PREVIEW: Hatters hope to burst Gateshead’s bubble

The previous two matches have seen Luton on top, with four points picked up to just one for the Tynesiders.

Last season, Town were held to a 2-2 draw, while the campaign before, two quickfire goals from Asa Hall and Kevin Gallen saw the hosts to a 2-1 victory.

After finishing last season in 15th place, the Heed have begun the new campaign as one of the early pacesetters with seven wins from their first eight matches as they currently sit second in the Blue Square Bet Premier table.

Gateshead manager Ian Bogie didn’t make huge changes over the summer, but what he did do was bring in some vital experience.

Midfielder Micky Cummins was one of those to join having made over 400 league appearances in his career to date. Cummins has been a stalwart in the side this season, as has Bogie’s other new signings including former Newport defender Eddie Odhiambo along with ex Stevenage and Oxford forward Yemi Odubade.

Taking advantage of their close proximity to Premier League side Newcaste, the Tynesiders have snapped up centre back Jeff Henderson on loan for a month, while recently extended the stay of Magpies goalkeeper Jak Alnwick for another fortnight.

Possibly the most important piece of business Bogie managed to do was fend off the interest of Luton for star striker Jon Shaw before the transfer deadline shut.

Hatters declared their interest in the forward and had a reported offer of £40,000 rejected by Gateshead as they managed to keep hold of their most prized asset.

Away from home, Heed have been a real threat thus far, with five wins from seven games, including three straight victories on their travels at the beginning of the season.

They were humbled 4-1 at home by leaders Wrexham recently, but bounced back immediately with a 1-0 victory at Ebbsfleet and continue to breath down the neck of the table-toppers.

Team news: Hatters still have doubts over Alex Lawless after he continues to recover from a broken hand. Keith Keane (suspension) and Jake Howells (international duty) are both back, while Aaron O’Connor and Amari Morgan-Smith haven’t trained but should be available, meaning the only long term absentees are Freddie Murray, Dan Gleeson and Charlie Henry.

For Gateshead, longest serving player James Curtis is expected to be fit after needing eight stitches in a facial wound during his side’s 1-0 win at Ebbsfleet, but Ben Clark will miss out.

In charge: Ian Bogie – former Newcastle United midfielder who played for Preston North End, Millwall, Leyton Orient, Port Vale and Kidderminster Harriers during his career, making over 350 appearances in total.

Retired in 2007 and became Gateshead manager in the same season, taking the side to the Northern Premier League Premier Division and Conference North play-off wins in successive seasons to earn promotion to the Conference.

From the dug out: Ian Bogie - “It’s an important game for Gateshead Football Club, it’s not about Jon Shaw alone.

“Luton Town expressed a lot of interest in him during the summer before the transfer window closed. We wanted to keep Jon, he’s a Gateshead player. We’re ambitious and if we want to progress we have to keep hold of our best players.

“What happens at the end of the season, who knows? Nobody’s got a crystal ball.

“But I’d imagine Jon will be wanting to impress like any other player on the pitch, in front of such a big crowd in such a big game.

“I expect a good performance from him, and all of the lads, on Saturday.

“A lot of Luton fans believe they’ve got a right to be in the Football League.

“But the likes of ourselves, Ebbsfleet and Hayes & Yeading, we’ve all got a right to be in the same division as them at this moment in time.

“We’re competing on an even playing field and giving them good, competitive games. Results show that.

“Any team in this division can beat any other on a given day. The cluster of results on Tuesday night produced some surprises – Newport winning 4-1 at Fleetwood, Ebbsfleet holding Luton Town.

“But they just prove it’s a tough, tough league.”

One to watch: Who else could it be other than Mr Shaw?

Superb season to date with 13 goals to his name. Notched in the opening six matches, before back to back hat-tricks against Hayes and York, but has gone three games without a goal now.

Started his career at Sheffield Wednesday, before a loan move to York and then signed for Burton and Halifax where he enjoyed prolific spells.

The 27-year-old moved to Rochdale, Crawley, Barrow and Mansfield before joining Heed permanently in August 2010.

Scored 17 goals last season, including the only goal in a 1-0 win over Hatters.

Top scorers: Hatters: Amari Morgan-Smith (9) - Gateshead: John Shaw 13.

Last time out: Luton had been on a run of six league and cup games without conceding a goal before Kris Gate and a Jake Howells own goal saw Heed 2-0 up within 16 minutes.

Danny Crow and Claude Gnakpa equalised before the inverval and although Ben Clark was sent off after just 48 minutes, Hatters couldn’t find a winner.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, George Pilkington, Zdenek Kroca, Jake Howells, Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Adam Watkins 83), Claude Gnakpa, Keith Keane, Alex Lawless, Matthew Barnes-Homer (Taiwo Atieno 67), Danny Crow, Lloyd Owusu (Godfrey Poku 61).

Attendance: 5,958.

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