MX23RW : Saturday, September 3 07:47:05| >> :120:71648:71648:
[monks data]
Aug 26, 2022 at 8pm UK at Kenilworth Road Stadium
Luton
1 - 1
Sheff Utd
Morris (10')
FT(HT: 1-0)
McBurnie (53')
Baldock (15'), McAtee (23'), McBurnie (54'), Ndiaye (73')

Preview: Luton Town vs. Sheffield United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Friday's Championship clash between Luton Town and Sheffield United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Sheffield United will look to extend their league unbeaten run to five Championship games on Friday, when they travel to Kenilworth Road to take on Luton Town.

The Blades make the trip on the back of consecutive home victories in England's second tier, while their hosts put their first three-point haul of the season on the board last weekend.


Match preview

Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom on August 1, 2022© Reuters

After making the Championship playoffs last term, eventually losing to Huddersfield Town in their semi-final, Luton Town headed into the new season hoping to mount another promotion push, but they had to endure a relatively slow start.

Nathan Jones's side began with a goalless stalemate at home to Birmingham City before taking a more impressive point away at newly-relegated Burnley, as Dan Potts opened the scoring inside five minutes before being pegged back early in the second half.

After an EFL Cup defeat at the hands of Newport County, the Hatters' wait for a first league victory of the season would continue, as they suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of Preston North End and Bristol City and failed to score in the process.

However, they now head into Friday's game having broken their winless run with a triumph away at Swansea City last weekend, as Allan Campbell opened the scoring in the first half before Carlton Morris wrapped up a 2-0 victory and their first three-point haul of the campaign 15 minutes from time.

Having now moved on to five points from five games and put an important notch in their wins column, Jones's side will look to kick on and build a more positive run of form, but they face a tough test as one of the league's form sides make the trip to Kenilworth Road.

Luton Town boss Nathan Jones on August 6, 2022© Reuters

In their bid to win promotion back to the Premier League this season, after also falling short in the playoff semi-finals last term, Sheffield United have kicked off in impressive fashion after an opening-day defeat to Watford.

They followed that up with their first points, beating Millwall 2-0 at Bramall Lane thanks to goals from Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge, before settling for a draw away at Middlesbrough, as they twice took the lead through Berge and a Ryan Giles own goal, only to be pegged back by Chuba Akpom equalisers on both occasions.

Returning to Bramall Lane last week, Paul Heckingbottom's side entertained Sunderland and would take a two-goal lead after Dan Neil's first-half red card for the visitors through Anel Ahmedhodzic and Max Lowe, eventually holding on for a 2-1 victory after Lynden Gooch pulled one back for the Black Cats.

Looking to make it three wins from their opening five league outings, the Blades hosted Blackburn Rovers last Saturday, and their eye-catching run of home form continued with a 3-0 triumph, as Oliver Norwood opened the scoring with a free kick before Ndiaye came off the bench to hit a second-half brace.

While they are yet to win away in two attempts so far this season, Heckingbottom's side now make the trip full of confidence with their tally of 10 points from the opening five games unmatched by any other team in the Championship, and they will hope to continue building momentum with another victory to kick off the weekend round of fixtures.

Luton Town Championship form:
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • W

Luton Town form (all competitions):
  • D
  • D
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • W

Sheffield United Championship form:
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • W

Sheffield United form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • W


Team News

Sander Berge celebrates scoring for Sheffield United on August 14, 2022© Reuters

Luton Town have several injury issues to contend with, as Harry Cornick, Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu, Alfie Doughty and Fred Onyedinma remain out of action.

Jones will field a similar squad to the one that won away at Swansea last weekend, although summer signing Carlton Morris should come in from the start after scoring off the bench in that game, while Cauley Woodrow, who also moved from Barnsley in pre-season, is also vying to feature.

He faces competition, though, with Elijah Adebayo seemingly preferred up front, while former Sheffield United man Luke Freeman will offer attacking support from midfield with Allan Campbell and Jordan Clark set to partner up in the engine room.

After an impressive showing of their own last weekend, the visitors are also unlikely to make many changes, with Anel Ahmedhodzic, John Egan and Rhys Norrington-Davies impressing as a back three in the continued absences of Jack O'Connell, Jack Robinson and Ciaran Clark, while the former has kept Chris Basham out of the starting XI since his summer arrival from Malmo.

Further forward, Heckingbottom has largely opted for a midfield pair and a front three so far this season, and Oliver Norwood and John Fleck should operate in the centre, although Manchester City loanees James McAtee and Tommy Doyle will be vying for starting spots.

After his brace off the bench last weekend, Iliman Ndiaye is bound to come into the front three, with Sander Berge also set to keep his place, meaning Oli McBurnie, Rhian Brewster and Reda Khadra are likely battling for the final spot, depending on whether the Senegalese prospect leads the line or plays just behind a front man.

Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Horvath; Burke, Lockyer, Potts; Bree, Campbell, Clark, Bell; Freeman; Adebayo, Morris

Sheffield United possible starting lineup:
Foderingham; Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Norrington-Davies; Baldock, Fleck, Norwood, Lowe; Berge, Ndiaye; McBurnie


SM words green background

We say: Luton Town 1-2 Sheffield United

Sheffield United come into the sixth round of Championship fixtures with plenty of confidence and momentum, and, although Kenilworth Road is not an easy place to go, we see them returning to South Yorkshire with all three points.

The Hatters are yet to win or score at home this season, and, while they will be somewhat rejuvenated from last week's win at Swansea, they may not have enough to force a share of the spoils.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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How you voted: Luton vs Sheff Utd

Luton Town
16.7%
Draw
16.0%
Sheffield United
67.4%
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd7421145914
2Burnley8341148613
3Norwich CityNorwich741296313
4Watford733186212
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn740378-112
6Reading7403710-312
7Bristol City7322139411
8Sunderland7322118311
9Queens Park RangersQPR73221210211
10Preston North EndPreston725020211
11Hull City73221113-211
12Rotherham UnitedRotherham62318539
13West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom8161121029
14Luton TownLuton72326609
15Blackpool7223810-28
16Stoke CityStoke722379-28
17Cardiff CityCardiff722346-28
18Wigan AthleticWigan614158-37
19Millwall7214711-47
20Middlesbrough71331012-26
21Swansea CitySwansea7133611-56
22Birmingham CityBirmingham712448-45
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield6114710-34
24Coventry CityCoventry401358-31

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