Luton Town Football Club

• Town won last three in all competitions

• Hatters leading away goalscorers in League 2

• Boro 20th in the table, lost six of last 10

• Hatters won all four matches at Broadhall Way

• Town did double over Boro last season

• Away end a sell-out

WHO? Stevenage FC, aka Boro, although the club dropped the ‘Borough’ from their name following their promotion to the Football League at the end of the 2009/10 season. The club were promoted in their first season in the League, beating Torquay in the League 2 Play-Offs. Boro then reached the League 1 Play-Offs in their first season at that level, only to lose to Sheffield United. In 2013/14 they were relegated back to League 2 and last term they lost in the Play-Off semi-finals to Southend.

WHERE? Boro play their home fixtures at Broadhall Way, aka The Lamex Stadium and have done since it was opened in 1980. The ground failed to meet Football League capacity requirements when the club won the Conference title in 1996 and were subsequently denied promotion. These days the stadium holds 6,722 – half of which is seated. Town supporters have been allocated just under 2,000 seats for this match, the majority of which are behind the goal in South Stand which offers an unobstructed view of the action.

TICKET NEWS. All tickets for Hatters fans have sold-out for this match.

HOW TO GET THERE. Town followers’ shortest trip of the season consists of half-an-hour journey – some 16.4 miles from Kenilworth Road to the Lamex Stadium car park. For the sat-nav savvy the postcode is SG2 8RH. There is a large car park at the ground, whilst the adjacent Roaring Meg retail park only offers parking for 90 minutes, otherwise you could face a £100 fine. For those catching the train, the ground is a mile walk from the station. You can also go by coach, with the Bobbers, who depart Luton train station at 1pm. Fares are £12 for adults and £10 concessions. Call 01234 856542 to book.

HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? The Town travel to Broadhall Way aiming to preserve a 100 per cent winning record at the Hertfordshire venue having won on all four of their previous visits. A Matthew Barnes-Homer goal have the Hatters all three points in the two clubs’ Conference meeting in April 2010. The Town also won twice in the LDV Vans Trophy in successive seasons in 2002 and 2003. Ahmet Brkovic netted a five-minute hat-trick in the 4-3 win in 2002. Last season the Town maintained that winning record with a 2-1 victory with Luke Wilkinson and Alex Wall on target, and followed that up with a 2-0 win on the final day of the campaign at Kenilworth Road.

OLD BOYS NETWORK. Boro have ex-Town defenders Ronnie Henry and Fraser Franks in their ranks, the duo who lifted the Conference title for the Town in 2013/14. Right-back Henry is in his second spell at Broadhall Way having left Boro for Kenilworth Road in the summer of 2012, while Franks joined this summer. Former Town midfielder and coach Kevin Watson and goalkeeper coach Dimitri Kharine are also on the Boro coaching staff.

THIS TIME ROUND. Graham Westley left in the summer and former England striker Teddy Sheringham took control at Broadhall Way. Boro, however, have struggled so far this season, winning just three of their opening 17 fixtures in League 2. Sheringham’s side have lost six of their last 10 league games and last week drew 2-2 at Yeovil. Their home form has been better than their results on the road – Boro have yet to win on their travels so far this season.

TOWN TEAM NEWS. The Town could have Craig Mackail-Smith available after the striker returned to training from a hamstring injury. Nathan Doyle is also back in training but the match this weekend comes too soon for the midfielder. Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu is struggling with an ankle injury and is also unavailable. Sean Long is in contention for a place in defence but faces competition from Alex Lawless for a spot at right-back.

 

REF WATCH. Rob Lewis takes charge a game involving the Town for a second time this season having already overseen the 1-0 win over Mansfield in September. The Shrewsbury-based official has shown 34 yellow cards and two red cards in his 10 games this season – two of those sendings-off have happened in his last three games. 

LIVE AND ONLINE. As ever, we’ll be reporting live from Broadhall Way. Build-up starts at noon, so get on our early blog on the Wall for all the latest updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for photos, videos and all the behind-the-scenes action. Hatters Player subscribers will be able to listen to live commentary from just before 3pm with Simon Pitts in the press box. 

Post-match, remember to check out the official website, YouTube channel and Player for reports, interviews and photographs and don’t forget to tune in from midday on Sunday for all the highlights in glorious HD!