Match Preview | Norwich City (H)

24 December 2022

The Hatters return home for the final home match of 2022 as they welcome Norwich City to Kenilworth Road.

The 7:45pm kick-off is being broadcasted live on Sky Sports and is the first taste in the home dugout for manager Rob Edwards, who took charge of his first Luton match over two weeks ago.

We would like to ask all inside the ground on Monday to stand for a minute's applause in the 17th minute to remember Fred Young who sadly passed away aged 102 on November 17th.

Fred was a well-known and well-liked Luton supporter who had followed the club up and down the country for over 80 years, past his 100th birthday.

The opposition:

Norwich City have won one and lost one on their return to action since the World Cup break as they currently find themselves fifth in the league.

Experienced manager Dean Smith has held his position at the club since November 2021 after previous spells with Walsall, Brentford and Aston Villa. Following a playing career spanning over 500 matches in all competitions, the now 51-year-old is hoping to take the Canaries straight back to the Premier League.

Josh Sargent is amongst the top scorers in the Champioinship with nine goals in 21 league matches so far this season, whilst his forward partner Teemu Pukki has provided four goals and four assists.

Last time we met:

Carlton Morris returned to Carrow Road and scored the winning goal, condemning Norwich City to a third straight defeat in the Sky Bet Championship.

The forward placed his seventh goal of the season beyond Angus Gunn after a couple of slick step-overs to deceive defender Grant Hanley as the Hatters stretched their unbeaten run to seven games.

The Hatters have been victorious on the last two occasions when Norwich have visited Kenilworth Road - winning 3-1 twice in the 2020/21 campaign.

Ticket information:

Tickets can be purchased online at www.eticketing.co.uk/lutontown or via phone on 01582 416976. You can choose to receive your tickets either digitally to enable you to print at home or send to any smartphone. You can also choose to collect a matchday ticket on the day of the game. Postage will be also be offered.

The Price Category for this fixture is Category B:

Adult: £27
Over 65 / Under 22: £22
Over 75 / Under 19: £19
Youth Under 17: £10
Junior Under 10: £7

Season Card holders who are not able to attend can take advantage of the buyback process and receive vouchers for catering units or either Club Shop. Requests to cancel your seats must be received at least 24 hours prior to the date of the game by email to ticketoffice@lutontown.co.uk.

How to follow:

Text updates on the Match Centre
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Watch LIVE on Sky Sports

For supporters who want to watch or listen to all available iFollow matches this season and have access to exclusive content, including pre-match press conferences and player interviews, subscription details can be found HERE.

Simon Pitts is on iFollow Hatters commentary and audio match passes are available for every match for £2.50.

this match will not be available on the live iFollow stream to overseas subscribers in countries where the EFL has agreed an international broadcast deal, and the local broadcaster elects to show it.

In a change for the 2022-23 season, however, if the local broadcaster elects NOT to show the match, then it WILL be available on the iFollow stream for overseas supporters in that country. Click HERE for more information.

The officials:

Referee: Tim Robinson

Assistant Referees: Nigel Lugg and Andrew Fox

Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty

The man in the middle on Monday evening is Tim Tobinson.

He last refereed a Luton match in November, officiating the 1-0 away win against Blackpool.

So far this term, has taken charge of 17 matches - 15 of which in the Championship - dishing out 69 yellow cards and three reds.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report | Luton Town 2-1 Norwich City

26 December 2022

Cauley Woodrow returned from injury and scored a dramatic winner against Norwich City to give Rob Edwards the perfect start at Kenilworth Road.

The forward, brought on minutes before, picked out the top corner to secure all three points after Allan Campbell's earlier strike had been cancelled out by Teemu Pukki.

A first Boxing Day fixture for three years, Edwards made one change for his first home match in charge, an enforced one with the suspended Amari'i Bell replaced by Dan Potts - who was starting in the Sky Bet Championship for the first time since he was forced off through injury against Blackpool last month.

Carlton Morris scored the winner in the last meeting against the Canaries back in October and the former Norwich striker started up front again with Elijah Adebayo.

There was a single change amongst the substitutes, with Cauley Woodrow fit and returning to the matchday squad ahead of midfielder Louie Watson.

The Hatters began the game in positive style, Mpanzu and Doughty combining down the left to find Campbell in the box on six minutes, and his attempted curler was deflected past the far post.

Clark hooked a half-volley over the bar from the resulting corner, then the Town went even closer on ten minutes when Bree picked out Potts with a deep set piece delivery, but Adebayo couldn't divert the captain's header inside the post from close range after he had won the corner with a driving run into the City box.

Teemu Pukki soon flashed a 20-yarder over Horvath's bar at the other end, before Bree went closer still to opening the scoring, whipping a 25-yard free-kick - awarded for a high challenge on Clark - that Angus Gunn flew across his line to tip onto the crossbar, with Norwich's defence denying Morris the opportunity to profit on the follow-up.

The visitors reminded Town of their threat midway through the half when Gabriel Sara stung Horvath's palms from distance, before he skipped to the left byline and sent a low cross that eluded everyone in the Hatters' six-yard box.

The Hatters were playing well though, with Potts proving a threat at every set piece but heading wide when unmarked in the six-yard box, although the linesman's flag would have ruled it out.

Osho was unfortunate to receive a yellow card for a foul on Dimitris Giannoulis, for what appeared to be a fair challenge on the edge of the Norwich box, after referee Tim Robinson had ignored shouts for a penalty for handball against Andrew Omobamidele as the visiting centre-half mistimed his attempted header, before blocking Morris' shot.

Lockyer went into the book soon into the second half for a trip on Kenny McLean, who had been sent off for elbowing the Wales centre-half in the match at Carrow Road earlier in the season.

Adebayo was forced off by a knock just before the hour, with another former Norwich striker, Cameron Jerome coming on in his place.

Town made a deserved breakthrough in the 61st minute when Campbell robbed Giannoulis 30 yards from the Norwich goal and strode forward to fizz a beauty past Gunn, low into the corner of the Canaries net.

Horvath pawed a deflected McLean shot behind for a corner six minutes later, and Norwich were level on 69 minutes when Ben Gibson played a ball through for Pukki to fire an angled right-footed drive past the USA keeper.

Lockyer spurned two great chances to restore the lead with headers in the 74th minute, first sending Bree's left wing corner straight back to him when free in the six-yard box, then heading the return ball over the bar.

Isaac Hayden shot over for Norwich 76 minutes, and the Hatters were reduced to ten men with Osho shown a second yellow card with ten minutes to go for pulling back Pukki on the edge of the box.

While that yellow was warranted, huge question marks remained over the first five minutes before half-time, but thankfully Adam Idah blasted the resulting free-kick wide.

Undeterred, the Hatters pushed on and found a late winner through substitute Woodrow, who took a touch out of his feet and smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

There was further drama when Alfie Doughty headed clear off the line in added time to preserve the three points. The result was enough to move Edwards' side up to 12th place in the league ahead of an away trip to Queens Park Rangers in three days time.

Goals:

LT - Campbell (61), Woodrow (90)

NC - Pukki (69)

Att: 9,831 (1,039)