Luton Town vs Southend United - Match Preview

Team News

Coyne: May return tomorrow. No idea who that bloke in the red shirt is.

Luton - Luton's injury problems appear to be getting considerably better, but there is still likely to be very few changes to the team from last Saturday. The only possible addition to the first-team is club captain Chris Coyne. The Australian centre-back has been hit by a series of knee problems over the last few years that have seen him play fewer and fewer matches. He played the whole 90 minutes in the reserve team match against Northampton midweek, so he may be in line for a recall. However, it is unlikely that Newell will drop Barnett and Heikkinen in favour of Chris Coyne. The only chance Coyne has is if Newell decides that the team needs a leader in the side, because the absence of Coyne and Davis in recent weeks has seen us lacking in that department. Full-back Sol Davis is also making a lot of progress. Sol also played midweek against Northampton, albeit only for just over an hour and scoring an own goal in the process, but it is still a remarkable recovery considering what happened to him last October. He is very unlikely to be ready to return to first-team action Friday night, but hopefully he will be fit and willing enough to watch the match from the stands, and he will certainly be received warmly by the Luton fans if he does. Other long-term injury worries Calvin Andrew, Paul Underwood and Sam Parkin are still not considered to be any closer to returning to action. Dean Morgan will continue up front after scoring against Sunderland last week, keeping his place ahead of Boyd and 'Goal Machine' Feeney. One of these days, Feeney will prove me wrong by scoring a lot of goals in a row. Although it's unlikely to be tomorrow, or anytime in the near future.

Predicted Team - Kiely (GK), Emanuel (DL), Foley (DR), Barnett (DC), Heikkinen (DC), Brkovic (ML), Edwards (MR), Bell (MC), Robinson (capt) (MC), Morgan (SC), Vine (SC)

Southend - The Shrimpers have been handed a much needed boost in the run up to tomorrow's match. Captain Kevin Maher is available for selection again after a suspension and is thought to be in line to replace Lewis Hunt tomorrow. There may also be a return for ex-Port Vale striker Billy Paynter after a long lay-off. Adam Barrett and Arnau Riera are likely to be out. Southend are in terrible form, only slightly better than our form. Away from home they have been atrocious, with only one point in the last six games and only two away points all season. At home they have recently beaten play-off hopefuls Southampton and even Man United in the League Cup. Although only five places off Luton at the bottom of the table, they are ten points away from us, and eight points off 21st place and safety. They also haven't won at Kenilworth Road since 1964, and have only beaten Luton away from home four times. Head to head, Luton have the edge, beating Southend 28 times compared to 19 times for them. The last meeting between Luton and Southend was also on Sky Sports. Two goals from Steve Howard and an Ahmet Brkovic effort in the first half was enough to put Luton into the FA Cup Second Round on that occasion at Roots Hall. Southend manager Steve Tilson has recently signed an extension to his contract that will see him at Southend until 2011.
Prediction
If Luton can keep the same kind of performance that saw us beat the team top at the time a few weeks ago, Preston, then we should win. Our biggest worry could be complacency. If we can avoid complacency, then 3-1 to Luton.