In a season of many downs and not many ups, Jack Wilshere’s Luton Town find themselves one game away from another day out at Wembley!
This time, it comes in the form of the Vertu Trophy, a competition Luton have recent history in, famously winning the competition in 2009 against Scunthorpe.
That day it was Claude Gnapka who wrote himself into Hatters history with a dramatic winner in extra time, will any Luton players have the chance to do that this year?
In order for that to happen, the Hatters have to beat out of form Northampton Town at Kenilworth Road.
Luton vs Northampton isn’t a game that comes around often, with the clubs only facing each other once since 2016!
This meeting came earlier this season, where the Hatters prevailed 1-0 thanks to a late Lamine Fanne winner!
Before this, the teams last met in the 2015/16 season, with Northampton doing the double over Luton, winning 2-0 and 4-3 respectively.
Both clubs come into this game in uncertain form, with Northampton winless in their last five, however Luton have only won once in this time.
This form leaves Northampton 22nd in League One going into the game and Luton 10th, however league form goes completely out of the window when there’s cup glory on the line.
Luton have got to the semi finals in controversial fashion, getting knocked out by Swindon Town just to get reinstated thanks to Swindon fielding two ineligible players!
On the other hand, Northampton have qualified much more conventionally, knocking out Wycombe, Wimbledon and Walsall on their way to the semi finals.
The game will also see two former West Ham players clash as managers, with Wilshere and Kevin Nolan both spending time at the Hammers, with Nolan’s Northampton side also beating West Ham’s u21 side in the group stage of this tournament to progress.
Overall, Luton should have the upper hand going into this game, with them being significantly higher in the league table, whilst also being on (slightly) better form than Northampton going into it.
However, in true cup fashion, you can never write off the underdogs, and Northampton will be backing themselves to pull off an unlikely win at Kenilworth Road knowing that Wembley awaits.
