Having finished in 19th and 12th places in the two seasons leading up to the recently concluded EFL Championship season, few people expected Luton Town to finish in the top half of the table, let alone challenge for promotion. Yet, the Hatters defied all expectations to finish sixth on the points table and compete in the promotion play-offs. However, they suffered heartbreak in the semi-final against Huddersfield Town, having conceded eight minutes from full time. In this article, we will analyse Luton Town’s remarkable performances this season.
Luton Town won 21 games in this season of the EFL Championship. They finished sixth on the points table, ahead of the likes of Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers and West Brom, the latter of which was touted to get back to the top flight immediately. The Hatters managed to score 63 times and allowed 55 goals, finishing with a goal difference of +8. Those 55 goals conceded are the most by any team in the top six this season. Despite this, Luton have won the third-most defensive duels this season, with 2,136, behind only Coventry City and Preston North End.
Just like in defensive duels won, Luton have also won the third-most aerial duels in this season’s EFL Championship, behind only Millwall and West Bromwich Albion. The Hatters, on a per-game basis, rank fourth for aerial duels won, with 24.85 to their name. This number is not too far behind Millwall’s 29 aerial duels won per game.
Seen in the above visual is the shot map of Luton Town in this season of the EFL Championship, excluding the penalties. The team’s top goalscorer is Elijah Adebayo, who netted 16 goals. Following him in second place is Harry Cornick, who has 14 strikes to his name. Other than these two men, however, no other player has surpassed six for the season. Overall, Luton Town have attempted 480 shots and scored 59 times, which means their conversion rate stood at 8.14 shots per goal scored.
Defender James Bree is Luton Town’s most successful threat creator this season in the EFL Championship from both open play as well as from set-pieces. He has registered the second-most assists for the Hatters this season, with six to his name. Ahead of him is Kal Naismith, who has seven. Luton have created the majority of the threat from the right flank in the final third.
Luton Town have slightly underperformed in front of goal, having netted 1.15 goals per game against an xG per game of 1.2. They have overperformed by the same magnitude in assists, with 0.8 assists per game against an xA of 0.75 per game. The Hatters have come out successful in nearly four-fifths of their defensive actions.
Luton Town surprised many people by managing to qualify for the playoffs. They will now aim to reach this stage once again as they prepare for the next season.
