Match Preview: Luton Town

KENILWORTH ROAD | 26TH DECEMBER 2019 | 15:00

Image: Luton Town

Our Focus turns to Fulham’s Boxing Day fixture of 2019, as Scott Parker’s Black and White army take on Luton Town at Kenilworth Road. It’s our first visit to the home of the Hatters in the new millennium, with the last encounter coming during the festive period of 1999, 20 years ago! Fulham won 3-0 that day with a brace from Barry Hayles and a third from Steve Hayward. That’ll do again please Fulham… COYW!

Head to Head

  • Fulham have scored 11 goals on our last 3 trips to Kenilworth Road, a 1-4, 0-4 and 0-3 victories.
  • This is our first trip to Kenilworth Road in the new millennium.
  • Fulham have scored at least once in 8 of the last 9 meetings.
  • We have won 3 of our last 4 against the Hatters.

Luton Town in 2019/20

  • League Position: 21st
  • League Form: LLLWL
  • Average Possession: 48.6%
  • Form Table (Last 6 Matches): 18th (6pts)
  • Clean sheets: 1
  • Top Scorers: James Collins (7), Harry Cornick (5)
  • Discipline: 29 Yellows | 0 Red
  • Both teams have scored in 15 of their 23 matches this season

Players in Common

Image: Ed Lacey/Popperfoto/Getty

Viv Busby

Fulham: 143 apps, 36 goals (1973-1976)

Luton: 77 apps, 16 goals (1970-1973)

Jimmy Allen, Bobby Brennan, Mick Brown, Viv Busby, David Button, Iain Dowie, John Dreyer, Sean Farrell, Vic Halom, Duncan Jupp, Malcolm Macdonald, Chris Martin, Alan Neilson, Mark Pembridge, Paul Peschisolido, Bjorn Runstrom, John Ryan, Tony Thorpe, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Mark Walton, Robert Wilson & Cauley Woodrow.

Will’s View (@TrustyFulhamFan)

What a win that was last weekend. We managed to end a 3 game losing streak, as well as ending Leeds’ 13 game unbeaten run, adding to the satisfaction of the crucial win. With other teams winning and others losing, we managed to move from 6th to 4th and are still 9 points off second place. However it was at this point last season where we saw the start of our 23 game unbeaten run. I’m not saying there will be a repeat of that, but there is quite often a turn of form for Fulham at the midway point of the season, and we have a good run of games coming up.

Looking forward to the Luton game, they have been struggling, they are currently in the relegation zone which means they have a win to fight for.  However with the way Scott adapted to the way Leeds played I can only see us winning this game. The team are on top form, and could regain third place if results go our way. Luton have lost their last 3 games, scoring 1 and conceding 6 in those games. Ryan Tunnicliffe is a regular at Luton, and is well known by Fulham as he spent 3 years at the club, playing 59 times. It will be interesting to see the lineup with plenty of players on top form. The players that could be rotated that I would like to see hold their places in the starting XI are Onomah, who put in his best performance since joining the club, Christie, who went from average to good between the Brentford and the Leeds game, and Bobby Reid, who looked like one of the most energetic players on the pitch. Parker will have to decide whether to put Johansen back into the team, and who to play on the wings with Kamara and Kebano both being unused subs against Leeds.

I’m fully behind whatever lineup Parker chooses after Onomah proved us all wrong. I’m going for a 3-1 away win.