Championship Gameweek 8
Sep 18, 2021 3.00pm
3
3
HT : 3 0
FT
  • Luke Berry 7' goal
  • Elijah Adebayo 15' goal
  • Elijah Adebayo 23' goal
  • Henri Lansbury 28' yellowcard
  • Kal Naismith 47' yellowcard
  • yellowcard Ryan Manning 28'
  • goal Jamie Paterson 63'
  • goal Olivier Ntcham 86'
  • goal Joel Piroe 90'+1'

Preview: Luton Town vs. Swansea City - prediction, team news, lineups

Luton vs. Swansea - prediction, team news, lineups

Luton Town welcome Swansea City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon, as the hosts look to claim their first Championship victory in over a month.

As for the visitors, they have claimed just one victory from their opening seven league games, failing to win each of their last three.


Match preview

Although Luton have drawn each of their last three league games, they have come away from their last two matches feeling like winners after coming from behind to snatch two successive solitary points in stoppage time.

After a goalless draw at home to Sheffield United, Luke Berry's 98th-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers was followed by a 91st-minute leveller from Danny Hylton away at Bristol City on Wednesday night to claim a 1-1 draw.

The Hatters, who currently sit in 13th place, have failed to win any of their last four league matches, yet they are only four points behind the playoffs.

Nathan Jones's men are now preparing for Saturday's encounter with Swansea City, having lost five of their last six meetings against them.

Luton have failed to score in their last two matches at Kenilworth Road; the last time they were unable to score in three successive home matches was in April 2016, when the Hatters were in League Two and Swansea were in the Premier League.

Swansea's underwhelming start to the new campaign continued when they played out a goalless draw at home against Millwall on Wednesday night.

Russell Martin's men are one of three Championship sides, along with Hull City and Derby County, to have scored the fewest goals in the division, finding the net just four times in their first seven matches.

The former MK Dons boss remains confident that goals will come from his side soon, with an encounter against Luton – a side they have scored against in seven of their last eight meetings – seemingly a perfect fixture for the Swans on Saturday.

Their last three league goals have all come from summer signing Joel Piroe. The 22-year-old failed to nail down a regular starting place at PSV Eindhoven but he is now looking to star for the Swans as their main striker, following the departures of Andre Ayew and Jamal Lowe.

Swansea have lost three of their last four away league games, but a victory on Saturday could see them leapfrog Luton and move as high as 11th in the table.

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

Swansea City Championship form:
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D

Swansea City form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • D
  • D


Team News

Luton midfielder Allan Campbell is set to remain on the sidelines with a ligament injury, while Jordan Clark is doubtful with concussion.

Jones switched to a 5-3-2 formation in midweek and he could stick with a three-man defence on Saturday, which would see Tom Lockyer, Reece Burke and Kal Naismith all start at centre-back.

Summer signing Carlos Mendes Gomes was dropped to the bench on Wednesday but will be hoping to force his way back into the first XI ahead of either Berry or Cameron Jerome.

As for Swansea, they are without the services of both Korey Smith (calf) and Rhys Williams (knock) due to injury.

Left wing-back Jake Bidwell was an unused substitute in midweek, but the 28-year-old could be brought back into the starting lineup at the expense of Ryan Manning.

With Piroe set to start as the lone striker, Michael Obafemi and Liam Cullen will likely begin on the bench once again, although Martin may consider playing with two strikers as the Swans look to find their form in front of goal.

Luton Town possible starting lineup:

Sluga; Lockyer, Burke, Naismith; Bree, Mpanzu, Lansbury, Bell; Gomes; Cornick, Jerome

Swansea City possible starting lineup:

Hamer; Naughton, Bennett, Cabango; Laird, Downes, Grimes, Bidwell; Ntcham, Paterson; Piroe


We say: Luton Town 1-1 Swansea City

A closely-fought contest between two evenly matches sides is set to be played out at Kenilworth Road this weekend. Although Luton and Swansea will both push to claim all three points, we think that a score draw could be on the cards.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


POLL
Who will win Saturday's Championship clash between Luton and Swansea?
Luton Town 37%
Draw 26%
Swansea City 37%
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