Match Preview | Burnley (H)

17 February 2023

Luton Town face league leaders Burnley in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Hatters stretched their unbeaten run to five matches with a 1-1 draw against Preston North End on Wednesday night, whilst Burnley are undefeated in 11 league matches.

Rob Edwards said:

(Post-match quotes after Preston North End draw)

“We’re up against the best team in the league in my opinion by a long, long way. It is going to be a great test for us and one we’ve got to enjoy.

“When we do get the ball, we’ve got to be good with it because we know how good they are at winning it back and then controlling the game as well.

“They’ve done a great job, I love watching them play but we’ve got to go right up against them on Saturday and we have to be at our best.”

The opposition:

Burnley come into the game as the runaway leaders in the Sky Bet Championship, 15 points clear of third-place Middlesbrough.

Vincent Kompany's side were denied a record-breaking 11th straight league win by Watford in midweek but continued their unbeaten run with a late goal to rescue a point.

Following Michael Obefemi's 95th minute equaliser, the Clarets have now scored in 28 consecutive league games, breaking a club record that has stood since 1926.

Nathan Tella (pictured above) is their leading scorer after joining the club on loan from Southampton in the summer. The wideman has 14 goals to his name in 32 appearances, whilst Morocco international Anass Zaroury, Benson Manuel, Jay Rodriguez and Josh Brownhill all have over 10 goal contributions each.

Last time we met:

The points were shared at Turf Moor in August. Dan Potts scored the opener after five minutes, before Burnley equalised through Josh Brownhill soon after half-time.

The last meeting between the two sides at Kenilworth Road came back in 2006 and the Clarets were 2-0 winners that day, with a brace from Andy Gray.

Ticket information:

The Ticket Office advise the Saturday’s game against Burnley has completely sold out and no further buy-back requests will be accepted.

We would like to thank the season card holders that took advantage of the buy-back process and hope all Hatters enjoy the game!

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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, if the local broadcaster elects NOT to show the match, then it WILL be available on the iFollow stream for overseas subscribers in that country.

The officials:

Referee: Jeremy Simpson

Assistant Referees: Rob Smith and Adrian Waters

Fourth Official: Nigel Lugg

The man in the middle on Saturday afternoon is Jeremy Simpson.

He last refereed a Luton match in May last year, officiating the 1-0 home victory against Reading.

So far this term, Simpson has taken charge of 19 matches - 16 of which in the Championship - dishing out 87 yellow cards.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report | Luton Town 0-1 Burnley

18 February 2023

The Hatters turned in an excellent performance against Championship leaders Burnley, but ultimately saw their five-match unbeaten league run ended by a late Ashley Barnes penalty as the visitors took all three points back to the north-west.

Barnes struck with a 78th-minute spot-kick - the third Town have conceded in as many matches - before captain Tom Lockyer was sent off for two yellow cards shown by referee Jeremy Simpson in the game's most controversial incident.

Rob Edwards made one change to his line-up from the team that started up at Preston on Wednesday, Leeds loanee Cody Drameh returning to the starting line-up after missing the last two matches, replacing Fred Onyedinma who started in midweek.

Marvelous Nakamba makes his first home league start alongside Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Jordan Clark in midfield, whilst Alfie Doughty was back on the bench after he missed out in the 1-1 draw at Deepdale.

Town started well and had the game's first attempt on goal on 12 minutes, Adebayo and Morris linking up well with a one-two 25 yards out, but visiting keeper Arijanet Muric was equal to the former's shot, diving full length to his right to push it behind for a corner.

Tom Lockyer managed to get his head on a 14th-minute Jordan Clark free-kick, twice, but Burnley managed to clear as Town posed some early questions, pressing the Burnley backline high as they attempted to play out.

It wasn't until the half-hour mark that Burnley had their first effort on goal, Johann Gudmundsson seeing his curling free-kick well saved by Ethan Horvath, diving low to his right in the Town goal.

Drameh's afternoon was over as early as the 32nd minute, the right wing-back unable to continue after picking up a blow earlier in the game when challenging Ian Maatsen, a blow that required lengthy treatment.

Doughty came on in his place, and Burnley soon had Josh Brownhill receiving the game's first yellow card, the midfielder taking Clark out as the Town man sold two players a dummy and looked to break clear into the visitors' half.

By then the Hatters were in the ascendancy, Mpanzu juggling the ball to create space for a 25-yard shot that Muric saved, before racing to the left byline to receive a pass from Amari'i Bell and cutting back for Adebayo, who couldn't keep his shot down from seven yards.

It had been an excellent first half performance from the Town, as they headed in goalless at the break - during which the Under-18s received a rapturous ovation from the crowd as they received the EFL Youth Alliance South-East Division championship trophy, presented by chairman David Wilkinson.

A stop-start opening to the second period saw a brief burst of life in the 53rd minute when Burnley top scorer Nathan Tella looked to have escaped the Hatters defenders' attentions, only for Reece Burke to get back and make a terrific block in the box, before Ashley Barnes struck a 20-yarder wide of the target.

Vincent Kompany made his first change straight away, bringing on Morrocco international winger Anass Zaroury for Gudmundsson, then Edwards made his second in the 57th minute, replacing top scorer Morris with Cauley Woodrow.

Burnley won their first corner of the half in the 64th minute and it needed captain Lockyer to be on his mettle to block an effort from substitute Vitinho, who then dragged a left footed shot well wide after being set up by Barnes.

Nakamba had performed weill again on his home debut at the base of the Town midfield, but his work for the day was done in the 68th minute, being replaced by Campbell after receiving treatment.

Adebayo went on a driving run to the byline and delivered a low cross to Campbell, but the Scot couldn't get the ball out from his feet quick enough.

Burnley had the lead in the 78th minute when Barnes netted from the spot - the third game in a row the Hatters had conceded from 12 yards - after Osho was penalised for handling as Vitinho attempted to lift the ball past him in the box.

Lockyer was booked for complaining about the decision, then was shown a red card straight after the goal for continuing his protests.

Before the game could restart, Adebayo was booked after Barnes twice deliberately body checked him in blocking his attempted run over the halfway line into Burnley's half, during two aborted kick-offs.

The Hatters couldn't fashion the chance to get the goal back, and the unbeaten run came to a disappointing end.

Goal:

Barnes (pen) 78'

Att: 10,066 (1,026 away)