Meet the opposition | Luton Town
As Swansea City and Luton Town get ready to lock horns in the Championship, we take a closer look at the history, form, and key men of the Hatters.
What's their story?
Luton Town are currently contesting their third successive season in the Championship.
They last appeared in the top flight in the 1991-92 season, where they were relegated on the final day of the campaign – thus preventing them from featuring in the inaugural Premier League.
They’ve been at Kenilworth Road since 1905, having been founded 10 years earlier, while their biggest piece of silverware came via the League Cup in 1988.
Financial difficulties between 2007 and 2009 saw them fall from the second tier to the fifth in successive seasons. After five seasons in non league, they were promoted in 2014, and successive promotions in League Two and League One soon followed.
How's their form?
Strong. The Hatters have lost just one of their last eight games in all competitions; a run that has taken them into the top 10 in the Championship table.
That sequence has seen them emerge undefeated from games against the top three, with Luton taking three points off Bournemouth and sharing the spoils with Fulham and Blackburn Rovers.
Their away form has been decent enough, taking 16 points from 13 games, which puts them in the top 10 in the Championship for points on their travels.
Who's the gaffer?
Nathan Jones. The Welshman is now in his second spell with the Hatters. Was first appointed at Kenilworth Road in January 2016 following a spell as Brighton’s assistant manager, and led the Hatters to safety before reaching the play-offs the following year.
He went a step further the following campaign, leading Luton to League One, and looked on course for another promotion, only to take up the vacant Stoke job in January 2019. He lasted just 10 months with the Potters, and returned to Luton in May 2020. He kept Luton up on the final day of the 2019-20 season, while he guided them to a highly-respectable 12th-place finish last term.
During his playing career, he played for Spanish clubs Badajoz and Numancia before spells in England with Southend, Scarborough, Brighton and Yeovil.
Who's the captain?
Sonny Bradley. The centre-back has experienced a rollercoaster career, which started and continues in the Championship following spells in non-league and Sweden.
Began his career with local club Hull City, and went out on loan to Harrogate and Aldershot with a spell in Sweden with fourth-tier club IK Frej wedged between.
A one-year stint with Portsmouth, then in League Two, led to a move to Crawley Town in a division above.
Was part of Plymouth’s League Two winning side, which led to him being named in the team of the year, and is now enjoying his fourth year with Hatters.
Who are the key men?
Striker Elijah Adebayo started his career at Fulham, having joined them at under-nine level.
Spent loan spells in non-league and with League Two clubs Cheltenham Town, Swindon Town and Stevenage before a permanent move to Walsall paid dividends.
He struck 18 league goals over two seasons for the Saddlers, and a move to Luton followed midway through last season.
He is no stranger to the Swans, having struck two goals in the 3-3 draw between the sides earlier this season.
Poole-born former Bournemouth attacker Harry Cornick is enjoying a fifth season with Luton, having helped them to two promotions.
Started his career with Christchurch in the Wessex League, and quickly attracted the attention of the Cherries.
He made just a solitary appearance for Bournemouth – in the FA Cup – and a number of loan spells in non-league were followed by stints at Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient and Gillingham.
His switch to Luton in 2017 proved a successful move for both player and club, and he’s got 200 appearances in sight.
Croatia international Simon Sluga, meanwhile, has been a key figure between the sticks for the Hatters, and is now in his third season with the Kenilworth Road club.
Started his career in his homeland with HNK Rijeka, for whom he’d lift the Croatian Cup and win two league titles. He’d also go on to pick up Champions League and Europa League experience with Rijeka, for whom he’d star in a 2-0 win over AC Milan.
Spent loan spells elsewhere in Croatia and in Italy, but his performances for Rijeka led to a transfer of just over £1million to Luton.
He is closing in on 100 appearances for Luton, while he has won two of his three international caps whilst with the Hatters.
However, he did not feature against Blackburn at the weekend due to uncertainty over his future ahead of transfer deadline day.
