlucky for some. Not Luton. Not on this day. Faced with equalling their worst-ever away-day losing streak, the Hatters scrapped their way to a first point away from Kenilworth Road in 140 long days.
Against Sheffield Wednesday, who Town have lost to just once in 13 league games, Alfie Doughty put the visitors ahead with a thunderbolt from outside the box on 31 minutes.
On the hour, Town shot themselves in the foot to concede an extremely avoidable penalty, which half-time substitute Michael Smith just about converted.
But, crucially, Luton did not crumble in a final half an hour that was virtually one-way traffic, as they successfully battled to end a losing run – the worst in all four top divisions in England – that now will not surpass or even match that of the Town team of 1927/28.
The unwanted record-equalling 13 straight defeats away from Kenilworth Road can now remain buried firmly in almost a century of Hatters history.
For the class of 2024/25, this wasn’t pretty but it is something for to build on at long last, though fears of consecutive relegations are still real, even as a hard-fought point at Hillsborough reduced to two points the bridge to safety.
“It felt good,” said Bloomfield, who is still without a win as Luton boss, though this will feel as close to one as possible.
“I can feel the spirit growing. I can feel the belief growing. I can feel the confidence growing. But that’s only words from me, unless we back it up with results and points away from home. A point always has to be respected. And I thought there was some real good displays in there as a team.
“I thought, first off, our shape was fantastic. We limited to Sheffield Wednesday to very few opportunities. Obviously, with the [hosts’] changes they made at half time, the game was going to change slightly. I think we tired a little bit as well.
“We’ve got some boys still working their way back to full fitness. Lamine’s [Fanne] first start in a few weeks. Alfie obviously was a fantastic goal in the first half and tired a little bit, but there was some really good individual performances and I thought the character and togetherness was absolutely fantastic today.”
And with debuts for the four players Bloomfield signed this week – a start for Thelo Aasgaard and cameos for Josh Bowler, Millenic Alli and the return of Kal Naismith – plus a first 90 minutes for the fit-again Fanne, there are reasons to be cautiously more optimistic.
There will be things that need improvement, but Luton aren’t currently in a position to chase perfection. Points are everything.
Town were solid and structured in the first half and outplayed in the second – but until that happened, there was Doughty’s first strike of the season to savour.
Bloomfield said: “He’s a top player. He’s got he’s got a wand of a left foot. He’s a boy of huge, ability. Individual ability.”
From that moment of quality, the second 45 minutes was about bodies on the line and backs-to-the-wall defending, most notably from Mark McGuinness right at the death to throw himself in harm’s way. But, that in itself, felt newfangled.
“We obviously conceded territory quite a bit, but to defend the like the way we did and without seeing it back yet, I’m assuming there’s going to be some good habits in there, because you don’t defend like that and get bodies in the right places without having those habits. So, hopefully, it’s a good step for us,” said Bloomfield.
And so the big regret will be that, having restricting Wednesday enough, Town gifted the hosts their leveller, as has been frustratingly customary.
Djeidi Gassama was allowed to run from his own half with Reuell Walters and Jordan Clark both failing to take the ball off him. Then, once he’d shrugged them off and slalomed his way into the box Fanne slid in – and there was a hint that he did so legally – but the Owl hit the deck and referee Ben Toner pointed to the spot.
“We just tried to tackle him from the wrong side a couple of times,” Bloomfield told the BBC, adding: “Also, the state of the game, if you need to foul, foul or higher up the pitch, little bits and pieces of game management that come with experience. But we’ve got to try and get that experience into the boys as quickly as you can with the ones that need it.”
Smith converted the spot-kick. Just. Thomas Kaminski guessed right and got hands to the ball and as the net bulged on the hour mark, it seemed like the match, as so many have this term, was only going to go one way.
Town could barely get out of their own low-blocked penalty area, but when they did Clark wasted a promising free-kick by hitting the two-man wall.
Then, two of the debutants combined as Alli cut inside to shoot, with the effort deflected into the path of Bowler who, from 18 yards out, pulled his shot wide.
But they did suggest that Bloomfield’s forward-thinking substitutions had somewhat stemmed the Wednesday tide. That was until Luton succumbed to a nervy final stanza. To be expected? Perhaps.
But, unlike at Oxford – the manager’s only previous Luton away-day – his Hatters did not crumble and they held on for a rare point to end almost the mother of all away-day hoodoos.
The 12 defeats before it had become a millstone around their necks, but it now won’t register in the history books. The past is where Luton will hope it stays. The future? A touch brighter, with many battles yet to face.
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