Match Preview | And so it begins with Brighton

It's Brighton and Hove Albion versus Luton Town in the Premier League

11 August 2023

PREAMBLE

We are Premier League. Mad isn’t it. Let it sink it. It’s actually happening. On Saturday we’re going to Brighton and Hove Albion to play a football match in the top-flight of English football. Non-league to Premier League in nine years? Some are calling it the most incredible story in football. As Luton fans, we wholeheartedly agree. Can you genuinely believe it? Imagine tweeting or telling those around you on the terraces of Southport, Braintree and Alfreton that by 2023 we’d be in the Prem. Inconceivable at the time.

We are Luton Town. It’s easy to get carried away with the comparisons. The defeats to Hyde and Gateshead, etc. However, the hard work never ceased. We kept going. Trusted the process. Most importantly, you – yes YOU, and your mates, your brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, anyone who would listen for that matter – stuck by Luton Town Football Club. Therein lies the beauty. We’re back. But the journey has only just begun.

11,424 days later. Helluva lot of days, that. 31 years, three months and 10 days ago, 5,000 of you went to Nottingham. Hopes, dreams and expectations all shattered by Rob Matthews. Who’d have thought it? The last time we played in the top-flight, the defeat consigned the Town to relegation. “We’ve gone from Division One to Division One,” you told you mates. It wasn’t funny, though was it? Lots has happened since. The beauty of being a Luton fan, eh?

Programme front cover_3462.jpg

Top-flight pedigree. Football existed before 1992, you know. And we were there. There at the top table for 16 seasons. 658 games in fact. Of those we’ve won 213, drawn 168 and lost 277, scoring 863 times and conceding 1,011.

The Long Wait. Those who have followed the Hatters over, land and sea and…. have been waiting a while to see the Town triumph on their travels in the top tier of English football. David Pleat’s side of 1991/92 failed to win away from home, so you need to go back to 9th March 1991 and a 2-1 win at Aston Villa for the last time we tasted three sweet points away from home in the top-flight. It’s time.

THE MATCH

When Seagulls follow the trawler. Easy to forget our first opponents in the Premier League are a club who have, like us, had their fair share of ups and downs over the past 30 years. Brighton almost dropped out of the league and were survived thanks a winner-stays-up victory at Hereford on the final day of the 1997/98 season. Slowly but surely, they’ve recovered, via the Withdean and bucket loads of Bobby Zamora goals, to a brand-new stadium and a sixth place finish in the Premier League last season. Some progress that.

No easy games. Nobody, absolutely nobody, said “winnable first game” when the fixtures were announced. Sure, it’s a lovely opener. Down by the coast. New stadium to tick off. Sun (probably not) shining. Great city. But the Seagulls are a very decent outfit. Sixth last season, they were FA Cup semi-finalists, and are a team playing mesmerising football under Roberto Di Zerbi. All the neutrals were raving about the Albion, so the Hatters have a real test on their hands down at the Amex.

The what? The Amex, the American Express Community Stadium, and Brighton’s home since 2011. Inside 30,666 blue seats await bums to be sat on. 3,001 of those occupied by those of an orange persuasion. It’s our first visit to the ground and remember if you don’t have a ticket, you’re not getting in: the allocation for Town fans has already sold out.

10 good things to know.

Take advantage of the free travel zone (click here).
Taking a bag inside? It needs to be A4 in size or smaller.
Solid containers and flasks are not allowed inside, with clear plastic water bottles or lower permitted, with the tops off.
It’s a cashless stadium – that rogue fiver won’t be any use.
Turnstiles open at 1pm.
The Amex is a no smoking stadium.
Bringing a flag? You need to ask the Albion first – services@bhafc.co.uk.
There are no designated away pubs for Town drinkers.
If you see, hear, or experience any anti-social behaviour call 07880196442.
Click here for an extensive travel overview, supplied by our friends at Brighton.

Taking the train? Please be advised that there is planned industrial action on the rail network this weekend, so plan your journey in advance so you’re not racing to the ground sweating with panic as kick-off fast approaches.

Don’t be *that* fan. A reminder to all supporters, no matter who you are, how old or who you’re supporting on the day, to go about your day with respect. Once again, all clubs up and down the land are supporting the Love Football, Protect the Game campaign. Any anti-social behaviour, inappropriate chanting or gesturing, or general bad and simply uncalled actions could land the club a hefty fine – as was the case for some clubs last season. Stay humble. No Billy Big Balls.

Haven’t we met before? Yes! 97 times to be precise. You’re probably thinking that that Johnstone’s Paint Trophy penalty shootout win in 2009 was the last meeting but the 1,000-odd who were at the Checkatrade Trophy match at Kenilworth Road in 2018 will tell you differently – although the opposition were Albion’s under-21s. Overall it’s 37 wins from 97 but away from home the Town haven’t traditionally enjoyed their trips to the south coast. Just six wins from 49, losing 30. But that’s history, right? Not since January 1983 (!) have the Town tasted victory at Brighton, with two Ricky Hill goals helping us to a 4-2 win. Future Hatters hero Steve Foster was playing for Brighton that day, too.

MAIN PHOTO P796 Ricky Hill heads in Town`s first goal.jpg

From Rob. “We feel ready and I’m proud to be here,” he said. “You don’t really think about it in the moment because you’re always thinking ‘what’s next?’ and it’s hard in football to take stock and reflect on achievements. I’ve found it difficult to think ‘oh, that was good’ but I am extremely proud to be a Premier League manager and it’s been an aim of mine for a long, long time. Everyone in football is ambitious and we all want to work at the highest level, and I think everyone would agree that the Premier League is the highest level at the moment, but none of us have got a crystal ball and we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Town team news. There was disappointing news from last weekend’s trip to Germany as Jordan Clark and Dan Potts both sustained ankle injuries against Bochum, ruling the pair out “for a few months” according to Edwards. The duo join Gabe Osho and Reece Burke on the sidelines and therefore the quartet are all unavailable this weekend.

Tune in, turn on. Full audio commentary will come from the lips of Simon Pitts on Hatters Player – a reminder now we’re in the Premier League (sorry) that games are no longer streamed on what was iFollow. Follow our social media @lutontown for live updates, photos and behind-the-scenes content and stay on lutontown.co.uk for a full report and post-match reaction.

And finally. Enjoy the ride. We’ve come a long way, haven’t we? Win, lose or draw, just remember who we are and where we’ve come from. Come on Luton.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Full Report | Brighton 4-1 Town

12 August 2023

Brighton and Hove Albion 4
March 36, Pedro 71 (pen), Adringa 85, Ferguson 90+5

Town 1
Morris 81 (pen)

The Town were denied a fairytale win on their return to top-flight football, as the Hatters suffered a 4-1 defeat away to Brighton on the opening Saturday of the Premier League season.

Playing in the top division for the first time in 31 years, Rob Edwards’ side carved out a number of good chances against the Seagulls – who finished sixth in the Premier League last season – but went behind to a first-half Solly March header and a second-half penalty by João Pedro.

Carlton Morris gave hope to the 3,000 Hatters fans in the away end when he calmly slotted home from the penalty spot to score Luton’s first ever goal in the Premier League, but late strikes from Brighton substitutes Simon Adringa and Evan Ferguson ensured a final scoreline that was somewhat harsh on the visitors.

Town manager Rob Edwards named five debutants in his starting line-up, with goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, defender Mads Andersen and midfielders Issa Kaboré, Tahith Chong and Ryan Giles all featuring from the off.

The first half was a frantic affair in which the home side enjoyed the majority of the possession. Brighton’s first clear-cut chance came after just two minutes as Japan winger Kaorou Mitoma pinged a perfect ball onto the head of Lewis Dunk, only for the Seagulls’ skipper to head over.

The Hatters more than held their own in the opening stages, however, and were soon carving out chances from both wings. With less than four minutes played, Morris burst down the left before squaring the ball towards striker partner Elijah Adebayo. Jason Steele in the Brighton goal was alert to the danger, though, and leapt off his line to gather.

Brighton should have been a goal to the good just moments later when striker Pedro received the ball just five yards from goal but scuffed his shot wide.

Possession continued to fluctuate as former England man Danny Welbeck flashed a dipping shot just over the Luton bar before Kaboré tore up the right wing before sending in a cross that couldn’t quite find Morris or Adebayo. Fellow debutant Giles picked up the loose ball and fired it back into the area – only for Dunk to chest it skilfully into the hands of Steele.

Brighton were gaining in confidence as the half wore on and Welbeck came close to opening the scoring with a shot that fell too close to Kaminski following strong defensive pressure from Andersen.

Still, the Town continued to threaten on the break. After becoming the first player in English football to go all the way from the Conference to the Premier League with the same club, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu came close to capping his achievement with a goal. The DR Congo international dived at full stretch to meet a well weighted Kaboré cross, but his header went agonisingly wide.

Shortly after the half hour mark, Mitoma fizzed a shot over after a great pass from former Liverpool and England man James Milner on his Brighton debut.

It was a warning of what was to come. Just a few minutes later, the influential Mitoma lifted the ball in towards fellow midfielder Solly March who sent a glancing header past Kaminski and into the Luton goal.

It was nearly 2-0 three minutes later as Welbeck pounced on a Pervis Estupinan pass before striking the post. Kaminski reacted quickly to collect the rebound.

Brighton continued to press, but, as the half wore to an end, it was the Town who came closest to scoring as Morris headed another dangerous Giles cross just wide in added time.

Following the restart, the home side were soon putting the pressure back on. A skilful run and shot by Pedro was blocked by Mpanzu before Kaminski dived low before the woodwork denied Brighton a second goal, when a Pascal Gross free kick struck the post.

In the 64th minute, Edwards made a double change with Alfie Doughty and debutant Jacob Brown coming on for Kaboré and Adebayo. The move nearly paid off immediately with Brown firing in a cross just one minute later that Morris rose to – but couldn’t quite head home.

Any nerves that Brighton may have been feeling were lessened with 20 minutes remaining when Tom Lockyer was adjudged to have fouled Pedro in the box. The Brazilian picked himself up to take the spot-kick which Kaminski got his gloves to but was unable to keep out.

A seventh new signing was introduced in the 76th minute when Chiedozie Ogbene replaced Andersen.

Moments later, the Hatters’ fans were celebrating a piece of history as referee David Coote pointed to the spot once more, this time at the other end of the pitch, after Brown whipped in another right-wing cross, which struck the elbow of Dunk. Following VAR confirmation of the handball, Morris stepped up to send Steele the wrong way to score his and Luton’s first ever goal in the Premier League.

The joy was short lived, however. Within four minutes, Brighton had restored their two-goal lead. Kaminski did well to punch the ball away but the Hatters defence were unable to clear the pressure, allowing substitute Adingra to make it 3-1 from close range.

For the remaining five minutes of regular time, it was all Brighton with Ferguson hitting the post before Kaminski made another fine save from Gross – this time with his shins.

The Town were still fighting and could have had another goal when substitute Cauley Woodrow headed back to Brown, whose shot was just palmed over by Steele. But instead of a consolation goal, the Hatters had to stomach a late fourth for Brighton. Estupinan burst down the left wing and sent in a perfect pass for Ferguson to slide home at the back post.

With the referee blowing his whistle for full-time moments later, it was a harsh end to a battling Hatters display, something that was recognised by the 3,000 travelling fans.

Despite the result, the supporters remained in strong voice throughout – particularly as they celebrated the Town’s first ever goal in the Premier League – and rose to applaud the team’s efforts at the final whistle.

It's a free week for the Hatters next week and Edwards' side return to Premier League action at Chelsea a week on Friday. See you then.

Town: Kaminski; Kaboré (sub Doughty) , Giles, Andersen (sub Ogbene), Lockyer, Bell; Nakamba, Chong (sub Woodrow), Mpanzu (sub Berry); Morris, Adebayo (sub Brown).

Subs not used: Shea, McAtee, Campbell, Francis-Clarke.

Attendance: 31,872, including 3,001 shouting for the Town.

Match Reports

Standings