Preview: Luton Town away

 

Wolves enter the FA Cup at this weekend's Third Round stage, looking for the welcome break from league action to bring about a return to winning ways. The festive season wasn't so kind to Wolves, with all 4 games seeing the side struggle to get out of first-gear (at best) and only picking up one win. After such encouraging momentum building beforehand, the pressure has now been firmly cranked up on boss Stale Solbakken as he looks to get some confidence back in the side with a win and progression in the Cup.

Andy Keogh scored his first Wolves goal against Luton

Wolves have fond memories of their last trip to Kenilworth Road - a 3-2 win at the start of March 2007 that was the 5th of 6 wins on the bounce, a run that helped see Mick McCarthy's side into the Play-Offs at the end of that season. Wolves had taken the lead through Gary Breen, before goals from Lewis Emanuel and Leon Barnett saw The Hatters take a 2-1 lead into half-time. But 8 minutes in to the second-half, Andy Keogh scored his first goal in Wolves colours from close range and 13 minutes later, Karl Henry decided to try his luck from 25 yards. It wasn't the best shot but Marlon Beresford let it squirm through his fingers and into the bottom corner to send the Wolves fans behind that goal delirious. That result away at Luton was a relatively rare success, as we've only won 7 of our 16 trips to the Bedfordshire town over the years. Games between the two sides do often involve goals though - particularly away at Luton where the last 5 games between the two sides there have produced 20 goals (including two 3-2 wins for Wolves). Victories are rather evenly shared between the two sides though, with Wolves winning 14 and Luton 12 of the clubs' 31 meetings in all competitions. Wolves have won the two FA Cup meetings between the two sides, however, winning 2-1 at Luton in 1932 and 4-1 away at Luton in 1960 - the same year they then went on to win the Cup.

Being JPT winners in 2009 was a rare highlight for The Hatters

Since our last meeting, however, Luton have suffered some truly bad times. That season they finished second-bottom of The Championship, 9 points off safety. Since then the story has been mostly one of heartbreak for Hatters' fans. The following season they suffered a 10 point deduction for entering administration, a penalty that saw them finish bottom of League 1. However, that was nothing compared to the next season as The FA and The Football League contrived to hand Luton Town a 30 point deduction for various financial problems. Despite a sterling effort from the team, the points deduction meant there was very little they could do and whilst Wolves were celebrating being Champions of the Football League and promotion to the Premier League, The Hatters found themselves bottom of the League pyramid and saw them drop into the Conference (aka Blue Square Premier) - a division the club had never played in before. The were some light that season, however, as Luton won the Football League Trophy at Wembley for the first time in their history. Since then the club has remained stuck in non-league football, suffering 3 Play-Off Final defeats in 3 seasons.

Stuart Fleetwood: Big threat to the nervy Wolves back-line

Despite all these woes, they still pull in fantastic crowds at non-league level, with their average attendance this season being 6192 - better than 21 League 2 teams and 16 League 1 teams. All this for a team who, at the moment, sit in 5th place in the table 6 points off top spot with 2 games in hand. Luton have always had a fantastic squad for non-League level, with players such as Stuart Fleetwood, Ronnie Henry, Mark Tyler, János Kovács, Danny Spiller and Scott Rendell just some of the names that stand out to followers of the Football League. And over the seasons, Luton have had teams that should've achieved promotion from the Conference numerous times over, but have often "done a Cardiff" (as it's becoming known) and choked at the final hurdle. They looked determined as ever to ensure that doesn't happen this season, however, picking up an average of 1.69 points per game and scoring on average 1.78 goals per game (the 4th best record in the division). There is a real steely resolve in this side too - The Hatters have picked up 14 points from losing positions, of which 12 have come by winning from losing positions. Only Forest Green Rovers have a better record of coming back. They've had to have that resolve though - Luton have only scored first in just 8 of their 23 league matches this season, and have only kept 4 clean sheets. Likewise, they've only failed to score in 5 games this season, so goals are to be expected at both ends in this game.

Kevin Foley: A first return to his boyhood club

Stale Solbakken will view this game as a chance to buy himself some time, with various rumours circulating that his job is in danger and increasing voices of discontent from the fans after some horrendous performances in recent games. On the other hand, he and the players must also face up to how much of a banana skin this game is. On paper, it should be a comfortable win - Wolves are 59 places above The Hatters and have a team full of Internationals and experienced Premier League players. However this is Luton's "Cup Final" and they will see Wolves as a real chance for them to cause a shock, given how bad we've been of late. It seems Solbakken intends to pick as strong a squad as possible in a bid to avoid a repeat of the 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Chorley Town - our last FA Cup exit to a non-League side and widely regarded as the lowest point in Wolves' footballing history. Strikers Doyle, Ebanks-Blake and Cassidy are all set to travel, along with Jermaine Pennant and potentially Slawomir Peszko who could feature from the bench. Jamie O'Hara could make his first start of the season, whilst centre-back Georg Margreitter could make a rare appearance now he has recovered from several niggling injuries. However, Solbakken's 3 big Summer signings - Sako, Sigurdarson and Doumbia - all look set to stay at home having picked up slight injuries over the festive period. There are also 2 ex-Hatters in the Molineux party and, although Dave Edwards will miss out due to his hamstring injury, Saturday may see Kevin Foley's first return to Kenilworth Road and I am sure he will get a fanastic reception from the Luton faithful.

Wolves have got past the 3rd Round in 9 of the last 10 seasons, only failing to do so last season when Birmingham City knocked us out in a replay. In theory, this weekend should see the Molineux Men make it 10 out of 11. But after our last few performances, that is anything but certain and for many Wolves fans, we'd take a draw and the chance to play them on home turf where we feel we could do more damage. One thing is for certain, however, and that is that a defeat could be catastrophic for all concerned with the club and would see the seemingly little support that Solbakken has begin to dry up. But with a strong, professional performance and without the presence of luxury players like Sako and Doumbia, I reckon Wolves might just about scrape themselves over the line. It won't be easy and it won't be pretty but then, with Wolves, it very rarely is.

Prediction: Luton Town 1-2 Wolves

In Stale We Trust.