The last time United played Luton Town at Kenilworth Road it was my first season of going to United away games. I was in my final year of secondary school and I managed to get to three away games with school friends that season. Unfortunately Luton Town was not actually one of those games.
United haven’t played them ever since that day in April 1992, as The Hatters were relegated the following month. Which meant I never got to go to their ground and I still haven’t been been to it now. Mike Phelan was there that day though, he started for United and he’ll be there again this evening.
The away games I did go to that season were Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and Notts County, although I nearly didn’t get into the game in Nottingham as it was a pay-on-the-gate game. Thousands turned up and I remember the away end had just been closed when we got there, thankfully we were directed to a home section behind the goal and we paid on the turnstile and got in. Both penalties were scored at that end too, as the then Division One match ended 1-1.
Anyway, back to Luton Town, the last time they were actually victorious over us was way back in 1987, when they beat us 2-1 at their place. In the Luton Town team that day were the late Les Sealey and Mal Donaghy, who would both go on to play for United as well Ashley Grimes who’d left us four years earlier.
Growing up in the eighties, Luton were a very well known top flight team that stayed in Division One for around 10 years. I even remember them beating Arsenal in 1988 League Cup Final and I must have gone to a few games against them at Old Trafford in my younger days.
I can’t remember one specifically that stands out though. Although I did have a League Match Ticket Book for the 1991-92 season, so I would have definitely been there for the 5-0 home drubbing we gave them in the September.
As for tonight, there is likely to be many changes from Saturday’s woeful performance at Old Trafford against Crystal Palace. With various squad players and youngsters getting game time this evening. As well as match fitness.
I suspect Dean Henderson may get his first United appearance, while other players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Nemanja Matic, Fred and Juan Mata will get game time. Donny Van de Beek may get a start too along with young centre-back Teden Mengi, after just one first team appearance so far, when he came off the bench against LASK last month.
Whoever plays though will have to be fully focused and ready for a battle as Luton are already four games into their season. Their match sharpness will be up and so will their confidence, after four straight victories from those four games. Kick off is 8.15pm and we should have our match day review podcast up an hour after the final whistle. Enjoy the game.
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