Luton Town vs West Bromwich Albion - Match Preview

Team News

Heikkinen: May miss WBA clash

Luton - Luton have got major defensive problems for tomorrow's match. Sol Davis recently picked up a groin injury at Cardiff that will keep him out of the clash tomorrow with the Baggies, so Lewis Emanuel will probably fill in for him at full-back. Chris Coyne is again having injury problems with a knee injury, and Marcus Heikkinen is doubtful after picking up the flu midweek, so both players are doubts. Leon Barnett will face West Brom after having his red card overturned, but it is unclear who will partner him. Russell Perrett is also a long term doubt. Paul Underwood still has a Paul Hughes-like illness and is no closer to a recovery for Luton. Other than that, the only real injury doubt that Luton have is over Sam Parkin. Parkin is thought to have an ankle injury and missed the 3-0 victory over Brentford last Tuesday. He will probably recover in time and take Warren Feeney's place in the team. Feeney broke his scoring duck this season on Tuesday, so congratulations to him. Now all he has to do is make sure that he scores against a team in this division. Rowan Vine is also in impressive goalscoring form, and two phrases Luton fans thought they'd never see in the same sentence are 'Rowan Vine' and 'impressive goalscoring form'

Probable Team
Beresford (GK), Emanuel (DL), Foley (DR), Barnett (DC), Heikkinen (DC), Morgan (ML), Robinson (capt) (MC), Langley (MC), Edwards (MR), Vine (SC), Parkin (SC)

West Bromwich Albion

Caretaker manager Nigel Pearson should have an almost fully fit squad to choose from. The only player who will definitely be out is ex-Luton defender Curtis Davies. The pacey centre-back picked up a long term injury last month and will be out until later next month. The other ex-Luton player on show, John Hartson, should recover from an injury in time along with Nigel Quashie and Kevin Phillips. Despite sacking their manager earlier on in the week, West Brom have actually had a good start to the season. They are currently 9th with 11 points. This is good considering that teams coming down usually have a losing mentality that is hard to shake off (like Norwich and Southampton last season and Sunderland initially this season). Recent form is ok, but the Baggies have been terrible away from home, not winning this season (aside from Leyton Orient in the Cup) and struggling for most of last season. Nevertheless, a change of personnel in charge usually shakes up a team, and there is no reason why West Brom will be an exception.

Prediction
Luton are currently unbeaten at home in the league this season and West Brom haven't won away in the league this season, so it is unlikely West Brom will get a win. However, I can't really see Luton's strikers performing well enough in front of goal to earn us a win, particularly after the Colchester showing - brilliant until the final third. A 1-1 draw is on the cards for me with Carlos Edwards scoring for Luton.

Hartson: Looking ugly as usual.