Not good enough.
That was the overwhelming feeling from the Town camp after Tuesday night’s defeat at Huddersfield.
No sugar coating here. Jack Wilshere to Jordan Clark echoed the frustration of every Hatter around the world.
An inability to beat a side who played over an hour with 10 men to slump to a fourth successive away defeat in League One.
Not pretty reading.
But listen – no time to dwell on it. Correct it. Go again. Cliché? Sure. But Saturday gives the Town the opportunity to bounce back. And where better to do it at home?
Kenilworth Road’s been good to us in recent months – unbeaten in eight league games – so let’s get into it as this weekend the Town entertain Blackpool.
Oh I do like to be beside the seaside?
So there’s not getting away from the Town’s indifferent record on the road but ask any Blackpool fan and they’ll give you no sympathy.
The Tangerines have the fourth-worst away record in the third tier, taking 10 points from their 13 games away from Bloomfield Road. They lost 5-1 at bottom-of-the-table Port Vale on New Year’s Day.
It’s not been a season to cherish so far for the Seasiders. They lost nine of their first 14 games, axed manager Steve Bruce, replaced him with Ian Evatt but have now lost five of their last six.
A bright spark? Ashley Fletcher. The 30-year-old striker has hit an impressive 18 goals in 33 appearances this season – and 16 in his last 20. Numbers not to be sniffed at.
However, all in all, it leaves Saturday’s visitors 16th in the third tier, two points above the relegation zone.
Haven’t we met before?
So, there’s this website. Hatters Heritage. You might have heard of it. Got information and line-ups of every single game we’ve ever played. Scans of every programme and photos of every player, too. Including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. What a player and what work from an unsung team of Hatters heroes.
Visiting their website will give you the complete record of all our meetings with the Seasiders, which goes back to our first clash in 1897 (spoiler alert, we won 3-1, but please read the match reports).
Back in the here and now, earlier this season the Hatters came from two goals down to earn a late point thanks to goals from Jordan Clark and Gideon Kodua at Bloomfield Road.
Interestingly, in our opinion anyway, Kodua’s injury-time equaliser from the spot denied the Tangerines only their second win in 15 meetings against the Hatters.
But while the Town have held the upper hand when it comes to the recent head-to-head record, the Seasiders won the one game that really mattered when the two sides met in the League Two play-offs in 2017.
That 3-3 draw in the play-offs, though… Had it all, didn’t it? Behind, ahead… Proper rollercoaster of emotions. Ultimately for us, that eventual feeling can firmly be stored in the ‘sick to the stomach’ category. Or words to that effect.
Blackpool fans in the away end on Saturday will be aware that Kenilworth Road has been far from a happy hunting ground – only winning once in their past 17 visits – the last victory coming back in 2003.
Played for both
Allan Brown is the most celebrated to have played for both – and you can read part one of a special Hatters Heritage piece on the Scot, who helped the Hatters reach the FA Cup final in 1959, in Saturday’s match programme.
Others to have worn orange and tangerine, include Adrian Forbes, Bob Hatton and Callum McManaman.
Not that we knew it at the time, but McManaman scored an absolutely crucial goal in our bid to stave off relegation from the Championship in 2020 when scoring a fine, late equaliser against Preston. It would be the catalyst of the great escape.
In charge
Martin Woods takes charge of Saturday’s game – the only time he’s refereed either club this season? The game at Bloomfield Road between the two sides back in September.
Last season he sent off Shrewsbury’s John Marquis after 13 seconds in their game with Peterborough. It equalled the fastest red card from the start of a match in English professional football.
On this day
Last time we played on 31st January, Elijah Adebayo scored the winner as we beat Cardiff 1-0 at Kenilworth Road. A win that kept us in the hunt for promotion from the Championship in 2023.
We’re not expecting home defeats to Cheltenham, in 2017, and Bury, in 2009, to be at the top of anyone’s ‘I was there’ moments, though.
Does anyone remember Bontcho Guentchev? Bulgarian international with a fantastic mullet? No? Well, he took a decent set-piece, and his free-kick was the difference in a 1-0 home win over Sheffield United back on this day in 1996. Watch it below and listen to Bontcho’s post-match thoughts. Wonderful.
Town team news
Striker Ali Al-Hamadi came on for his second appearance in Town colours at Huddersfield in midweek and could be in contention for a third against the Tangerines.
Former Blackpool striker Jerry Yates will not be involved, however, type: entry-hyperlink id: 7tBncXAwmTkLSuVxw8JKUL.
Jack’s presser
Watch the manager’s press conference on LTFC+ as he goes further in depth on personnel, the game itself and an expected busy last few days of the winter transfer window. All 43 minutes and 48 seconds are here for all to see for free without any logging in faff. Enjoy.
Back at home
Not got a ticket yet and want to get down to Kenilworth Road? Click here. It couldn’t be easier.
Below’s the schedule of events in the lead-up to kick-off. And yes, you do read that right. Between 1.30 and 2.30 it’s 50 per cent off all drinks. Nice.
Tune in, turn on.
Simon Pitts will be, as ever, on the mic on LTFC+ to call this one from the sanctuary of English football’s longest gantry. And where no opposition fans can shout at him.
If you’re overseas and want to watch, it’s £10. Just want audio? It’s available anywhere, and it’s just £2.50 for the pleasure. Clicking here gives you those possibilities.
If you are an ex-pat overseas, take advantage of the half-season Global Hatters subscription which is now just £150. All the details are right here.
You can also follow our social media channels for live updates as they happen, plus photos and behind-the-scenes content during the 90 minutes. Stay on lutontown.co.uk post-match for a full report, post-match reaction and the all-important highlights.
And finally...don’t be THAT fan.
A reminder to all supporters, no matter who you are, how old or who you’re supporting, to go about your day with respect. We continue to support the Love Football, Protect the Game campaign.
Luton Town Football Club has committed in its customer charter to providing safe match-day experiences for all supporters regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation, and this applies equally to home and away fixtures.
In the event that any Luton supporters do make discriminatory chants, the Club will work with the police and football authorities to help identify such individuals. Any such fans would then face the strictest club sanctions, including football banning orders that would prevent them attending any matches, in addition to any criminal charges.
Furthermore, we would like to warn against pitch incursions and the use of pyrotechnics or missiles – including any type of object that is thrown onto the pitch during a match – which could lead to potential prosecution.
The Club can also be held responsible for the behaviour of its supporters, which could lead to substantial fines being imposed.
As a diverse and inclusive football club, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our fellow EFL clubs in supporting the FA’s ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ campaign and call on all fans to enjoy the game in a positive spirit.
If you are offended by any discriminatory abuse of any kind at any of our games, you can report it by clicking HERE, or by contacting your nearest steward immediately.
Alternatively, email [email protected] or report the incident via Kick it Out's free, confidential reporting app on the App Store and Google Play.
We're all Luton.
