Match Preview: Luton Town (A)

12 August 2022

Preston North End will play their third game of the Championship season on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Bedfordshire to face Luton Town.

Match Information
Venue: Kenilworth Road
Date: Saturday 13^th August, 3pm kick-off
Competition: EFL Sky Bet Championship (Matchday 3/46)
Kit: Home kit – available to buy here!

Supporter Information

Tickets are no longer on sale for this fixture, however supporters can still buy on the day of the game by calling the Luton Town ticket office on 01582 416976 between 10am and 1pm. These tickets can then be collected on the turnstiles or an e-ticket will be sent to your phone to scan on entry.

Fans can also collect pre-purchased tickets from Kenilworth Road on the day of the game from a steward at the away turnstiles.

Fans attending the game are advised to take a look through Luton Town's Supporters' Guide.

How To Follow The Game

Fans in the UK and Ireland can purchase a £2.50 audio match pass or a £4.49 monthly pass to listen to live commentary of this fixture from Jonathan Breeze and Paul Sparrow.

Those overseas can also watch live on iFollow PNE with a £10 match pass, which you can subscribe to by clicking here.

You can also follow all the action across our social media platforms and here on PNE.Com before, during and after the match.

In The Dressing Room

After being forced off at half-time midweek with an ankle injury, Álvaro Fernández will be assessed ahead of the weekend, with manager Ryan Lowe saying “he’s alright” but Saturday may come too soon.

The trip to Luton will definitely come too soon for Bambo Diaby and Sean Maguire, with both continuing their recovery, and the former is expected to return to action next week.

Ched Evans will serve the final game of his three-match ban before returning to contention for the home fixture against Rotherham United.

A Look At Our Hosts

Luton Town came in to the new season looking to replicate last year's exploits and hopefully go one better, having reached the Play-Off places but falling just short at the semi-final stage.

They strengthened over the summer, retaining the majority of the squad which finished sixth in 2021/22, as well as adding Championship experience in the likes of Cauley Woodrow, Carlton Morris and Luke Freeman.

Like North End, they’ve drawn the opening two games of their league campaign – against Birmingham City and Burnley – while going on to be knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newport County during the week.

Going Head To Head

Games played: 50
PNE wins: 26
Draws: 10
Luton Town wins: 14
Last victory: PNE 2-0 Luton Town, 30^th October 2021

One To Watch

Despite Barnsley duo Carlton Morris and Cauley Woodrow being added to the ranks at Kenilworth Road, Elijah Adebayo has been given the nod up top in both Championship fixtures so far this season.

The former Walsall forward – who joined the Hatters in February 2021 – was crucial to his side’s success last term, netting 17 goals in all competitions.

He’s been a wanted man so far this summer, with reported interest coming from MLS side DC United, but manager Nathan Jones recently told the local press that he would not be going anywhere unless a “substantial Premier League offer” is put on the table.

Match Officials

Dean Whitestone will be the man in charge of this fixture, and incidentally his last time refereeing PNE was at Deepdale last October when Luton Town were the visitors.

Whitestone tends to be lenient when it comes to cards, having shown a combined total of four yellow cards in the three North End fixtures he took charge of last season, while he’s only produced three in two games so far this campaign.

The referee will be assisted by Robert Hyde and Adrian Waters, with Chris Pollard on fourth official duties.

Pre-Match Thoughts

Ryan Facing Tricky
Team Selection Freddie Confident Ahead Of
'Tough' Luton Game

Match Reports

Match Report: Luton Town 0 PNE 1

13 August 2022

A wonder-strike from Brad Potts was enough to earn Preston North End a first league victory of the season, away to Luton Town.

It was a stunning volley from Potts – his 50^th career goal – which put the visitors ahead at Kenilworth Road, and they continued to be the side on top as they took three points back to Lancashire.

Ryan Lowe made two changes from his side’s last Championship outing, with Ali McCann and Ryan Ledson coming in to replace Daniel Johnson and Emil Riis.

Luton had the first half-chances of the game through headers from Luke Freeman and Carlton Morris, but they were both easy enough for goalkeeper Freddie Woodman to gather.

It was North End who took the lead, though, and in some style too, with Brady sending a fantastic cross into the box, and there came Potts to jump into the air and fire home a superb volley to make it two goals in his last two games.

At the other end, PNE were winning all the headers in the box and blocking anything that came their way, and Woodman also did well when called into action to keep out Allan Campbell’s flick from close range.

Just a few minutes before half-time, provider for the opener Brady came close to getting on the scoresheet himself, as he fired a low, right-footed effort towards goal, where Ethan Horvath dived low to his right to keep it out.

The opening to the second half saw North End in charge, passing the ball about nicely, and it was a good move which opened up space for Jordan Storey to take aim from distance on 53 minutes, but his effort flew over the bar.

Hughes then came close on the hour mark, heading down on the end of a Potts cross and seeing his shot blocked to divert it behind for a corner.

The hosts had a big chance seven minutes from time, as substitute Woodrow got on the end of a ball over the top and volleyed the ball over Woodman, but only on to the roof of the net.

Fellow forward Adebayo was then next to come close on 87 minutes, turning Storey and making his way in to the box, before firing over the bar.

North End then nearly scored themselves in the 89th minute through Parrott, but Horvath saved and PNE left Kenilworth Road with a deserved 1-0 victory.

Luton Town line-up: Horvath; Burke, Bradley, Potts (Thorpe, 63); Bree, Campbell (Jerome, 90), Clark, Freeman (Woodrow, 63), Bell; Morris, Adebayo. Subs not used: Macey, Lockyer, Watson, Osho.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts, Whiteman, Ledson, Brady (Johnson, 79); McCann (Riis, 69), Browne (Woodburn, 79); Parrott (Bauer, 90+2). Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Slater.

Attendance: 9,740 (895 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr D Whitestone.

Ticket News

Luton Town Tickets On Sale

31 July 2022

Tickets for our upcoming away game against Luton Town are now on general sale!

Preston North End will head to Kenilworth Road for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday 13^th August, and the club have been allocated 1,032 tickets for this fixture.

Tickets were originally on sale in order of priority, beginning with Founder Member Ambassadors from Monday 1^st August, but they are now available for all supporters to buy. As of Thursday morning, there were fewer than 200 tickets left on sale.

Subject to availability, supporters can buy online from www.mypne.com until 1.30pm on Friday afternoon, while sales will continue in person from the ticket office and over the phone on 0344 856 1966 until 5pm on Friday. Collections can be made from Deepdale until 6pm, while fans can collect from Kenilworth Road on the day of the game from a steward at the away turnstiles.

Fans will also be able to buy tickets on the day of the game by calling the Luton Town ticket office on 01582 416976 between 10am and 1pm. These tickets can then be collected on the turnstiles or an e-ticket will be sent to your phone to scan on entry.

Supporters attending the game are advised to take a look through Luton Town's Supporters' Guide.

Ticket Prices

Adults £27
U22s £22
Over 65s £22
U19s £19
Over 75s £19
U17s £10
U10s £7

Please note, children aged 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18.

Supporters in a wheelchair will pay in accordance to their age category, with a carer ticket provided free of charge. Please note, these tickets are located in a shared area for home and away wheelchair users, located along the side closest to the away end. Supporters in this area will enter the stadium at gate nine on the Maple Road bridge. There is a steep ramp to navigate down, and stewards will be nearby if extra assistance is required, or fans can contact Luton Town's Disability Liaison Officer by calling 01582 416976.

Ambulant disabled supporters will pay one category lower than their respective age bracket price, with an accompanying free carer ticket.

Coach Travel

Coach travel is available from both Deepdale and Leyland, with a departure time of 9am. Travel is priced at £23 for Ambassadors, while non-Ambassadors will pay £25.

Car Parking

Accessible car parking spaces will be available at the stadium, with these spaces being allocated on a first come, first served basis. Fans can book these in advance by emailing nasreen.afzal@lutontown.co.uk.

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