MATCH PREVIEW | LUTON TOWN v BRENTFORD

The Hatters host the Bees at Kenilworth Road tonight, 7.45pm kick-off

25 February 2020

The Hatters host Brentford tonight in the Sky Bet Championship looking to get back to winning ways after defeat at the weekend.

The 3-1 loss to Charlton Athletic was a first defeat in three games but a win against the Bees could move Town to within three points of safety. Last time out at Kenilworth Road, James Collins' tenth goal of the season - having missed a second-minute penalty - was enough to see Sheffield Wednesday beaten to lift the Hatters off the foot of the table.

They won the next game 1-0 at Middlesbrough too, but have since moved back to the bottom of the second tier table. Brentford, meanwhile, are in fourth position and could move above Fulham with a victory.

Graeme Jones said:

(Please note these quotes are taken from a separate interview after Graeme’s post-match press conference at Charlton on Saturday evening. You can watch the latest video on iFollow Hatters FREEVIEW by clicking here)

On the game’s importance: “It’s another opportunity for three points, everybody blew today (Charlton) up, bottom of the league but it’s three points, it’s another game, it’s about points tally. Our next opportunity to achieve points is Brentford at home.”

On Brentford’s threat: “They were exceptional that day when we played them so we need to be ready whoever is picked. Whoever goes out on the pitch needs to be ready mentally, physically and tactically, without a doubt.”

Any changes to the team: "I’ve got to have people available who are capable of coming in and giving the level that our boys did against Sheffield Wednesday and against Middlesbrough. I will only make those changes if I feel like that will be the case.”

The importance of Kenilworth Road: “Our crowd have got a part to play on Tuesday and Saturday without a doubt, they have to keep believing. Believe you me, we are in here still fighting one million per cent. Our next opportunity is Tuesday night. The crowd have been very good this season so we need a big performance from the crowd and a big performance from the players.”

Update on James Shea: “He broke his finger in training. James is such a great character, he plays such a big part, such an important role whether he is starting or not. It’s going to have to heal on its own but I’ve been impressed with Marek Stech all season, so it’s an opportunity for him, but I think Simon Sluga grew again today with his performance, and that’s incredibly satisfying.”

Who?

A Championship outfit since 2015, Brentford have previously been Fourth Division winners three times, Third Division winners twice and Second Division winners in 1935 as well.

They bid farewell to Griffin Park at the end of the season hoping to build on their 11^th place finish in the Championship last season as they attempt to gain promotion into the Premier League.

When and where?

Kick-off is 7.45pm at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday 25^th February.

Man in the middle?

Tonight's referee is Darren England, who last refereed the Hatters at home to Charlton Athletic in November and away at AFC Bournemouth in the Emirates FA Cup third round in January.

England has shown 66 yellows and only one red card in 25 matches this season, including one in the Premier League last month when he took charge of Southampton v Wolves.

Ticket information

Tickets remain available for tonight's fixture either online or from the Ticket Office via phone or in person.

However, due to Brentford selling their full allocation, only supporters with a previous purchasing history will be able to purchase tickets. Any tickets purchased online will be available for collection from the Ticket Office.

Click here for prices.

Played before?

The two sides met at Griffin Park in November and the Bees were 7-0 victors that day.

Despite that, the Hatters have the all-time superior record over their counterparts, winning 35 games compared to Brentford’s 26, sharing 15 draws as well.

Follow the action

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

The main blow-by-blow action account of the action from The Valley 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 | LUTON TOWN 2-1 BRENTFORD

Baptiste own goal and Cranie strike give the Hatters all three points

25 February 2020

The Town made it three wins in four as they stunned a Brentford side pushing for promotion at Kenilworth Road this evening.

An own goal from Bees midfielder Shandon Baptiste and Martin Cranie’s thumping volley gave Luton a 2-0 lead, and although Ollie Watkins pulled one back for the visitors late on, Luton held firm to see out the win.

Graeme Jones made one change from the side that lost at Charlton at the weekend, with Cranie coming in for James Bree at right-back. Izzy Brown missed out once again through illness, alongside injured duo Kazenga LuaLua and Sonny Bradley.

Brentford took control of the game early on, but it was Luton who held firm and took the lead after just nine minutes. Luke Berry swung a wide free-kick in from the right flank, it missed everyone and was eventually turned in at the back post by Baptiste.

Brentford reacted well, working the ball out to Mads Roerslev on the right, who pulled it back to Said Benrahma, forcing Simon Sluga into a great save high to his right.

Brentford continued to create chances but Luton held firm, Sluga once again pulling off a fine save half-an-hour in. Josh Dasilva was given space on the edge of the box, and his shot was saved low by the Croatian keeper with the rebound scrambled away by Spurs loanee Cameron Carter-Vickers.

However, the Town continued to create chances of their own. The lively Harry Cornick played Ryan Tunnicliffe in behind the Brentford defence, but his fizzed ball across the six-yard box just evaded the onrushing Collins.

Berry’s free-kicks continued to trouble Brentford, his deep delivery from the halfway line just going over the rising Dan Potts.

It was a Berry free-kick that doubled Luton’s lead in first-half stoppage time. Another out-swinger from the right-flank wasn’t cleared by Brentford, falling to Martin Cranie who unleashed a thunderous half-volley that nestled in the top right corner to give the Hatters a 2-0 half-time lead.

As expected, Brentford came flying out of the blocks. Roerslev once again found space down the right flank, his floated cross found Mbeumo at the front post but his header went straight into the hands of Sluga.

Brentford continued to pile on the pressure as the clock struck the hour mark, with Luton pinned back into their own penalty box, but once again they held firm.

After numerous blocked crosses and shots, Brentford again found space down the right-flank, but Dasilva’s powerful cross missed everyone.

In an attempt to get back into the game, Brentford threw on forwards Emiliano Marcondes and Tariqe Fosu on the hour mark, and Joel Valencia with 20 minutes to play, but Luton continued to stand firm and create chances of their own. Raya’s pass was intercepted by Berry on the right, who fed Cornick but his shot was saved low.

With eight minutes to play, the Brentford pressure told. Roerslev was played in down the right flank, he pulled it back to Watkins who finished low to Sluga’s right for his 22nd goal of the season, setting up a tense finish at Kenilworth Road.

Late on, Benrahma went close from the edge of the box, his curling shot scraping Sluga’s left post.

Brentford threw keeper Raya forward in the closing stages, as Valencia’s corner from the right was headed down and cleared off the line by Luton.

But Luton, buoyed by a raucous Kenilworth Road crowd, continued to press and harry Brentford, seeing out the four minutes of additional time and sealing a third win in four games, leaving them just four points from safety with 11 matches still to play.

TOWN: Sluga, Cranie, Carter-Vickers, Pearson, Potts, Rea, Tunnicliffe, Mpanzu, Berry, Cornick (Hylton 87), Collins (C). Subs not used: Stech, Bree, Bolton. Shinnie, Moncur, McManaman

Goals: Baptiste OG, Cranie

Yellows: Rea, Potts

BRENTFORD: Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Roerslev, Dalsgaard (C), Nørgaard (Marcondes 62), Dasilva, Baptiste (Valenica 71), Mbuemo (Fosu 62), Benrahma, Watkins. Subs not used: Dervisoglu, Daniels, Zamburek, Racic

Goals: Watkins

Yellows: Nørgaard

Referee: Darren England

Attendance: 10,008 (1,032 away)

Ticket News

TICKET UPDATE | BRENTFORD TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE!

Book your seat to get behind the boys at Kenilworth Road tomorrow night

24 February 2020

The Ticket Office would like to advise supporters that tickets still remain available for tomorrow night’s game against Brentford.

Tickets are available online or from the Ticket Office via phone or in person.

However, due to Brentford selling their full allocation, only supporters with a previous purchasing history will be able to purchase tickets.

Any tickets purchased online will be available for collection from the Ticket Office.

Click here for prices.

Ticket News

Luton Town Football Club

Standings

MATCH PREVIEW | LUTON TOWN v BRENTFORD

MATCH REPORT | LUTON TOWN 2-1 BRENTFORD

TICKET UPDATE | BRENTFORD TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE!