Luton Town 1 Sheffield United 3 – Never Too High, Never Too Low

Carlton's clinical penalty

John Still was back in Luton handing out Premier League balls at the Brache. And it was a timely reminder of the great fella’s old adage that everyone connected with Luton Town should never get too high or too low.

Playing Sheffield United straight after the Yorkshire outfit had lost 5-0 to Villa, Town went into the game full of confidence. Six undefeated, scoring goals for fun. But a humbling afternoon unfolded, which despite the grey clouds above, still contained enough encouraging signs to show how far we’ve come this season.

75% of the ball, 20 shots, 13 corners. On a different day we’d have scored some goals. Elijah had a shot just wide. Chong minutes before the end sent in a fizzer that whistled past the post. Early on, Osho won a header from a corner but instead of previous weeks it flying in, it bounced a foot the wrong side of the post. Elijah spun a yard out, Fotheringham blocked with his body, on another day that’s in.

So there are still goals out there for this team.

What does probably need looking at is the goals flying in at the other end. The Blades could have been two up before they actually did score. The two penalties, one for each side, were a joke, it seems the game is now been reffed via a Stockley Park caravan.

Credit to Chris Wilder who got his tactics and personnel right and hit the Town on the break clinically. The third goal probably the most disappointing. Ball stolen high up the pitch, Archer uses his pace. We’ve got four defenders within a yard of him but it isn’t cleared and the ball ends up with man of the match Sousa. Kaminski gets a big touch but it is in the net.

So it was inevitable that for the first game this season when Chris Sutton tips Luton to win, Luton start big favourites, and the media finally started to give Luton the credit their efforts deserve, that Saturday should end in disappointment. But with John Still’s words in our ears, we move on.

A different United up next. The Manchester variety. Live on Sky Sunday 4.30. We know this Luton side will want to put in a performance, and they won’t let us down.

By Sammo