Promoted clubs: Why Luton's unique approach can ruffle feathers

Adrian Clarke continues his series analysing the tactical elements of the three promoted clubs and how they will fare in the Premier League this season.

Club analysis: Luton Town

Steering two different clubs to promotion in successive campaigns, Luton manager Rob Edwards is undoubtedly one of English football’s brightest and best young coaches.  

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The former Wolverhampton Wanderers defender guided Forest Green Rovers to promotion from League Two in April 2022, playing an exciting brand of controlled, attacking football.  

Following a brief spell with Watford at the start of last season, the 40-year-old then went on to expertly mastermind the Hatters’ fairytale promotion to the Premier League.  

A physical style 

Edwards inherited a powerful and athletic Luton side who were accustomed to playing direct football.  

This is not his own preferred tactical approach, but to his credit the former England Under-16s coach only made minor modifications to a style of play that suited his squad.  

Using those natural attributes wisely, they became extremely hard to beat at Championship level, losing just one of their last 20 matches in the regular season.  

Luton are likely to line up in a 3-5-2 formation when they begin their debut Premier League campaign. 

Edwards will tinker with slight variations of that shape, sometimes making it a 3-4-1-2 or a 3-1-4-2, but in essence he loves to play with a back three, flying wing-backs, an industrious midfield and two up front.  

Low possession  

While Edwards himself would likely welcome a little more possession, his side are comfortable when they do not have the ball.  

Averaging just 45.1 per cent of possession last season, we could see their share dip below 40 per cent on a frequent basis in the top tier.  

As shown in the table below, the Hatters very rarely keep the ball for long periods.  

Championship passing stats

As displayed on this Zones of Control chalkboard below (attacking from left to right), the only parts of the pitch where Luton enjoyed more than 55 per cent of the total touches (light blue) was in and around their own penalty area.  

Elsewhere they had a minority share of possession (red) or it was evenly contested (grey).  

Solidity under pressure 

Luton will have to absorb a lot of pressure at times, but their shape is robust and accustomed to handling sustained periods when they are pushed on to the back foot.  

They faced 382 shots in open play across their 46 Championship matches, with 13 teams totalling fewer than that.  

Yet through their collective resilience they ensured the quality of those efforts was largely poor.  

They do not just sit back in a low block either; Edwards also makes sure his team defend from the front with hostility.  

Pushing up at the right times they forced a division-leading 427 high turnovers.  

Over a 46-match season Luton let in just 23 goals from open play (the second-fewest in the division) and their Expected Goals against tally of 30.28 was also second best to champions Burnley.  

Open-play goals conceded

The Hatters can play through the thirds with quality, but their most-used approach sees them pass long, from back to front.  

Defenders clip balls into the feet, chest, or head of their twin target men, with midfielders and wing-backs joining quickly to offer support, or to compete for second balls. 

Using the strength and pace of Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo, Luton also drive plenty of aerial balls into the channels for them to chase.  

See: Luton trio can step up in the Premier League

It’s an effective ploy that turns defences and plays to their strengths.  

It is also a tactic that will certainly unruffle top-flight opponents across the 2023/24 season.  

The direct speed of their attacks was the fastest in the Championship.  

Direct speed of attacks

Edwards and the Luton board have signed players with higher levels of technical ability in possession such as Tahith Chong who arrived from Birmingham City.  

However, as a side that play a very different brand of football to most top-flight teams, they will surely stick to their core strengths and seek to ruffle feathers.  

They will be aggressive, strong in the air, and exceptionally hardworking.  

Through long passes or crosses, they will send as many balls into the box as they possibly can to test the resolve of their opponents.  

Luton may not be prettiest of teams, but they will rarely be easy to play against.  

Also in this series

Part 1: How Kompany has transformed Burnley
Part 2: Burnley's key men offer poise and pace
Part 3: How Heckingbottom has revived Sheff Utd
Part 4: Two key Sheff Utd players to look out for
Part 6: Luton trio can step up in the Premier League