The Hatters face Wigan Athletic tomorrow afternoon in our matchday dedicated to Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign, as Graeme Jones’ side look to win successive home games for the first time this season.
After suffering defeat against Brentford on Saturday, Town remain in 21st position – one place above the Latics.
Wigan are looking to end a run of seven games without a win and get back to winning ways for the first time since October, when they beat Nottingham Forest 1-0.
Three points could take the Hatters up to 19th place, likewise Wigan, the side the Town boss helped win the FA Cup in 2013.
International supporters can stream and follow the game from Kenilworth Road live on iFollow Hatters. Domestic subscribers can tune into Simon Pitts’ full match commentary.
GRAEME JONES SAID
On his Wigan history: “I love Wigan Athletic, I had eight years there as a player and assistant manager. We won League Two there, I won golden boot personally, won an Auto Windscreen Shield there, won an FA Cup there, so I’ve got great history with the football club.
“With the greatest respect to anybody though, I really don’t care who we are playing at the weekend. Luton Town is my football club now and we need a reaction and that’s where all the work has been this week.”
On the game’s importance: “These moments were always going to come, maybe not seven-nil, but we are going to have difficult moments and really we are probably measured on Saturday.
“If we can be together, after everybody is trying to fraction all the groups, and put in a big Luton Town performance, these are the days that keep you in the Championship. We need everybody pulling in the same direction at three o’clock on Saturday, which I have no doubt they will.
“Honestly I don’t care who we are playing next. We need to forget the team and we need a reaction. It’s irrelevant if it was Man United, we need to react, we need to perform and we need to give the supporters something to get behind. So, actually forgetting it’s Wigan and concentrating on our performances is where we are right now.”
WHO?
Currently in their second successive Championship campaign, Wigan spent from 2005 until 2013 in the Premier League. Despite getting relegated in 2013, the Latics beat Manchester City 1-0 to win the FA Cup that season.
The following campaign they finished 4th in the group stage of the Europa League and reached the FA Cup semi-final, knocked out on penalties by Arsenal.
WHEN & WHERE
Kick-off is 3pm at Kenilworth Road on Saturday 7th December.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
The referee for Saturday’s game is Andy Madley – who has taken charge of nine games this season, dishing out 30 yellows and 4 red cards.
TICKETS
Tickets for this match are still available. You can buy them over the phone by calling 01582 416976, in person from the Kenilworth Road ticket office, or online by clicking here
PLAYED BEFORE
The last meeting between the two teams was in 2003 which ended in a 1-1 draw. Wigan narrowly have the better all-time record with five wins compared to Luton’s four, as well as five draws.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
The main blow-by-blow account of the action from Kenilworth Road will be provided via the Match Centre on the club website, which you can access by clicking here.
The main moments from the game will appear on the Hatters’ social media feeds:
RAINBOW LACES
Tomorrow’s fixture is the Hatters’ dedicated matchday in support of Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign, aiming to show that LGBT people are welcome at every level of sport and especially, in our case, here at Kenilworth Road.
The ‘Make Sport Everyone’s Game’ campaign has generated huge support in recent years, and over the past fortnight supporters will have seen various elements of Stonewall’s activity to encourage LGBT equality.
There will be players on the pitch wearing the rainbow laces in their boots tomorrow, the two captains will be sporting the rainbow armbands and the corner flags and substitutes’ board will be changed for the game to depict the colours of the rainbow.
The two captains and match officials will hold a special pennant and several pairs of the laces tied together, as they pose for the traditional pre-match handshake pictures on the centre spot, to show unity in the campaign for LGBTQ equality.
You will have seen that the cover of Our Town, our matchday graphics on social media and the club crest on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram has been altered to depict Luton Town Football Club’s support.
We know that many LGBT people live and breathe football, and that the game should be for everyone. Whether we’re cheering or competing, we are all at our best when we feel part of the team and we can all lead the way by doing little things to be more inclusive.
Together we can make sport everyone’s game.
Anyone who wants to find out more about the Rainbow Laces and Come Out Active campaign should visit www.stonewall.org.uk/rainbowlaces.
You can also find information on social media by searching for #RainbowLaces and #ComeOutActive and @stonewalluk on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
