FEATURE: Scoring first on the road becoming a must for Luton

The old cliche about the importance of scoring first is becoming more and more crucial on the road for Hatters.

Last Wednesday night’s 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough saw the visitors suffer a third defeat in four away from home, going four games without a goal too.

It followed Town’s worrying trend of being unable to get a result outside of Bedfordshire after conceding first, a sequence which is now stretching over two years.

That night, a League One clash at Oxford United on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 saw the Ricky Holmes bag the opener on 55 minutes.

However, James Collins levelled, and after Shandon Baptiste was sent off, Town, managed by Nathan Jones during his first spell, went on to win it, Dan Potts heading home Alan Sheehan’s free kick in stoppage time to send the travelling fans into raptures.

Since then though, Luton’s record when being breached first has been, to put it bluntly, shocking.

First up, they lost 3-2 at Barnsley, although did hit back to earn a point against Walsall after trailing 2-0, thanks to Collins and Kazenga LuaLua’s injury time equaliser.

Recovering to draw 1-1 at Sunderland on January 19, 2019, with Mick Harford at the helm, was the last time Town have managed even a point after being 1-0 down.

They didn’t concede first away from Kenilworth Road for the rest of the season, winning promotion to the Championship, where they looked to have gained a point at Cardiff in their first away fixture thanks to Matty Pearson’s header, only for former Hatter Isaac Vassell to grab the late, late winner.

Sheffield Wednesday took all the points at Hillsbrough, and Luton almost recovered from trailing 3-0 against QPR, getting back to 3-2, but just couldn’t finish the job.

Simon Sluga’s errors saw Derby County ease to a 2-0 win, as Town then gave it their all at Fulham, edged out 3-2.

Another late goal saw Birmingham win 2-1, with things soon going from bad to worse for the Hatters.

Luton lost at Reading (3-0), Brentford (7-0) and Stoke City (3-0), finally back on the scoresheet at Preston, again appearing to be set for a point, ex-Hatters attacker Jayden Stockley condemning them to a 2-1 defeat late on.

Bristol City and West Bromwich Albion both kept the points, as Luton did manage to find the net against Charlton through Harry Cornick, going down 3-1, the last time they have netted since falling behind.

With Nathan Jones back in the hot-seat they didn’t concede first for the remainder of the season after lockdown, but even he hasn’t been able to arrest the slump this term.

Five games of the current campaign have seen Town fail to register even a goal after going behind, losing at Watford, Millwall, Cardiff, Swansea and Middlesbrough.

It’s the same in knock-out competitions too, Luton beaten 4-0 at Bournemouth in the FA Cup and 2-1 by Peterborough in the Checkatrade Trophy taking the overall run to 22 games, with 55 goals conceded and only 12 scored.

When Luton have netted first, it’s a completely different story though, as following the Oxford game, they managed nine straight away League One wins, until heading to Charlton Athletic.

That day, Cornick put Town in front, but Andrew Shinnie saw red and the Addicks came through to win 3-1, end Luton’s record-breaking unbeaten run in the process.

The Hatters recovered to beat Accrington Stanley 3-0, only to then lose at Burton Albion 2-1 after Collins opened the scoring, as they couldn’t secure promotion on the day.

Back in the second tier, Hatters won their first two games when breaking the deadlock, against Barnsley and Blackburn, then finding it a bit tougher, Millwall and Nottingham Forest able to turn the deficit round to triumph.

Since the Forest game on January 19, when Town have scored first, which has been in nine matches, they have remained unbeaten, with seven wins and two draws.

With Luton also taking the lead in three cup games, winning all three, in total, that makes it 28 games Town have netted first in, managing 22 victories, two draws and four losses.

So with all eyes on Reading this Boxing Day, Jones and his team will be even more desperate to make sure they are the ones celebrating first.