Luton Town Football Club

 

WHO? Morecambe, aka the Shrimps, the hometown of Eric Morecambe, the comedian which both towns claim as one of their own. This season is Morecambe’s ninth as a Football League club. They won promotion via the Conference Play-Offs with a win over Exeter at Wembley in 2007.

WHERE? The Shrimps moved to the Globe Arena in 2010 from their old Christie Park home. It’s has a capacity of just under 6,500 – 2,173 precisely which are seats. Hatters fans did have use of a covered terrace in the game last season but tonight they will be housed in a corner of the all-seated and covered main stand beside the pitch. 

TICKETS PLEASE. Hatters fans making the long trip must pay on the turnstiles at the Globe Arena. Click here for admission prices.

HOW TO GET THERE. Door-to-door it’s 215 miles from the Kenilworth Road to the Globe Arena. A good four-hour trip, up the M1 and M6. Exit the M6 at junction 34, then take the A683 towards Lancaster and take the A589 towards Morecambe. Go straight across two roundabouts passing a McDonalds outlet on your left. At the next roundabout (where there is a Toby Carvery) take the first exit into Westgate Road (signposted West Promenade, Sandylands). Continue along this road for about one mile and you will reach the stadium on your right.

THIS TIME ROUND. The Shrimps sit nicely in seventh place in the League 2 standings after a solid start to the season. Jim Bentley’s side, always one of the sides tipped for relegation by the bookies, have won four, drawn two and lost three of their first nine games, losing only one of their last six games. That particular defeat came in their last home match in which they were beaten 4-2 by Northampton. On Saturday just gone they earned a more than creditable point from a goalless draw at Oxford. Bentley’s boys have also drawn 3-3 at Portsmouth (although they were 3-0 up!). They have also beaten Notts County 4-1 at home and knocked out League 1 high-fliers Walsall out of the League Cup. Although the Shrimps lie in seventh place, the Town, in 16th, are only three points behind.

GOALS GOALS GOALS. A total of 57 goals have been scored in the games of both the Hatters and Morecambe this season. 30 have come in games involving the Shrimps. They have scored 16 (only Carlisle have scored more), but conceded 14 (one more than the Hatters). The Town have scored 14 and conceded 13, but have kept two successive clean sheets. 

HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? Tonight’s game is only the fifth meeting between the two clubs and the Town will be aiming to record their first win over the Shrimps in three games. Last season Jim Bentley’s side did the double over the Hatters, winning 3-0 at the Globe Arena in December before coming out on top 3-2 at Kenilworth Road in March. In that game the Town trailed 2-0, got it back to 2-2 but lost at the death. The Hatters’ sole win against Morecambe came in League 2 in the minus-30 season in March 2009. Goals from Chris Martin and Kevin Gallen gave Mick Harford’s side a 2-1 win.

OVERALL HEAD-TO-HEAD. Town’s record reads one win, one draw and two defeats.

OLD BOYS NETWORK. The Hatters have a former Shrimp in their midst in the shape of Jonathan Smith, who came through the ranks as a teenager but never made a league appearance before he was released. Morecambe on the other hand have ex-Town defender Alan Goodall in their squad. The full-back joined the Hatters from Rochdale in 2007, but after one season at Kenilworth Road he left for Chesterfield. Goodall is now in his second season at the Globe Arena and he is their current leading goalscorer with three goals.

REF WATCH. Staffordshire official Christopher Sarginson takes charge of his first game involving the Hatters this season. Tonight’s whistler has shown 25 yellow cards in the seven matches he has overseen so far, and has yet to show any player a red card. He last officiated a Town game last season – the 4-2 FA Cup win over Newport in November.

TOWN TEAM NEWS. The Town could include defender Scott Cuthbert and midfielder Nathan Doyle in the squad. Cuthbert missed Saturday’s victory over Wimbledon with an ankle injury, while Doyle has returned to full fitness following a hamstring injury. Paul Benson (neck) and Pelly Ruddock (back) remain unavailable.

VERY TASTY. Pies! Morecambe might be in League 2 but – if you search ‘Morecambe pies’ on the internet – you’ll noticed they’re “in the Premier League” when it comes to Pies. Even Harrods have brought them to sell. 

LIVE AND ONLINE. As ever, we’ll be reporting live from the Globe Arena. Build-up starts at 5pm, 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 7.45pm 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 Tuesday for all the highlights in glorious HD!