With both clubs assured of a spot in the Championship play-offs, Luton Town and Middlesbrough look set to put on a show when they do battle at Kenilworth Road on Monday night.
The two promotion hopefuls are separated by a solitary point in the table, with third-placed Luton leading fourth-placed Middlesbrough, while both sides still stand an outside chance of gaining automatic promotion at the expense of Sheffield United.
Luton head into Monday’s showdown on the back of an 11-game unbeaten streak, having picked up seven wins and four draws since their last loss. Although the Hatters were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Reading in midweek, they remain on course to finish the season on a high note.
Rob Edwards has worked wonders at Kenilworth Road since replacing Nathan Jones in November, as the Hatters have only suffered three defeats in 22 league outings since the World Cup, picking up 13 wins along the way.
Like Luton, Middlesbrough have benefitted significantly from a managerial change this season, with Michael Carrick replacing Chris Wilder back in October. Carrick has taken the club from the lower reaches of the second tier to the brink of top-flight promotion, losing just six of his 28 league games in charge.
Although Boro have struggled for consistency on the road of late – recording three wins, one draw and three losses across their past seven away outings – they are still the highest scorers in the division, having netted 82 goals in 43 encounters this term.
Having bagged 15 goals in his last 15 appearances, Chuba Akpom is the Championship’s top scorer, with 28 goals to his name. Aston Villa loanee Cameron Archer has also chipped in with multiple attacking returns, racking up nine goals and six assists in 17 league games since arriving at the Riverside Stadium in January.
By contrast, Luton’s standout performers can be found at the opposite end of the pitch. No goalkeeper has kept more Championship clean sheets than Ethan Horvath’s 19, with the Nottingham Forest loanee helping the Hatters achieve the division’s third-best defensive record.
It is worth remembering that Middlesbrough claimed a 2-1 victory in the reverse fixture back in December, while Boro won by the same scoreline in the previous meeting. When you look at the overall head-to-head record, however, Luton have defeated Middlesbrough on 14 occasions over the years, with Boro recording 12 wins.
On the injury front, Luton Town look set to be without Gabriel Osho, Reece Burke, Dan Potts and Jack Walton for Monday’s clash. Middlesbrough also have four players sidelined through injury, with Aaron Ramsey, Riley McGree, Dael Fry and Matt Clarke expected to miss the trip to Bedfordshire.
Fans in the UK can watch Luton’s showdown with Middlesbrough on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event, while Sky customers can stream the game via the Sky Go app.
Expert Insight: While Luton Town have thrived at Kenilworth Road in recent months – winning each of their last four and seven of their previous 10 home matches – Middlesbrough have struggled on their travels. Of course, free-scoring Boro have the potential to blow teams away, but Luton will be confident of avoiding defeat thanks to their defensive solidity.
Championship