Luton Town has been on a rapid rise through the English divisions over the past decade. Can the Hatters win the 2022-23 EFL Championship playoffs and book their place in next season’s English Premier League?
Can the Hatters Defy the Odds?
Luton has been defying the odds all season. Looking at the latest Championship odds, Town is currently priced at 2/1 to secure promotion to the Premier League. Before a ball was kicked this term, Luton would have certainly taken those odds at this stage of the season. It has been another sensational year for the club from Bedfordshire, England, and promotion to the top tier is no longer just a distant dream.
Luton booked their spot in the Championship playoffs with games to spare. Manager Rob Edwards, who took over in November, has done an outstanding job at Kenilworth Road, guiding Luton to a second successive playoff campaign.
Town pushed Sheffield United in the race for second place, while Vincent Kompany’s Burnley dominated the division to take top spot. In the end, the Blades got over the line to secure the runner-up position, and Town had to settle for a place in the playoffs.
Luton’s spot in the top six was confirmed with three games still to play. They picked up a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Reading, who would later go on to be relegated from the second tier. Carlton Morris, who has been excellent all season, was on target in the tie at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Heartache in 2022
Luton also reached the Championship playoffs at the end of the 2021-22 season. Under the popular Nathan Jones, the Hatters finished in sixth position against the odds. They won 21 times, drawing 12 and losing 13 of the other 25 games.
Luton went up against Huddersfield Town in the Championship playoff semi-finals, coming up short in the end. They managed a 1-1 draw at Kenilworth Road in game one, but a late Jordan Rhodes goal at the John Smith’s Stadium gave the Terriers a 2-1 aggregate win.
Instead of drowning their sorrows, Luton kicked on and became even stronger this season. They could have gone backwards when Jones opted to leave for Premier League Southampton before the 2022 FIFA World Cup break, but Edwards took on the mantle and has taken Luton to the next level.
Seeing Luton in the English Premier League would be something special and unique. The Kenilworth Road stadium holds just over 10,000 spectators, and Luton was plying their trade in the National League (non-league) less than ten years ago.
They have shot through the leagues since, winning promotion from EFL League Two in 2018 and securing instant promotion to the Championship a year later. Since becoming a second-tier team, Town has never looked out of place.
After a few solid years in the Championship, Luton is now ready to complete their journey to the Premier League. The Bedfordshire club will fear no team in the playoffs, and Luton is more than capable of booking their spot in the 2023-24 Premier League.