Thetownend.com

The Opponent: Luton Town

After a decent start to the season we move on to the 1st round of The League Cup with a trip to Bedfordshire to face The Hatters. Hopefully Mark Cooper will be taking the competition a bit more seriously than Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe who plans to make a full 11 changes to the team that started their opening day victory at Huddersfield. I feel the final implications of an early exit are likely to determine most team selections for The League Cup in our league with ourselves being no different.

Luton, population wise, is very similar to Swindon, it has grown over the last few decades at a rate of knots similar to ourselves. It is also home to several international companies such as Vauxhall Motors, Electrolux and Easyjet, amongst others. Some famous Lutonians include 'singer' Paul Young, Cricketer Monty Panesar and Chelsea legend (if you have supported them more than 10 years) Kerry Dixon.  Luton is home to many festivals but one which caught my eye was The Luton St Patrick’s Festival, a festival celebrating the patron saint of Ireland and organised by Luton Irish Forum.  St Patrick, is held on the weekend nearest to 17 March and is now in its 15th year. The Festival includes a parade, market stalls and music stands as well as Irish themed events. If this isn’t an excuse to get hammered, which in turn means you forget that you are actually in Luton, then I’m not sure what is.

Since the 2011 census, Luton has become one of 3 towns in the United Kingdom to officially hold a white British minority. It was announced in a report based on the census figures that along with Leicester and Slough, Luton was one of 3 towns outside of London where white Britons were minority, making up only 45% of Luton's population. However the town still has a White majority, when non-British whites such as Irish and Eastern Europeans are included,] and 81% of the population of Luton still define themselves as British, despite the majority of its residents being from a foreign ethnic background. Personally I find our diversity as a country as something to be proud of but on the flip side, thuggish organisations such as The English Defence League (the founder was born in Luton) and the pro-Jihadi Muslim group Al-Muhajiroun use Luton’s ethnic diversity as a reason to spit their bile at each other.

Last Time Out – Carlisle 0  Luton 1  (Cullen). A decent 1088 made the long journey up to Cumbria for Luton’s return to The Football League and were well rewarded with a first half winner.
Starting XI – Tyler, Connolly, Griffiths, Wilkinson, McNulty, Lacey, Robinson, Drury (sub Stevenson 78), Howells (sub Luke Rooney 83), Cullen and Paul Benson.

They have served us both – Martin Williams, Roy Wegerle, Paul Benson, Mark Crook, Calvin Andrew, Jimmy Coupar, Sol Davis, Richard Dryden, Steve White, Bobby Weale, Paul Allen, Bobby Colvin, Danny Wilson, Adrian Whitbread, Garry Waddock, Tony Thorpe, Chris Turner, Norman Thomson, Kevin Dearden, Jake Findlay, Claude Gnakpa, Sammy Igoe, Yaser Kasim, David Geddis, Bernard Harris, Chris Kamara, Des Linton, Andy King, Luke Rooney, Andy Petterson, David Moss, Tommy Little, Fred Dent, Bertie Davies, Sam Parkin, Alan Judge, Willie Harber, David Preece, Colin Todd, Mike O’Hara, Tony Knight, Harry Keeling, Robert Middleton.  In my humble opinion, Jed did not serve us, more his own self inflated ego.

One From The Past – Swindon Town 3 Luton Town 2, January 6th 1968, FA Cup Round 2.  2 goals from Don Rogers and 1 from Don Heath in front of just over 18’000 at The County Ground ensured we made it through to Round 3. Looking back at the team sheet that day, names such as Downsborough, Trollope, Harland, and Rogers remind us youngerish (touching 40) non-moonrakers of our fantastic footballing heritage.

The Odds –   Luton 17/10  Draw 21/10   Swindon 17/10 (Hills) The inevitable Paul Benson opener is 6/1 but I would be tempted to swerve the 14/1 being offered on Ryan Harley.

The Son Says – Still upbeat from Saturday he has plumped for a 2-0 victory.

The Prediction –  I got the goal scorers right for the 1st game of the season (a first in 3 seasons), this will be 1-1 Full Time and we will win 4-3 on penalties. Our goal will come from Ben Gladwin, the winning penalty will be hit by Nathan Byrne, exorcising many penalty demons at the same time. 5320 in attendance with 388 having a happy journey home.  If all of this happens, I want a peerage.

And Finally – The town was immortalised in a 1970s Campari advert starring Lorraine Chase in which she was asked “Were you truly wafted here from paradise?” to which she answered: “Nah, Luton Airport.”

COYR COYR COYR COYR

Good read Ross.

1-2. Att: 4,774 (233)

1-0 Luton win with Benson tapping in from a Luke Rooney cross, in front of a 4,593 crowd with 180 town fans

Benno's going to score from a Rooney assist at the very least, but if we play like we did on Saturday then we'll win 4-1.

I hope the scoreline's not too embarrassing either way as I'm spending the weekend with the grandparents and me grandpa's a Luton fan.

Not in the slightest bit bothered about this one. I hope we make a few changes ahead of the weekend.

1-0 Luton - 424 from Swindon

1-2

8,120 with 367 ooh aaars

The mighty Smudger with both

Luton 2-1 Swindon AET with Benson grabbing at least one for them and Smith scoring a tap in in front of 5,305 fans with 532 Town there.

1-0 Benson 90+5
 
I am bothered, we've had some great nights in the league cup. Most recently Stoke away. I want more.

We had some pretty good nights in 1969 ;)

Actually I love the League Cup probably more than the FA Cup.

Semi Finalists in 79/80 and 94/95 some very happy memories of some great matches and wins against "bigger" clubs.

2-1 Luton. Benson with both.

Benson had a bit of an accident i see

You're always bothered in some way or another though.

I'm hoping for a decent league cup run but think tonight will be close.2-1 Town with Williams and a Thompson on target

Not sure where my optimism has come from by 1-2 win tonight. Gladwin and Byrne.

Of course Benson or Rooney will score tonight.

I have nothing but unhappy memories of Kennilworth Road. I fear the ghost of Les Sealey will reappear and cause further misery tonight.

As Luongo says in another article, the away form needs to improve. Given our lack of experience at the back, you'd expect this is where we'll get found out....poor away form then puts pressure on the home form.

With this in mind, you'd expect the Hatters to win tonight with a bit to spare....if, however we could produce a battling performance, you never know, we could cause an upset.

Tight game for sure, but if we're on form we should win by 2.

Trouble last season was compounded by Cooper thinking we could defend away from home for long periods.

It was obvious to everyone that we couldn't - and at the moment still can't - so I hope we operate a 'shit or bust' policy away.

When we get pressured away from home we will concede - no doubt about it - so it'll have to be a case of we can score more than you.

Vindaloo!

A nice local away game for me, so my first of the season. Looking forward to seeing how we play, really should win this one but never bank on it.

Yes of course. I note that you refrained from giving your thoughts after Saturday's game, but then I guess it didn't leave much for someone with your attitude to say.  

1-0 Luton. They'll probably draw Manure in the 2nd round.

Give it a rest.

How exactly would it be an upset when both teams are the same price?

It's a pretty even game on paper so naturally Reg goes down the negative route

Leave Reg alone. We had a woeful away record last year with a much more experienced back line, so to score more than the oppo tonight will be a small achievement.

experience =/= quality

Inexperience != quality either.

With experience at least you can compensate to some extent.

This.

^ and the joy of going to Bolton twice in one week  :)

Benson scores with a header with all the power from his neck that rips open the net...and Luton hold on for a one niler after Smudge hits both posts and bar.

Chuckles says it just wasnt to be and we can concentrate on staying up.

There will be at least 266 town fans tonight.

2-2 at full time, town win 3-2 aet, Turnbull to score winner

Doesn't it go straight to pens after 90 mins?

No, that's the JPT.

Don't remind me :cry:

Interesting little write up in the Luton local rag today.

http://www.dunstabletoday.co.uk/sport/football/luton-town/preview-luton-town-v-swindon-town-1-6234100

Everyone is worried about Benson and Rooney, don't forget there could be another Smith on the field tonight that might come back to bite us...

I think going on reports from Saturday, until our defensive frailties are resolved with a Stephens or A N Other, our away form will continue in the vain of the majority of last season..

2-0 Luton..

Edit:  I have just seen that Jonathan is injured so scratch that... I stick by my prediction though

Just getting into Luton, quite excited now. Start of the season and all that.

From Venkmans link

Ha, yeah just saw that and edited :D

Surely this phrase hasn't be heard many times in the history of the world .

Unless he has a woman in the car called Luton

Hassan Kachloul (sp) out on the pitch with us allegedly

I was thinking that myself :D

Or the van.

Fucking hope not - he's 41

Foderingham, Thompson N (C), Branco, Turnbull, Byrne, Kasim, Luongo, Thompson L, Smith B, Gladwin, Smith M

Subs: Belford, Barthram, Marshall, Randall, Waldon, Barker, Williams

Training capacity? Probably bollocks.

What we do know is a potential new signing has been spotted on the pitch.

I think you've all been whooshed.

It's some trial list from Oz

John Cellini (?)

Bristol City 1-0 Oxford

Stifles guffaw!

Hope they kick 10 tonne of scum out of each other.

Do do do do, Miles Storey..

We'd be 3-0 up by now if Storey was playing for us

Joel Chianese i think is the name.

Further evidence you don't like him, it would be 6.

Sounds more like it

Royce Brownlie MkII ?

Sounds a bit of a dirty game all told.

Franchise beating Wimbledon, bastards

Franchise are Wimbledon. Well, the orignial lot anyway, not that tinpot bunch of busybodies.

Bristol Robots losing to Barnet

Dreadfull

Whenever Wimbledon play Franchise I can't help but think of this.

(http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mas4t1p0wb1rnck98o1_400.gif)

Stop trolling, tans.

At the game. We'll only lose this if we make a mistake, but a goal or two would be nice soon to be sure.

I'm mostly distracted by the fact that I've just realised the entire team are younger than me. I'm fucking 24, this shouldn't happen to me for a few years yet.

:D

:D

Brad Smith off?

Yup. Barthram on

Eeeek

There's your mistake!

0-1 Rooney (pen)

fucksake.

Missed the half time talk:


FOOTBALL: Swindon Chairman Lee Power tells BBC Wiltshire the club have turned down offers from Coventry for striker Michael Smith.

Fucking hell, is there not a :cringe: emoticon on here?

Other end of the ground from us but from reactions of both sets of players it was never a pen. Luton tails up now seem to have learnt to play football. Big break in play for a Terry Butcher headband for Barthram who presumably has headed someone in the shin

Heard a good interview with Nathan Thompsons girlfriend. Sounded like a very intelligent grounded young lady. Fair play to NT.

wags are so interesting aren't they?

Penalty! Town.

Yeeeeeeeeees Smith


1-1

eeeek

She was.

1-1 byrne brought down for pen . Smith scores.

Byrne carrying on from where he left off on Saturday by the sound of it

whoopee!

Byrne fouled and M. Smith scored.

fair enough but basically it was "he loves his brother" and "football is very important"

Yesssssssss 1-2 Town..

Smith scores goals.

She did manage the whole interview without saying like at the end of every sentence. That's an achievement.

1-2 Smith Cmon

Goal, Michael Smith!

2-1 Smithy!

Kin ell Sudger

Take that Les Sealey !!

Fuck me that second was a great team move and fantastic first touch from Smith which he's been criticised for before. 

The Fans' Favourite!!!!

ha,yeah that's true!

Have that whisteleblower!

His first touch during the game on Saturday was noticeably better than last season too. I was surprised to see some people still criticising him.

Oh no, the scum are beating the scum.

Well done Michael Smith. I hope every fucking cretin that gave the lad shit is just as quick to give him credit.

Good response from going a goal down, may be a case of Smith responding well to transfer speculation.

Now lets not screw this up.

Well said. Great start for him.

I said when he joined I had a feeling he was going to turn into the next SSP, I'm sticking with that!

Does that make it a win-win situation, or a lose-lose situation?

Well happy for Smithy after the shit he's taken. Hang on now Town.

I don't know, I just don't know..

6 mins added on. Meh.

Bye bye Rooney :)

Go on Lee Marshall!

Rooney sent off for diving

Rooney off, 2nd yellow for diving. Probably spotted some lucky heather on the touchline.

This is nerve wracking.

Well done Town , sounds like we took some knocks but came through it.

Wrack your nerves no more.

Bring on some nondescript team at home.

Great result in the end, very pleased with 2 wins out of 2.

Good. Let's get another good cup draw now.

good result, not got the squad to handle these injuries though. Hope Thompson/Smith are ok

Not wishing to crow, but . . . .

Poxford

Interesting tha Scunny beat Blackburn at Ewood Park. I wonder how good Saturdays result really was?

Well done Town.

Good to win, but even better to come back from a goal down away from home.

Well chuffed for Michael Smith, 4 goals already will hopefully get some of his critics onside

Creepies playing extra time, too

Well done Town. Sounds like it was well deserved.

When's the draw for the next round?

Tomorrow night.

Great stuff.

Especially pleasing to see Smudger banging them in. Be interesting to see if the jibbering cretins from last season will carry on giving him stick after every tiny mistake he makes.

Great stuff, really chuffed with the result and just as pleased for the travelling reds as any long journey home in the dark will feel that much better with your name in the hat for the next round. Any away game is difficult, especially against a team that has momentum from a recent promotion. The 1st of 3 away games and we are playing with confidence and style. This young team is showing real promise, as someone else mentioned, we will concede goals, we just need to score more than the opposition when they do.

Well done Cooper for playing arguably our strongest team and well done to the players for playing with maturity and patience. Early days of course but playing the way we are we will undoubtedly cause most teams problems when we go forward and we will win more games than we lose.

Manchester United home or away next please.

I'll be honest, I think **some** of the criticism was deserved, but not in the OTT way it was made. We were trying to slot him in as a direct Ranger replacement, when its clear his strengths are elsewhere.

Reading  :pint:

Was just about to say that I don't think they European competition teams are in R2, then I remembered :)

Away please.

Jesus, not that bland.

What's your guess?

We are the angry mob
We read the papers every day
We like who we like and we hate who we hate
And we're oh so easily swayed.

436 Town fans in attendance.

Not bad

Some game at Dagenham. 5-5 v Brentford ET

rather have Manchester United in the final to be honest

Job done. Could have been more comfortable but we always looked the better team.

Byrne my MoM, Smith took the second well and pretty much everyone did their job

The mongs will always be amongst us (see what I did there)....Mighty Mike as a few said will be a good player for us.

Big result tonight, it would have been very easy to have accepted defeat , but we didn't, shows a bit of spirit in the camp which can only be good...

Fair point.

For anybody listening to the post match, has any more light been shed on the Aussie?

Would have defo lost that last season.

Follow it up Saturday, please

64% possession with 15 shots - impressive

Over for a week, the same scout that found Luongo asked Power to take a look  (well I say found, but I'm not sure if that means for Spurs, or just recommended to us).
-----
Twitter bloke in Aus:

David Squires ‏@squires_david 3m
@TrustSTFC @SamMorshead_SA looked good when he first broke into the Sydney FC side, but had a hard time last season and was let go.
@TrustSTFC @SamMorshead_SA he's quick and young, but I think "raw" would be the kindest euphemism. Prone to the odd howler, but who isn't?

6-6. The penalty shootout could have less goals than the game.

En route home. Very impressive showing tonight from front to back. We kept the ball well and although not really creating too much looked in control.

Luton got a penalty from an apparent handball from Louis Thompson but we didn't panic and kept playing our football. Despite shouts to 'get it in the box' we probed and after more good possession Byrne cut inside and was brought down. Clear pen which smith despatched. We turned the screw and a good through ball by Luongo was controlled by smith, nutmegged the defender and finished low into the bottom corner.

Luton didn't really do much with the ball to be honest and the best team won. West ham away next would be lovely for me! Or even QPR.

A famous night for Swindon Town. What an upset.

Yes, isn't it disgusting how some people always take a negative view on things?

This result will send shockwaves through English footvall

Yep.

Just seen the goals, Smith's second was a beauty !!

Does anyone know when the draw for the 2nd round is?

Tonight...

Highlights now on the OS. Smith's second was classy, with a delightful first touch.

Where's the highlights? YouTube?

Ask Julie

League Cup show on BBC tonight, 11.05pm also.

Draw is made after the live Cov v Cardiff game btw.

Feedback from a Luton fan -

Amazed fellow Luton fans are arguing Swindon pen shouldn't have been given. Looked the definition of stone wall to me, Drury stupidly dangled his leg and immediately knew he had made a mistake. Not one player appealed against it. After the match Still commented on Drury's mistake rather than the referee's.

Ours on the other hand was never a handball although the way he stretched out for it looked clumsy and gave the officials the opportunity to make a call.

The Rooney one in the last minute looked a pen and a booking was very harsh indeed. But frankly it would have been a travesty if we had not lost, they were miles better on the night. The formation experiment didn't really work and we must have only had about 25% possession.

Atmosphere was like a pre season friendly too, awful. Roll on Saturday and a game with a proper atmosphere.

Also, apparently Storey had a great game for Pompey last night. Hopefully he proves himself there and comes back to us a better player.

Good start to the season for us so far.

What was the atmosphere like on Saturday and then with the away fans last night?

Thought the atmosphere was alright on Saturday. Certainly had worse last season.

Pity the Pikeys are away on a weekday evening

Apparently the potential opponents in the 2nd round are...

Aston Villa, Bolton Wanderers, Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Cardiff City/Sheffield Wednesday, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Fulham, Leeds United, Leicester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers, Reading, Southampton, Stoke City, Sunderland, Swansea City, Watford, West Brom or West Ham

There aren't many bad draws in there. Avoid any northern outpost away (Bolton, Boro, Burnley, Sunderland) and I'll be happy.

West Ham, Reading or Watford away please.

I bet its QPR again.

I did wonder whether because quite a few Championship clubs went out last night we might just about get elevated into the top seed section, but seemingly not.  Home game v anybody out of that lot would be OK, some more OK than others.

Given that it seems compulsory we have to play v Charlie Austin.....QPR at home it is.

It's Reading I tells ya!

Man U away would be my first choice, followed by a trip to Elland Road. Failing that, a trip Bolton, Burnley, or Stoke would do.

Not that I'm being selfish...

Would be fun, it's been a while, in fact the 12 year gap is by far the longest, since we first saw their backs in 1892. The previous longest gap was the 7 years from 87-94, when we were in the ascendancy.

Crawley

Its seeded isn't it?

Bolton or Burnley?

Fuck right off!

Is it ?? QPR then

They still sing about us which amuses me no end.

Middlesbrough.

http://www.swindon-town-fc.co.uk/MatchCentre.asp?Tab=Video&MatchID=20020112

:D

probably because they are such a massive club

Out of that list, I'd happily take Reading (A).

Villa or Brighton away

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1R4ymjO89Q

goals

http://www.capitalonecup.co.uk/news/article/20140813r2drawdetailsrp-1825941.aspx

Well taken goal by Smith to win it.

Palace away please. Failing that, I wouldn't be disappointed with a trip to old Trafford.

Good save!

Classy goal for Smiths 2nd

As it will be a Tuesday I would like an away game I haven't done yet that isn't too far to drive to....West Brom seems to fit that description.

Great win last night, sounded like a decent performance and hopefully a good draw tonight!

Reading (A) for me! Been a few years since we've played them with something on it! or West Ham (A), last season at Upton Park and never been!

Forgot to mention that Luton's Centre back was enormous. Mcnulty I think his name was. Didn't look a bad player despite his size.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v490/jamiethon/steve_zpsf14312e2.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/jamiethon/media/steve_zpsf14312e2.jpg.html)

One can see how it would be difficult to get around him.

Not sure that white top goes well with the red shorts
If didnt have the blue piping would look ok i guess

Anyway
Cracking goals by Smith
Well taken pen and the first touch for the second took the defender out the game and led to a classy finish

Fair play to the 400+ travelling fans too
Top effort

WTF?

If he's a footballer my cock's a kipper

I look forward to seeing the battle of Akinfenwa and him :)

Just reading about him....

Aged 30 "noted for his aerial ability". Fair play to him.

Looks like Nick Hancock

Whatever gets us the most money...

Yep.

We have to pay for the PA system and the police otherwise we'll go under. FACT

Jutty with better teeth!

Prepare to be underwhelmed with the 2nd round draw

Is it on anywhere?

Sky 402 after Cov v Taffs

After televised game on sky

Draw coming up I think.

http://www.vipstand.is/football/243036/1/coventry-city-vs-cardiff-city-live-stream-online.html

Draw upcoming.

Brighton at home. Meh.

Shite draw! :(

Fucking gay draw.

Told you.

We have a chance of beating them I guess but a pants draw all the same.

If we get through then surely a premiership game!!

Shit draw. Hey ho.

 Why the fuck did Franchise have to get the draw that'll make them a sack of cash  >:(

 Not a bad draw at least it's at home, and I assume BHA still try to play a bit of football.

Not a great draw, but we've had a decent run in the League Cup of late. And I'm away that week so could have been worse, I could have been missing a good game :)

 Given that the last time we played them at the CG in the LC, the immutable law of the ex, meant a brace for Alan Navarro, could it be George Barker's time?

But it's an extra game which I presume the club has not budgeted for.

We probably get a bit for progressing to Round 2, we'll get a crowd of maybe 6-7000 so surely that's enough to pay off the Feds and get the tannoy fixed.

When we played them recently, it was R1 and the crowd was 5.700.....but it was on Sky.  So something between 6 and 7 ought to be feasible, especially if it is priced right.

Bet its a gold category game :D

Funny how man Utd was the last team out of the hat wasn't it

"Mong " ?

Have a word with yourself

Easy win if we have 11 players. Brighton peaked 18 months ago. Back to normal now. 2-0 win for us.


*maybe

Very winnable. Speaking to a Brighton fan who reckons they're shit now.

Was it?? What would the significance of that be?

That was my exact thoughts when I saw the draw - I'm glad it's only Brighton

Very winnable tie - they are bound to shoehorn in loads of reserves

Then in with all the big boys in Round 3

Winnable tie - hope we can get through another round!

Not sure what the focus of the matchday thread for Brighton will be.

Fatboy slim?

or

The fact they have a beach with a nudist area?

Mex's boozer

He's in Preston now isn't he?

Holiday?  Does he use the same travel agent as batch?