Luton Town start their third straight season in the Championship against promoted Peterborough United on Saturday, as they finally welcome fans back to a sold-out Kenilworth Road.
While the Hatters ultimately managed to secure a top-half finish last term - as Nathan Jones led them to their highest points total in the second tier since 1982 - Posh were finally able to escape League One after eight long years.
Match preview
© Reuters
Following their dramatic survival at the end of the 2019-20 campaign, Luton Town were never in such trouble last term - finishing 12th in the Championship table - and now look to begin the new season with maximum points against freshly promoted opponents.
Nathan Jones has overseen a largely positive pre-season period, as his squad warmed up for Saturday's clash with four comfortable wins over lower-league opposition before suffering their sole defeat versus a strong Brighton side last weekend.
Though the Hatters were short of goals last season, they have found the net 20 times in their five warm-up games, so will expect to pose more of a threat to their rivals throughout the 2020-21 season.
Jones has turned to experienced striker Cameron Jerome, who revived his career in League One with MK Dons last season, to aid Luton's efforts in the final third and, in all, has brought eight new players to Kenilworth Road this summer.
The iconic little ground is set to fling its doors open to supporters of both sides for Saturday's suitably traditional three o'clock kickoff, and the home fans will certainly hope for a repeat of the last time these two clubs last met in Bury Park, when Luton demolished Peterborough 4-0 in January 2019.
© Reuters
While Luton were promoted as League One champions that year, their visitors finished seventh - just one of several near misses for Posh in the years since their demotion in 2013.
Now back in the second tier, having finished runners-up to Hull City last term, Peterborough return with a reputation for free-flowing, attacking football - no other team in the top four divisions could match their goal tally last season - and their colourful co-owner has ambitions of progressing further up the pyramid.
United supremo Darragh MacAnthony has splashed out on the seven-figure signing of Joel Randall this summer, even though the former Exeter City youngster has yet to play above League two level. Having signed a four-year contract at Posh, Randall becomes the sixth million-pound signing of the MacAnthony era, which has been characterised by the development of lower-league hopefuls who are eventually sold on for a major profit.
With Siriki Dembele and last season's top scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris perhaps next to help bolster the coffers, manager Darren Ferguson - now in his third spell at the club - is sure to demand further investment, as he prepares his team for life in the unforgiving Championship.
Events have not gone as smoothly as desired in the build-up to the re-start, as United lost at National League club King's Lynn Town in their final pre-season fixture on Tuesday, which followed a 2-0 defeat against Portsmouth, so Ferguson will expect a far sharper showing in their much anticipated season-opener.
- W
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
- W
- D
- W
- L
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Nathan Jones has openly announced his desired emphasis on athletic prowess at Luton, so has attempted to recruit players which fit that bill.
Already established as a regular at the club, due to his pace and crossing ability, James Bree has competition from Dublin-born Peter Kioso for his place this season. The 21-year-old shone during loan spells with Bolton Wanderers and Northampton Town last term, but will most likely start on the bench against Peterborough.
Jones has also strengthened his midfield, as the summer signings of both former Aston Villa man Henri Lansbury and Motherwell's Allan Campbell will now join Wales international Joe Morrell, who is back from his Euros experience - making it difficult to determine who will make the starting XI.
Centre-back Gabriel Osho has also been deployed in the engine room during pre-season, so it remains to be seen where Jones will play the former Rochdale loanee.
Peterborough, meanwhile, welcomed back their chief goal threat Jonson Clarke-Harris in midweek, after a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury, so he should lead the Posh line on Saturday.
There was also a starting berth for midfielder Kyle Barker against his old side at King's Lynn, but the 20-year-old could be squeezed out at Kenilworth Road, as Darren Ferguson seeks to accommodate new boy Joel Randall.
Scottish striker Siriki Dembele should be involved despite strong interest from several other clubs - apparently including Glasgow's 'Old Firm', while Ferguson has also received a fitness boost following a scan on midfielder Jack Taylor's hamstring, which indicated he could be fit to feature.
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Sluga; Bree, Bradley, Osho, Potts; Campbell, Rea, Onyedinma, Morrell; Jerome, Cornick
Peterborough United possible starting lineup:
Cornell; Thompson, Kent, Beevers, Butler; Grant, Szmodics, Kanu, Taylor; Dembele, Clarke-Harris
We say: Luton Town 2-2 Peterborough United
Given Luton's prolific pre-season and their visitors' notoriously attack-minded nature, goals could be on the cards at a buzzing Kenilworth Road this weekend.
The hosts' greater experience at this level should stand them in good stead, but Peterborough's razor-sharp forwards are in demand for a reason.
Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Peterborough United win with a probability of 37.72%. A win for Luton Town had a probability of 34.9% and a draw had a probability of 27.4%.
The most likely scoreline for a Peterborough United win was 0-1 with a probability of 10.89%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.1%) and 0-2 (6.8%). The likeliest Luton Town win was 1-0 (10.38%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (12.96%). The actual scoreline of 3-0 was predicted with a 2.5% likelihood.
