MATCH PREVIEW | STOKE CITY V LUTON TOWN

The Hatters head to the Bet365 Stadium this evening

10 December 2019

Apologies, this video is unvailable.

The Hatters travel to Stoke tonight looking to make it three wins from four Sky Bet Championship games.

After moving up to 20th position in the second tier with a fantastic turnaround 2-1 victory against Wigan Athletic, Town could climb further up the league with a positive result at the Bet365 Stadium.

Graeme Jones’ side have picked up nine of their 20 points so far this campaign by defeating three out of the four teams below them, and will be looking to make it all four when they face the 23^rd placed Potters.

Stoke are without a win in three games after losing 2-1 to Hull City at the weekend but could lift themselves out of the relegation zone with a victory.

Former Shamrock Rovers and Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill recently took over the Staffordshire based side and has overseen two wins in five games.

Supporters have until 11am this morning to purchase their tickets for the match, with pay on the night not available at Stoke.

GRAEME JONES SAID:

(Please note these quotes are taken from Graeme’s press conference on Monday)

On current injuries in the squad: “Dan Potts felt his groin, so it’s another one. We’re getting tested at the minute. We had a clean injury bill for four months since pre-season and the last week we’ve ended up with Izzy Brown, Brendan Galloway, as well as Martin Cranie, so that's a little bit disappointing, but we’ll have to dust ourselves down.

“We’re still assessing Dan, he’s a little bit sore so we’ll have to see where he is tomorrow. Hopefully he’ll make the game.

“Martin is going to be out for a bit longer than we first thought which is a bit disappointing as he’s a key player. But it’s how it is, you’ve just got to get on with it.”

On facing a Stoke City side managed by Michael O’Neill: “I would underestimate them at our peril. Individually then can turn up and hurt you.

“I consider Michael O’Neill a friend – someone I played with at Wigan and St Johnstone. He’s somebody I really respect, somebody’s company I really, really love, I hope I enjoy his company tomorrow night after a positive result for Luton Town, where you have to pay respect to the opposition.

“I am more interested in how we perform tomorrow night, how we carry on our level of performance from the weekend. Because when all is said and done the final score-line was 2-1 to us, but the performance was very, very good. To play under that pressure, to play under those circumstances, was really pleasing.”

WHO?

Stoke have been relatively successful over the years. They won the League Cup in 1972, Division Two in 1993 and spent ten years in the top-flight, before getting relegated in 2018.

They reached the FA Cup final in 2011 but narrowly lost 1-0 to Manchester City. The following season they were in the Europa League and made it to the round of 32 stage.

WHEN AND WHERE?

Kick-off is 8pm at the Bet365 Stadium on Tuesday 10th December.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE?

Former Hyundai A-League referree Jarred Gillett will be taking charge of tonight's game. He has overseen 12 games, dishing out 42 yellow cards and one red card. The Australian moved over to this country to work in the EFL earlier on this year, and for the final game he refereed in his homeland, was wearing a microphone - with the video available to watch below.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are still available to buy up until 11am on Tuesday 10th December.

PLAYED BEFORE?

The last time the two sides met was in the League Cup in 2015, which Stoke won on penalties. For the last league meeting, you have to date back to 2007 when the teams met in the Championship and played out a 0-0 draw.

Stoke have the superior all-time record against the Hatters, winning 17 of the 42 meetings, compared with Town’s 11 wins.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

The main blow-by-blow account of the action from the Bet365 Stadium will be provided via the Match Centre on the club website, which you can access by clicking here.

The main moments from the game will appear on the Hatters’ social media feeds:

Twitter – @LutonTown

Facebook – www.facebook.com/LutonTown/

Instagram – www.instagram.com/ltfc_official/

Match Previews

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT | STOKE CITY 3-0 LUTON TOWN

Town suffer defeat at the Bet365 Stadiu

10 December 2019

The Hatters suffered a disappointing defeat at the Bet365 Stadium this evening as they were beaten 3-0 by Stoke City.

Goals from James McClean and Joe Allen condemned the Town to a sixth consecutive away defeat in the Championship.

Graeme Jones opted to keep ten out the XI who started against Wigan Athletic at the weekend in his starting line-up – with the exception of the injured Dan Potts, who was replaced by Alan Sheehan, making his first second tier start for the club.

Ryan Shawcross very nearly marked his return to the Stoke side within the opening ten minutes, connecting with James McClean’s corner from six yards out, but could only direct it onto the crossbar before Shea gathered.

Two minutes before the half hour mark and the Hatters had their first opportunity of the game as Luke Berry sliced the Stoke defence open finding Ryan Tunnicliffe – but the former Millwall man took too many touches and Danny Batth made a great block on the effort, sending it behind for a corner.

With 35 minutes on the clock the hosts took the lead after a mix-up between Andrew Shinnie and Matty Pearson, with Joe Allen winning the ball and playing in McClean, who fired past James Shea from an angle.

Just three minutes later and the Town keeper was called into action as he palmed away Sam Clucas’ effort from the edge of the box, diving to his right and to put it out for a corner, before having to pull off a near carbon-copy save with 41 minutes gone from the same attacker, who really should’ve done better.

Joe Allen doubled the hosts’ advantage just before the half-time whistle as he nodded in unmarked from McClean’s cross, before adding a third five minutes after the restart as he curled an effort into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.

Harry Cornick should have done better after Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu intercepted a pass on the edge of the Stoke final third, picking out George Moncur who then found the forward, but he sliced his shot wide with 55 minutes gone.

Tom Ince’s low drive was tipped behind by Shea, flying to his right to keep out the effort from the edge of the box with nine minutes to go.

On a night of frustration for the Town, a silver lining was the return of Glen Rea, who was introduced at the beginning of the second half, having not made an appearance for the Hatters in 353 days.

The result sees the Town slip down a place to 21^st spot, three points clear of the Potters.

Stoke: Butland, Edwards, Ward, Allen, Lindsay, Ince, Vokes (Diouf 79), McClean, Shawcross (Batth 16), Clucas (Powell 82), Cousins.

Subs not used: Federici, Hogan, Collins, Wood.

Goals: McClean 35, Allen 45, 50

Yellows: Lindsay

Town: Shea, Bree, Pearson, Bradley, Sheehan ©, Mpanzu, Tunnicliffe, Shinnie (Rea 46), Berry (Moncur 46), Collins, Cornick.

Subs not used: Sluga, McManaman, LuaLua, Jones.

Yellows: Collins

Referee: Jarred Gillett

Attendance: 20,216

Away: 769

Match Reports

Ticket News

STOKE CITY TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE NIGHT

9 December 2019

The Ticket Office would like to advise that pay on the night will not be available at Stoke City for tomorrow evening’s Sky Bet Championship fixture at the Bet365 Stadium.

To assist any supporters who still wish to purchase tickets, sales will now be available until 11am tomorrow (Tuesday 10th December).

Tickets will need to be collected from the Ticket Office or arrangements can be made for tickets to be at Stoke to collect on the night.

A massive thank you to the supporters who are making the journey up to Staffordshire for the game.

Luton Town Football Club

Standings

MATCH PREVIEW | STOKE CITY V LUTON TOWN

MATCH REPORT | STOKE CITY 3-0 LUTON TOWN

STOKE CITY TICKETS NOT AVAILABLE ON THE NIGHT