Despite early disappointment during the week, Luton Town will be ending the week on a high. The Hatters now find themselves in 12th position in the Championship, with mid-table mediocracy being some achievement for the side who found themselves wandering the non-league just seven years ago.<\/p>\n
The Hatters’ rise to England’s second tier has been a story of exponential success, but the Bedfordshire club have become accustomed to either a promotion battle or relegation scrap come the concluding stages of the season. This year, things look calmer for Luton, as they continue their efforts to establish themselves as a Championship club. However, this week will be one of the more eventful they will experience this season.<\/p>\n
Drawing Chelsea<\/a> in the fourth round of the FA Cup<\/a> brought about a mixed reaction from the Luton faithful. Some fans showed the excitement one would expect from a tie of this magnitude, but others were hung up on the fact that it will still be played behind closed doors.<\/p>\n After over a decade of working themselves back up the football pyramid, this match – alongside the League Cup tie against Manchester United<\/a> – would have been the modern-day pinnacle. However, it will be a rare opportunity for The Hatters to showcase their ability against one of Europe’s elite and apply the pressure to the heavily-backed hosts.<\/p>\n Sheffield United’s<\/a> decision to recall<\/a> Rhys Norrington-Davies<\/a> was a huge blow for The Town, with the Welshman becoming an integral part of Nathan Jones<\/a>‘ squads since his arrival in September<\/a>. What made the decision harder to take, was that the 21-year-old joined Stoke City on the same day.<\/a><\/p>\n At first glance, Norrington-Davies’ move to Stoke<\/a> seemed rather lateral and indeed pointless. But, The Hatters began starting the Welsh international on the wing, hindering his development as a left-back somewhat. Additionally, it seemed that The Potters were in a rather desperate situation, and without a left-back available, they needed to take action urgently.<\/p>\n On the same day, Norrington-Davies departed for Staffordshire, Luton hosted a Queens Park Rangers side, who were without a win in nine league games. The Bedfordshire side were on a run of six games without defeat at home too and were seemingly turning Kenilworth Road into a fortress.<\/p>\n However, a disappointing performance followed, allowing the West London side to take all three points. Charlie Austin<\/a>‘s presence caused the Town defence all sorts of problems, with the former Southampton man netting on his return to the club in a comfortable 2-0 QPR win.<\/a><\/p>\n Filling the void left by Norrington-Davies was not exactly essential, with both Dan Potts<\/a> and Brendan Galloway<\/a> returning to full fitness, but when rumours emerged that The Hatters were linked with utility man Kal Naismith, it seemed like a vital bit of business.<\/p>\n The Scotsman has played in five different positions over the last 12 months, meaning that when he eventually signed,<\/a> The Hatters had a player who could cover all bases. It remains unforeseen whether Naismith is part of Nathan Jones’ immediate plans, but he will certainly become a vitally important player with the fixtures coming thick and fast.<\/p>\n After an unimpressive performance against an out of form QPR side, visiting Bournemouth<\/a> seemed a daunting task. The Cherries had scored the most home goals in the division and only sat a point adrift of the play-offs; anything other than a home win looked unlikely.<\/p>\n After a particularly uneventful first 25 minutes, Bournemouth were reduced to ten men when Jefferson Lerma<\/a> was sent off for catching Tom Lockyer<\/a> with a loose arm. Despite having the man advantage, Luton had to endure long spells of Bournemouth possession in the run-up to half-time and were lucky not to concede.<\/p>\n They started the second half off brilliantly, creating four clear-cut chances in the first five minutes. Midway through the second half, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored what eventually turned out to be the winner,<\/a> curling in from just inside the box. A brilliant defensive display in the last 15 minutes kept The Cherries out and secured the unlikely three points for The Town.<\/p>\n Main Photo<\/p>\nRhys Norrington Davies’ Recall and Move to Stoke<\/h3>\n
Poor Performance and Result Against Struggling Rangers<\/h3>\n
The Signing of Kal Naismith on a Free<\/h3>\n
Luton Town End the Week on a High<\/h3>\n