Championship play-off 'Q & A': Luton Town

With the prize of a Premier League place at stake, Luton Town take on Coventry City in the Championship play-off final this Saturday in what promises to be a fascinating encounter. 

Mark Robins masterminded a stunning turnaround in the Sky Blues' season to nab fifth place, while the Hatters drew strength from early season managerial upheaval to finish third in the table under Rob Edwards.

Luton saw off a spirited Sunderland side to book their place at Wembley and Coventry beat play-off favourites Middlesbrough over two legs to earn their place in this weekend's winner-takes-all tussle. 

As part of our play-off final previews across the EFL, we chatted to Twitter account We Are Luton Town to review Luton's season so far and set the scene for Saturday's showdown. 

1. After Luton lost to Huddersfield in the play-offs last season, did you feel another genuine promotion push was on the cards or has this season surprised you?

Not necessarily, but it's a moment I've looked back and I remember how unusually calm and accepting I was after the defeat - I think this was because I knew that we are on an upward trajectory and it will come at some point, same applies to this final on Saturday, the emotion is somewhat numbed because we know we're in safe hands and we're confident of improving year-on-year.

2. Nathan Jones has obviously done a fantastic job across two spells at Luton - did you think his departure for Southampton would set you back more than it did? Was it uncomfortable watching him crash and burn with the Saints?

He'd done such a fantastic job in his two spells with us, he saved us from relegation in the Championship which was arguably his greatest achievement with us - many might label the promotions as his legacy, but we were down and out when he provided that slingshot to where we are today, but that said he was just a cog in a well-oiled machine and with our structure I didn't see us going off track.

That Saints spell was horrific for him, apart from Luton Town his choice of progression with Stoke and Southampton is questionable at best, he's a very astute manager tactically and he needs time, something he was never gonna get at those two clubs - I hope for his sake his next choice is driven by his football brain.

3. What have been the most obvious changes in Luton's style and tactics since Rob Edwards took over? How highly do you rate him as a manager after his six months in the job?

Solid 9/10  - He's been wise enough not to change too much, he's taken stock, provided subtle tweaks and installed belief into the team to go that step further -  We're more front footed, take a few more risks and have a little more freedom about our play.

📊Played in each of the top four tiers (fr. 2000):

⭐️Blackpool
⭐️Bolton
⭐️Bournemouth
⭐️Bradford
⭐️Brentford
⭐️Brighton
⭐️Cardiff
⭐️Coventry
⭐️Huddersfield
⭐️Hull
⭐️Portsmouth
⭐️Swansea

❓Will @Coventry_City prevent @LutonTown joining the list?#COYH #PUSB #EFLPlayOffs pic.twitter.com/WDRQAMOOZX

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 18, 2023

4. Would you agree that Tom Lockyer and Carlton Morris have been your two outstanding players this season? Which other players deserve honourable mentions and why?

Very much a team effort, but Marvelous Nakamba and Cody Drameh have done exceptionally well since they've come into the team in January, Gabe Osho and Alfie Doughty have come on leaps and bounds...Oh and Amari'i Bell, oh my god what a player he's turned into.

5. How loudly would you have laughed in Playmaker's faces if we'd told you six years ago, after you lost 3-0 to Coventry in League Two, that you'd play the same opponents in 2023 with a place in the Premier League on the line? 

Crazy isn't it, such a good story for both teams - working class clubs that have had so much hurt over the years but haven't left the side of the football clubs they love, football is about the romance, the underdogs and a never say die temperament that glues the club together and these two clubs have that in spades.

6. Coventry have surprised everybody by going from relegation candidates to promotion contenders - how highly do you rate them? Do you feel you match up well against the Sky Blues?

Not a shock, they showed the division last season that they weren't here to make up the numbers - they are well drilled, have quality and are a team like us that has more than just a couple of quality players, that narrative is fraudulent, they have much more than Hamer and Gyökeres. 

They like to counter and have pace, we like to press high up and I'm nervous about their pace, we may see a bit of end-to-end.

7. Are you a superstitious sort of fan? Will you do anything to try and influence the result on Saturday?

So much so, I hate it too - I can't even tell you them because that'll be some sort of ridiculous curse on the match, but it's extensive let me tell you (by not telling you)

8. If you're willing to give one, what's your prediction?

Nope.

📚 We're off to a book fair on Saturday to tout the latest edition of our fanzine about. Come on down!

📍 https://t.co/GyaJAoGMWB

📩 For those who'd like a FREE digital copy of The Mighty Delta 9, please sign up to our mailing list 👇

🗞️ https://t.co/FjZpGaDTkH pic.twitter.com/XGVydEiNTZ

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) May 24, 2023