The Game
Argyle v Luton Town. Saturday, 24 January. 12.30pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Luton are seventh in League One, with 39 points from 26 games. They have 11 wins, six draws, and nine defeats.
Luton, relegated last season along with Argyle, started the season brightly, winning four from the first six games. However, inconsistency began to creep in. A home loss to Argyle in September was followed by another defeat, at Lincoln City. The Hatters won at home to Doncaster next up, but got just one point from their next two games.
This led to the sacking of Matt Bloomfield, and the appointment of Jack Wilshere, in mid-October. He lost his first game in charge, but then lost just one of the next five, winning three.
November gave way to December with three draws in a row, then a loss to Reading. Luton then won two home games in a row, 4-0 and 3-0, against Wycombe Wanderers and Leyton Orient respectively. Since then, a 1-0 loss at Exeter has been followed by a home win over Stevenage, then a draw at Kenilworth Road against Lincoln.
The Gaffer
Former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere is Luton Town’s current manager. The 34-year-old came through Arsenal’s academy as a youngster, catching the eye of Arsène Wenger, who integrated him into the Gunners’ first team.
Wilshere made his senior debut for Arsenal in 2008 and went on to feature 194 times for the Gunners across the next decade. The midfielder also had loan spells away from the Emirates in that period, one with Bolton Wanderers and the other with AFC Bournemouth. During his time at Arsenal, Wilshere won the FA Cup twice, before joining West Ham United in 2018, then moving on to Bournemouth.
He spent just one season with the Cherries before being released and heading to Denmark to sign for AGF. After his contract was not extended, the playmaker decided to retire in 2022, at the age of 30.
Throughout his playing career, Wilshere also represented England, earning 34 caps over eight years, scoring twice. Upon retiring, Wilshere was announced by Arsenal as the new head coach of their under-18 side.
Next, Wilshere took a post as first-team coach at Norwich City under Johannes Hoff Thorup, but departed when the Dane was sacked last year. He was then appointed at Luton in October.
The Squad
Gideon Kodua (below) is Luton’s leading goalscorer, with ten goals this season, nine in the league. The majority of his appearances have been on the wing, from either side, and occasionally at wing-back. The 21-year-old is on loan from West Ham United, having spent the last two seasons borrowed to Wycombe Wanderers.
Jordan Clark joined Luton in 2020, in the Championship, and has been a regular throughout his stay, and has just reached 200 games for the Hatters. Now 32, Clark began at Barnsley, not really making it, moving on to Shrewsbury Town and playing a part in a League Two promotion. He soon dropped back down a division to join Accrington Stanley, where he was a mainstay for four seasons, also experiencing a promotion with them.
Kal Naismith, 33, is another experienced figure in the Luton line-up. He has started 20 games in the league, making two substitute appearances, one against Argyle. Another ex-Accrington man, Stanley was his first permanent English club after leaving Rangers. The versatile Glaswegian spent three years apiece at Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic, before moving to Luton in 2021. He had a season-and-a-half with the Hatters, leaving for Bristol City, but returned to Luton on loan last season, and permanently in the summer. Over his career, he has played in almost every position, but this campaign has mostly been used at centre-back or left-back.
Previous Meetings
The game between the sides earlier in the season was eventful to say the least. Matty Sorinola scored a diving header to put Argyle in front, but Jerry Yates quickly equalised from the spot. Bradley Ibrahim scored in first-half injury time to put Argyle back in front, but another penalty was scored shortly after the break, by Nahki Wells, and a minute later Argyle captain Joe Edwards was sent off.
Despite this adversity, and the sending off of Head Coach Tom Cleverley, Argyle scored a winner through Ibrahim, who had a clearance struck against him, the ball flying into the net.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin with Argyle Breakfast, from 10am-11am, before the Pre-Match Show, from midday, with Erin Black joined by Katie Middleton. Commentary of the game comes from Rob McNichol and Marc Edworthy.
Match passes to watch this game are available overseas, and the match will be broadcast in the UK & Ireland on Sky Sports+. CLICK HERE for more information.
