Hight-flying Luton Town will welcome Hull City down from the northeast in a game where both clubs’ loftier goals now seem more fairy-tale than reality. With second-placed Sheffield United now guaranteed automatic promotion, Luton will want to secure their third-placed spot and head into the playoffs as the most in-form team. Hull City’s outside chance of reaching the playoffs has come to an end for them and will look to climb as high up the table as possible to send a message to their league rivals next year with one final victory.
Luton have not suffered defeat in their previous five matches and with how important momentum is in football, they would like to ensure a strong victory to go into the playoffs in style. Rob Edwards has set up his side to be notoriously hard to beat let alone score against this season, they have shipped just 39 goals this season thanks to their well-drilled back line and packed midfield.
Staccato in form, Hull City are looking to lick their wounds from a season where they would have been expected to finish firmly in the top-half of the table or even be challenging for a playoff spot. Sitting in 14th position in the table, Leroy Rosenior will want to continue the feel-good factor that he has brought back into the club in the final game of the campaign.
With a relatively full squad to choose from, Luton will be happy to see that the majority of their injury woes from this season have already come to pass. With only Gabriel Osho and Reece Burke to replace at the back and young goalkeeper Jack Walton out, Luton will be able to field a relatively full-strength squad.
The same cannot be said for Hull City. With several regular features out, including consistent goal-getter and newly capped Colombian international Óscar Estupiñán with an ankle injury until next season. They will be without loanee Aaron Connolly and Benjamin Tetteh to complement their forward line and will be forced to rotate once again. Cyrus Chrisite and Keeper Nathan Baxter will also be absent as we look further back up the pitch.
Having gone under the radar for much of this season in terms of goal output, the towering Elijah Adebayo has led the line for Luton in almost every single game this campaign. His work rate and physical presence are invaluable in such a physical league and with the equally imposing Carlton Morris alongside him, Luton’s pace and power up top has been consistently very difficult to deal with.
The ever-present Regan Slater has been in great form for Hull this campaign, picking up both the Player's Player and Supporter's Player of the Year awards respectively. Expect to see more of his energy and tenacity across the pitch. Rosenior has used Slater across the midfield this year, proving Slater’s adaptibility and professionalism that Hull fans will hope will continue to be infectious to the rest of the squad. One to watch is also Turkish international Ozan Tufan, who has contributed with 8 goals from mostly cameo appearances from the right-hand side.
Expert Insight: A game that could peter out into consolidation, Luton will want to keep their squad in fighting-fit condition for the trials of the playoffs so they may well field a full-strength team. Similarly, Hull will want to send their fans home smiling with a final victory against a stronger side.
Championship