Luton Town 2-1 BFC, Saturday 25th April 2026

‘It’s made of long cod pieces.’

I love Kenilworth Road. The low roof. The acoustics. The entrance through someone’s backyard. And the paying of 26 quid to not be able to see EITHER set of goalposts. Still, good job it’s ‘safe standing’ (as opposed to their previously ‘unsafe seating’, where anyone over 5 foot tall couldn’t get out of their seat cos they were jammed in) as this allowed peeps to move around and crane necks around whichever stanchion was in the way this time. Consequently, over the course of 90 minutes, I think I dropped my shoulder left...or right..then left again, more often than Maradona in his prime. And yet I still couldn’t avoid watching another defeat.

Yes, we’re back to playing well and losing, which is what poor teams do. Who was this week’s defence failing to keep a clean sheet? Was it MdG and O’Connell in the middle? I know when push came to shove, it was some bloke called Mads Andersen winning the header off the corner for them to scramble in the winner. I wish we still had him (though probably not on the wages he’s now on).

And it’s not just the defence, is it? We are all of 15 minutes in before Luca Connell fouls their man for a penalty. The very epitome of 'a rash challenge.’ 1 nil. Was there anything more depressing this week than reading Connell is contracted to us for another season? (Yes! O’Keeffe’s here till 2028!) So is Nwakali (2027, that is). But what’s the odds that a new manager will do exactly what Coaches Collins, Clarke and Conor have done, and pick Connell anyway? He’s barely had a decent game since Duff left. (Can we have him back as well?)

Still, we equalised. Kelly picks it up on the halfway line, drives forward 30 yards and the interception falls to Cleary and although his shot is saved, Phillips heads the rebound into an empty net. Oompah loompahs, peaky blinders and a 6 foot shark behind me go wild. Well, it is what should have been the last game of the season.

And then, during our period of being the better side in the second half, we have the obligatory penalty shout turned down, as Phillips rounds the keeper then crashes to the floor after bumping into their covering defender. Not for me, this one, but if you don’t ask, you don’t get. And you don’t get, even if you do.

Then, before the hour, Coach Conor goes for the jugular, sending on Gent and McGoldrick for Earl and Bradshaw. Then it’s Nwakali for Bland on 70, and Farrell and Banks for Phillips and Cleary. It does the trick – we concede. Still, at least it’s not Devante Cole, given a 26 minute trot out for the Hatters. Apparently, they think he’s useless. (I know he is.)

The match winds down with us camping on the edge of their box but refusing to do owt with it. Same old, same old. Is the season over yet? It can’t come quick enough (again). And with Conor telling us there’s no hope next season, I wish it was this time next year already!

Onwards and upwards!

*** Kelly. Everything good about us going forward stems from Kelly.
** Phillips. Most likely looking goalscorer (apart from the fact he WAS our goalscorer).
* No-one. I have no memory of anybody else impressing me. But then again, I was drinking till 3 in the morning.

Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Kelly 2. Phillips 3. MdG

Despatches:
Special mention to Nice Guy Chris and Equally Nice Wife Jane, who put me up Friday nite. (Considering my train ticket was 90 quid, this was a welcome respite from losing my fortune.) And cheers to that there Andy Jones, who not only bought my train ticket* (generous of him!) from Kings X to Luton, but came laden with bottles of Leffe. He can come again!

*I think he actually wants paying for this.

Indeed, I continued the Leffe theme at Luton Wetherspoons, the Super Reds reputation preceding them as we were barred from 1st choice, The Bricklayers. This is a real shame, as I’ve not had a fight with a Luton fan in ages. Has anybody? Everyone was in good spirits in Spoons (as the kids call it), whether a Hatter or Tyke. They still had something riding on their season, while we were just glad it’ll soon be over.

On that note, I was wavering on Satdy. Should I go to Northampton on Tuesday nite? I’ve only been once, and we lost. And I know it’s crap (a new build in an out of town retail park) but they’re going down, and I don’t know when we’ll see them again. (‘Season after next...unless they come back up!’) But, you know what? I think Luton was my 37th game of a long season. And this game should have been played on a Satdy, weeks ago, but both teams have too many internationals and called it off. So, if they can’t be bothered playing it on a Satdy, I can’t be bothered coming down for it.

Oh, and we had a guest in the away end, Satdy – Vimal Yoganathan. Good on him. I think Vimal even got a selfie with Jonesy.

Drink du jour: Leffe in Wetherspoons.

Away: 1,179, sellout. (11,781). ‘We’re off to Bromley...you’re going as well!’

The Damage:
£90 train (Wakefield to London rtn)
£10 train (Kings X to Luton rtn)
£26 ent
= £126

Luton Town 1-1 BFC, Tuesday 1st January 2019

‘We’ve never conceded when I’ve worn this shirt.’

‘How many times have you worn it?’

‘Once.  Today.’

Welcome to ...

I love Kenilworth Road.  Cramped, low-roofed, random corner stand behind floodlights, portacabin executive boxes down one touchline, rabbit-warren backstreets to traverse…yup, nothing had changed since the last time we were here 12 years ago (I looked that bit up.)  Mind, it wasn’t to everyone’s liking.  Selwood was fully wedged in and wary of cramp, moved to stand at the back, while Lynne found a seat on the end of a row for the 2^nd half. However, it’s ok….if you’re 3’6”.  Plus we always do well here, winning our last 5 league visits (just looked that up too, which has made me a little disappointed we didn’t win yesterday).

The legendary away entrance.

It was a very good game though, despite the goalless scoreline.  Continuing from Charlton, Luton simply couldn’t live with the midfield movement and twice Cauley spurned golden chances.  The 1^st, put clean through, he appeared to toe end the ball when trying to hit it with the outside of his foot.  Just get the thing on target, man.  The other one, I think he fell over trying to shoot on the turn.  Either way, 2 big misses and we should have been up at the break.

A room with a view.

The 2^nd half was the opposite.  Yes, we sprayed balls around the midfield, but moves broke down out wide and every time Luton had the ball they won a free kick or corner which they launched into the box.  Stendal insists on zonal defence, which meant Luton aiming balls long to the back post, where a player would peel off and have a free header EVERY time.  I don’t attest to the idea ‘it must have worked cos we kept a clean sheet.’  It worked cos Luton were too incompetent to take advantage, either heading over, wide, or to a Reds player every time.  One decent header across goal and they’d have had a tap-in.  I remember one in the first half (at our end) as their player walked away from Lindsay (walked!) and stood 6 yards away at the back post, where the kick predictably went.  Good to see Davies part of the ‘zonal defence’ too, choosing never to move more than a yard from the centre of the goal.  Let’s hope the ball goes there, then.

The away end...I hope that's not asbestos.

We still had one opportunity early doors in that half, as Potts smashed a shot which took a lucky (from their point of view) deflection which took it narrowly over.  Thiam also had a 20 yarder down the kepper’s throat.  In the meantime, Davies was making up for his inability to catch a ball by making 2 or 3 good saves at the other end, including a header (from a deadball!) which looked destined to be a goal.  Zonal defence wins again!

The Super Reds warm up.

The debate on the way back was whether it was 2 points dropped…or 1 point gained.  Certainly, had we been a goal or 2 up at the break, I could only see one winner.  But a draw was a fair result.  Personally, I think we can be happy with 3 wins and 2 draws against the likes of Pompey, Posh, Charlton and Luton (and an in-form Blackpool) following the Wycombe debacle.  We’ve now played 3 of the top teams twice, so while they all play each other, we’ll be hammering the likes of Rochdale and Wimbledon.  I can’t see what can possibly go wrong….!

Onwards and upwards!

The teams come out (allegedly).

*** Lindsay.  A rock.  Even found his teammates with passes too.

** Pinnock.  The perfect centre back pair?  Well, a bit of a clogger and a lot of a footballer.  The Bruce and Pallister of League 1.

* Mowatt.  I’m liking him more and more, as he keeps the midfield ticking with little passes (which are IN FRONT of players, to run onto) while he put in the odd challenge as well.

Londontykes MOTM:

Despatches:
Davies was unlucky to miss out on the top 3, as was Thiam, who not only linked well with Ben Williams on the left and had a couple of shots, but his tracking back was outstanding.  Lasted 76 mins before being replaced by Brown on the right (thereafter, all attacks came down that side).  Davies supported Thiam ably, though the twice he ‘gave and go’, Luton picked off the run.  He’s simply not fast enough.  The midfield of Dougall-McGeehan-Potts-Mowatt linked well, before Bahre (MOTM v Charlton) came on for the last half hour.  As for Cauley…I bet he never slept after those chances.

We're not the only ones wedged in...

Drink du jour: After having one night’s sleep following a New Year’s Eve party, obviously the ideal drink was Leffe in the Bricklayers Arms near the station.  Mind, like that pub in Southend, it didn’t quite taste as fresh as my local.  Do them pipes need cleaning? Or does it stand too long, cos folk are too busy drinking Fosters?

Away: 900+

The Damage:
£8 train
£3 prog
£26 ent (!)
= £37

The Tunes:
Inform-Educate-Entertain (Public Service Broadcasting)
Family of Aliens (Teleman)

Luke Berry...'does nothing everywhere' (in his time at Barnsley).

The fans gather pre-match.

I'm going in (wish me luck).

Of course you are.

The Washing Machine Stand.

The players come out.

Harry and Hatty Hatter.  Seen to be believed.

Looking towards the home end.

The dugouts (probably).