Meet the opposition | Luton Town
As Swansea City get set to head to Kenilworth Road to take on Luton Town, we take a closer look at the Hatters.
What's their story?
Luton were a top-flight mainstay throughout the 1980s, but the club found themselves tumbling down the pyramid into the National League in 2010.
Since then, the Hatters have climbed all the way back up into the Championship, winning the National League and League One, as well as gaining automatic promotion from League Two.
The Hatters won the Football League Trophy back in 2009 and have previously been winners of the Football League Cup in 1988.
They have now steadied themselves in the Championship, claiming a 19th place finish in their first season and finishing 12th last season.
How’s their form?
Luton’s start has been a solid one and, outside of a 5-0 defeat at home to Birmingham, the Hatters have been competitive in all fixtures so far this term.
They opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over newly promoted Peterborough and picked up a 1-0 win away to Barnsley.
They have drawn their last three games, scoring a last-minute equaliser at Bristol City in midweek.
Who’s the boss?
Nathan Jones. The Welshman joined Luton for his second spell with the club towards the end of the 2019-20 campaign, helping them avoid relegation before consolidating in the Championship last term.
Jones began his managerial career with a spell in caretaker charge for Brighton before joining Luton in 2016. After two seasons in League Two, Jones would earn promotion to League One with the Hatters.
He would stay with the club until January 2019 where he would go on to join Stoke City, with the Hatters well placed for another promotion, but Jones' stint at the bet365 Stadium would prove shortlived.
As a player, Jones began his career in the Welsh Football League, playing for Maesteg Park, Ton Pentre and Merthyr Tydfil. The left-back would go on to send two years in Spain with Badajoz and Numancia.
Jones made his debut in the EFL for Southend United, playing 99 games and scoring twice before a successful five-year spell at Brighton and a stint with Yeovil.
Who’s the captain?
Sonny Bradley joined the club in 2018 following their promotion to League One.
Bradley began his career with Hull City, and spent time on loan at Harrogate Town, IK Frej and Aldershot Town before moving to Portsmouth.
Bradley would only spend one season with Pompey, scoring two goals in 33 games for the club, before spells with Crawley and Plymouth Argyle.
He helped Argyle claim promotion to League One before his switch to Kenilworth Road, where he helped Luton win the League One title in 2019.
Bradley was handed the armband at the start of the following season, and has held it since.
Who are the key men?
Harry Cornick joined Luton from Premier League Bournemouth in 2017 and has been a big part of their rise from League Two to the second tier.
The winger has made 177 appearances for the Hatters, scoring 25 goals, including two so far this season.
Amari’i Bell moved to Kenilworth Road as a free agent from Blackburn Rovers this summer and has enjoyed a fine start to the season.
The left-back netted his first goal for the club in their win at Barnsley and has quickly established himself as a regular.
Wales international Tom Lockyer is an important figure at the heart of the defence while, following the departure of James Collins, they have added the experience of Cameron Jerome in attack.
