Birmingham City v Luton Town

BLUES NEWS

Birmingham City v Luton Town Saturday 12 February 2022 Kick-off 3pm ISSUE 17 | £3

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Main Interview

Ryan Woods

when we are on it – it is now about consistency for us. If we find that, the results will come, and we will move up the table.

How has it been reclaiming your place in the First Team again over the past few weeks?

Good. Personally, it felt like I had a really good start to the season, but I must admit, we lost a couple of players – [Tahith] Chongy for example - and it did affect me a bit. I came out of the team after that red card but since I have been back, I have really enjoyed it. The new lads have done brilliantly, they have given us a real freshness and I am enjoying playing with them.

BIRMINGHAM CITY FC Telephone: 0121 772 0101

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yan Woods was the first summer arrival at Wast Hills Training Ground back in June and when he came through the doors, you got the instant feeling he was looking to find his footballing home again – both geographically and on the pitch.

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With his good form continuing, Blues News caught up with the midfielder earlier this week to get the lowdown on his recent performances and thoughts on the campaign so far.

Ryan, great to catch up. How are things with you right now? I imagine you and the squad are still wondering how we have not got more points in recent weeks?

Yes, that’s it. For us, at this point in the season, it is all about consistency. I have absolutely no doubt if we find that, the results will come.

Prior to his Second City move, the Walsall-raised midfielder had spent the previous 18 months on loan at Millwall. Regular minutes and solid performances were a constant after opportunities had dwindled at parent club Stoke City.

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But Woods settled immediately at Blues and his ability on the ball was clear to see. However, a controversial red card issued to him against Coventry City in November saw the 28-year-old suspended and left him battling for game time again.

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But as is in his DNA, Woods fought back and post-Christmas he has been a regular, looking every bit the player Bluenoses had longed for.

There are 17 odd games left and there is a lot still to play for. But we need to get a run together and make our good play count.

Look at Derby, a really good performance barring the result.

We switched off a couple of times and look what happened. Likewise, against Sheffield United who I felt we matched throughout the evening. We are a match for anyone

For you as a ball-playing midfielder, what do players like Tahith Chong and Onel Hernandez do that is so important?

You know you can give them the ball and they will simply get it up the pitch. It is exactly the thing Onel has brought to the team since he came in – a footballing mind that completely relieves pressure by carrying the ball down the touchline and into dangerous areas. Honestly, for me, I need those lads and I will endeavour to get the likes of Onel, Lyle [Taylor] and [Juninho] Bacuna the ball and they can make things happen, I know they can.

You have found your way back to the Midlands having come through the ranks at Walsall as an academy player. How have you found settling into the dressing room at Blues?

I am a local lad anyway so settling wasn’t an issue. I have had to get used to the team of course, but we all get on. Saying that sometimes we have been too much like mates and that is changing.

After the games against Derby County and Sheffield United, we had some choice words to say to one another and that is good. We are here to win games and if someone needs telling that is how it is.

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BCFC BOARD Directors: Wenqing Zhao, Chun Kong Yiu, Gannan Zheng, Yao Wang, Honorary Vice President: Mike Wiseman

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

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Manager Freddie Goodwin rated the first-half performance against the Clarets as the best of the season so far. Gordon Taylor certainly thought so. The man who until recently was chairman of the PFA had waited 58 weeks to score a goal instead of making them from his left-wing berth but when Gordon’s goal came it was well worth waiting for – a 25-yarder that screamed into the net. A 2-0 win was a small reward for a stylish display that thrilled another big crowd although they had to wait until four minutes from time for Bob Hatton to allow them to enjoy it by making it 2-0. He pounced on a rebound when the keeper parried a shot from Bob Latchford.

FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT

Head Coach: Lee Bowyer Assistant Head Coach: Mark Kennedy

Burnley were an up-and-coming side who would win the division the following year. They had threatened to draw level in the second-half against a Blues side unchanged for the fourth game in a row but Granville Shackleton, the Burnley reporter in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph was in no doubt he had seen a team in the promotion groove. He wrote: “On their form this afternoon City are going to take a lot of beating and are clearly the big danger to Norwich City and Millwall in the promotion race. They clearly outclassed and outran Burnley in the first-half in which the Clarets were saved from a hammering by some brilliant saves from goalkeeper Alan Stevenson.”

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Half a century on from the glorious 1971/72 season when Freddie Goodwin’s Blues dramatically clinched promotion to the top flight having also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, we turn the Blues News spotlight on recalling one of the finest seasons in Blues’ post-war history.

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It was the ninth away draw from 15 games but with still just one game won and only eight goals scored on the road the promotion charge could not get out of third gear.

Undeniably a share of the spoils was fair to all concerned.

Preston had the better of things before the break forcing Blues back-up keeper Paul Cooper into excellent saves to thwart centre-back Alex Spark and striker Gerry Ingram.

Birmingham were more of an attacking force after the interval but could find no way past North End’s vastly experienced goalkeeper Alan Kelly.

The Canaries and Lions had scrapped out a two-all draw in front of a crowd of over 34,000 at Carrow Road but a point was gained on third-placed QPR who surprisingly lost their unbeaten home record to Blackpool. The worry of course was that being unable to produce away wins put pressure on Blues’ own unbeaten home record but

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CITY FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

18 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

First Team Analyst: Dan Millard Under-23s Head Coach: Steve Spooner Academy Director: Paul Williams Head Physiotherapist: Pete Shaw First Team Physiotherapists: Dave Hunt & Dave Singleton Club Secretary: Zoe Jones

ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL

CLASS OF 71/72

Due to the power shortages caused by the miners’ strike match programmes were smaller and midweek games were being played in the afternoon due to a floodlight ban. Despite this 39,000 turned up for a Monday afternoon game at Sunderland who were held to a draw

by Cardiff City before losing a second replay to the Bluebirds two days later at Manchester City’s Maine Road. Similarly, over 42,000 - only 500 short of the ground record -saw a Geoff Hurst hat-trick sink non-league Hereford in an FA Cup replay at Upton Park. Evidently impressed by Hereford dumping top-flight Newcastle United out of the cup an Australian millionaire offered to buy the club – provided he could take them all to play permanently down under!

Mike O’Grady arrived at Birmingham City on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers 24 hours before the Burnley game. Millwall manager Benny Fenton was distinctly unimpressed, “Bobby Bell helps Norwich City. Now O’Grady is playing for Birmingham City. Our promotion rivals benefit without laying out a penny.” No one appears to have told him that Millwall could also take a player on loan if they wanted to.

O’Grady had minimal impact on the season. He only started two league games and came off the bench once and although he was not cup-tied he did not appear in Blues’ cup run. The former England international had been part of the Leeds team that won the top-flight four seasons earlier.

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BLUES NEWS | 19

Match Report

Under 23s

lues Under-23s were beaten

by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League 2 on Monday night.

Josh Williams continued to plug away down the right but was rarely handed the required space to showcase his blistering pace and Spooner’s men were afforded a considerable amount of possession in the game, but the task of piercing through a dogged Wolves backline ultimately proved problematic.

Goals from Taylor Perry and substitute Nathan Fraser were enough to condemn Blues to their second successive defeat in Division 2.

Perry was on hand to slam home the opener midway through the first-half before Fraser settled proceedings with a well-taken effort late on.

Blues 1 2 Leicester City BARCLAYS FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE | SUNDAY 6 FEBRUARY

Head of Performance Analysis: Carl Blakemore

BLUES 2: Cooper, Carroll, Pendrey, Page, Hynd, Harland, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Hatton Taylor.

BURNLEY 0: Stevenson, Docherty, Wilson, West (Bellamy), Waldron, Dobson, Thomas, Casper, Fletcher, Probert, James Attendance: 32,035

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Goalkeeping Coach: Andy Marshall

Chief Medical Officer: Roddy Macdonald

TEAMS

Mike O’Grady

by ROB MASON

ifty years ago today, Blues travelled to Preston North End in need of a win to increase pressure on the three teams above them (remember just two went up and there were no play-offs), particularly with the top two of Norwich City and Millwall meeting each other. In a hard-fought match, the Birmingham City contingent had to content themselves with a point from a goalless draw.

With QPR and Norwich dropping points it was a good afternoon but there was no closing the gap on second-placed Millwall who were the team Blues had mainly set their sights on.

PRESTON 0: Kelly, McMahon, Connor, Bird, McNab, Spavin, Young, Spark, McIlmoyle, Lyall, Ingram.

BLUES 0: Cooper, Carroll, Pendrey, Page, Hynd, Harland, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Hatton Taylor.

Attendance: 17,794

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First Team Development Coach: Paul Harsley

Head of Physical Performance: Sean Rush

BLUES NEWS | 7

IN THIS ISSUE when Burnley came to St. Andrew’s the following weekend any such worries dissipated as Blues turned on the style.

Technical Director: Craig Gardner

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lues Women fell to defeat against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

In the absence of Interim Head Coach Darren Carter due to illness, Marcus Bignot made two changes to the team that progressed past Sunderland in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup seven days earlier and both were at the sharp end.

Libby Smith returned up top and was supported by Jade Pennock, with Sarah Ewens and Emily Whelan named on the bench.

It was a relatively quiet opening to the game, with the visitors coming closest when Jemma Purfield’s free-kick from range flew past Emily Ramsey’s far post. But shortly after came the turning point in the game. A defensive mix-up saw Jess Sigsworth heading towards on goal, Ramsey came out to claim the ball but was adjudged to have fouled the striker. The referee then made the decision to show the Manchester United loanee a red card. 16-year-old Lucy Jones was brought on as the replacement ‘keeper but could not keep out Sigsworth’s low penalty.

Eight minutes later, the Foxes doubled their advantage. Purfield’s corner was attacked at the near post by a host of bodies, but no one managed to clear it 24 | BLUES NEWS

and the ball crept into the back of the net.

Blues rallied at the start of the second-half despite being operating with a player less. Veatriki Sarri saw her swerving free-kick spilt by Demi Lambourne, but the Foxes’ stopper managed to recover to palm the ball away from forward Pennock.

It was then the Blues forward that came closest to reducing the deficit. Lucy Quinn’s driven corner found the head of Pennock at the near post, but she could only divert her stooping effort into the side netting. But hope was restored for Blues with five minutes remaining.

Leicester failed to clear Holloway’s lofted free-kick, the ball then worked its way out to Sarri on the left who hung up a cross to the back post where Louise Quinn was waiting to head in.

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH REACTION: “To be fair to the players, they gave us absolutely everything. We just ran out of time in the end, I know Leicester had a couple of breakaways but that was because we were pushing so hard.

We could have asked for no more from the players, they did exactly what we wanted them to do from half-time which was to keep going in typical Blues

fashion. It is not over. We have said that to the girls, we will keep pushing, keep driving and hopefully we can turn things around and make sure we get enough points to stay in the league. We are still in it; the players believe that, and we will not give up the fight.”

Blues Women: Emily Ramsey, Gemma Lawley, Louise Quinn (captain), Rebecca Holloway, Harriet Scott (Jamie Finn 46), Christie Murray (Louanne Worsey 83), Veatriki Sarri, Lisa Robertson (Lucy Jones 28), Jade Pennock, Libby Smith (Emily Whelan 79), Lucy Quinn (Sarah Ewens 83).

Substitutes not used: Lucy Whipp, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle, Abbi Jenner.

Bookings: Ramsey sent off 26.

Leicester City: Demi Lambourne, Sophie Howard, Abbie McManus (captain), Ashleigh Plumptre, Esmee de Graaf, Molly Pike (Sophie Barker, 81), Sam Tierney (Esther Morgan, 90+2), Jemma Purfield, Jess Sigsworth, Shannon O’Brien (Natasha Flint, 66), Freya Gregory (Paige Bailey-Gayle, 81).

Substitutes not used: ACharlie Devlin, Missy Goodwin, Elysia Boddy, Connie Scofield, Sophie Harris.

Bookings: Sigsworth 90+5.

Blues to their credit had a fair share of the ball throughout the evening but failed to find a way past a resolute old gold outfit at Aggborough.

The visitor’s lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with triallist Marcel Lewis deployed on the left of a trio of attacking midfielders supporting striker Kieran Wakefield. The game also marked the return of Marcel Oakley who was handed his first match minutes in two-and-a-half months following an ankle problem.

After a tentative opening, it was Wakefield who was presented with the first and what proved to be the biggest Blues chance of the game. Skipper Remi Walker won his duel in the centre circle and slid the ball through to Wakefield who timed his run perfectly.

The lively forward raced clear of the Wolves backline but saw his side-foot effort blocked by Sondergaard.

The visitors began to see a lot of the ball and set about prizing Wolves out of their slots. Blues’ backline had licence to shift the ball across the pitch

Such an approach nearly paid dividends when Nico Gordon took a heavy touch and was dispossessed deep inside his own half. Birtwistle drove towards goal but when attempting to square the ball to McLoughlin, saw his pass blocked by the retreating Rico Browne.

It was a crucial intervention by the young Blues defender but less than a minute later, his side were behind.

An in-swinging corner was met by the head of Wolves captain Marques. Zach Jeacock initially produced a fine save down to his left, but Harvey Griffiths was there to slam home the rebound.

Blues ended the first period on top but having moved up the pitch on numerous occasions, failed to test Sondergaard with any meaningful efforts on goal.

In truth, the hosts should have doubled their lead just minutes into the secondhalf. Taylor Perry ventured into the box undetected and when the ball was cut back to him from the right, the rangy midfielder miscued his effort.

It was a let off for Blues who, having been on the backfoot since the break, began to make inroads themselves by the hour-mark. Substitute Tommy Fogarty challenged bravely for a header inside the box, that after Oriel Soldevila showed a few silky touches to win his side a corner.

The Spaniard was then tripped on the edge of the box moments later, but Walker could only send the resulting free-kick whizzing past the post.

Referee: Robert Whitton.

Attendance: 810.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

unopposed with the hosts sitting in and primed to pounce on any loose touch.

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As the game drew to a close and with men high up the pitch, Blues were caught short down the right.

Substitute Nathan Fraser was afforded time to steady himself inside the box before lashing his effort into the bottom corner to put the result beyond doubt.

Blues will now turn their attentions to the visit of Watford in the Premier League Cup in a week’s time.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Andreas Sondergaard, Dexter Lembikisa, Hugo Bueno, Oliver Tipton, Christian Marques, Justin Hubner, Harry Birtwistle (Fraser 75), Harvey Griffiths, Lee McLoughlin (Farmer 75), Taylor Perry (Kandola 67), Jack Hodnett.

Substitutes not used: Pascal Estrada, Ty Barnett, Owen Farmer, Nathan Fraser Booking: None.

Blues: Zack Jeacock, Marcel Oakley (Patterson 60), Kane ThompsonSommers, Brandon Khela, Rico Browne, Nico Gordon (Fogarty 45), Josh Williams, Remi Walker (captain), Kieran Wakefield, Oriel Soldevila, Marcel Lewis (Otis Lewis 57).

Substitutes not used: Oli Basey, Rico Patterson, Keke Simmonds.

Booking: Nico Gordon.

BLUES NEWS | 25

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Lee Bowyer Ryan Woods The opposition: luton town Troy Deeney 72@50 Community Player Sponsorship Blues Women Under-23s Action Replay Stats Fixtures and Results

LEE

F

BOWYER

irstly, I would like to welcome Nathan Jones, his staff, players, and supporters of Luton Town to St. Andrew’s for this afternoon’s game.

Luton are on a fantastic run at the moment and are one of the in-form sides of the Sky Bet Championship so we know today will be a big challenge.

That said, I have said all season that if we perform to our capabilities and play on the front foot then we can be a match for anyone, especially here at home.

I think back to our meeting in August and that was the most complete performance from any of my teams since I came into management.

We were positive from the first minute, clinical in front of goal and played with real freedom throughout.

I am always looking for us to take the game to the opposition and if we can get anywhere near the performance levels from that 0-5 win then I think we will give ourselves a good chance again today.

The new lads have certainly added something different to the squad and they have already made an impact in their first few games. They have improved us as a team, and I am looking forward to working with them over the next few months.

4 | BLUES NEWS

too which is always disappointing, but we must keep doing the right things and hope they even themselves out. We pushed a very good Sheffield United side here last weekend and were undone by what I feel was a disappointing decision by the officials.

Our trip to Bournemouth was always going to be difficult. Scott Parker has a tremendous squad which he added to in January, and they are in the top two for a reason. That said, we simply gifted them goals on the night.

We failed to clear danger, made individual errors, and never made them work for their opportunities. After the red card, with the game at 2-1, we gave it a right go. I lost count of just how many chances we created but we just could not get that second.

Unfortunately, their third goal kills the game, but I cannot fault the effort of the players. Right up until the 95th minute they were working their socks off and many of them ended up playing out of position due to injuries before and during the game.

We have to continue to adjust and adapt because we are running out of bodies back there.

Up until now, the players have been fantastic at that and I know whomever I name in the team today will go and give everything for the shirt.

As a team, I feel like we are improving. We have retained the ball a lot better in recent weeks and we carry a real threat going forwards. We know we are conceding too many goals at present, and it is something we, as a team, are looking to address.

As always, I would like to thank you for your continued support and encourage you to get behind the players, as you a lways do, again this afternoon.

A few decisions have been going against us

Lee Bowyer

Keep Right On,

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

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BLUES NEWS | 5

Main Interview

Ryan Woods

when we are on it – it is now about consistency for us. If we find that, the results will come, and we will move up the table.

How has it been reclaiming your place in the First Team again over the past few weeks?

Good. Personally, it felt like I had a really good start to the season, but I must admit, we lost a couple of players – [Tahith] Chongy for example - and it did affect me a bit. I came out of the team after that red card but since I have been back, I have really enjoyed it. The new lads have done brilliantly, they have given us a real freshness and I am enjoying playing with them.

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yan Woods was the first summer arrival at Wast Hills Training Ground back in June and when he came through the doors, you got the instant feeling he was looking to find his footballing home again – both geographically and on the pitch.

Prior to his Second City move, the Walsall-raised midfielder had spent the previous 18 months on loan at Millwall. Regular minutes and solid performances were a constant after opportunities had dwindled at parent club Stoke City.

But Woods settled immediately at Blues and his ability on the ball was clear to see. However, a controversial red card issued to him against Coventry City in November saw the 28-year-old suspended and left him battling for game time again.

But as is in his DNA, Woods fought back and post-Christmas he has been a regular, looking every bit the player Bluenoses had longed for.

6 | BLUES NEWS

With his good form continuing, Blues News caught up with the midfielder earlier this week to get the lowdown on his recent performances and thoughts on the campaign so far.

Ryan, great to catch up. How are things with you right now? I imagine you and the squad are still wondering how we have not got more points in recent weeks?

Yes, that’s it. For us, at this point in the season, it is all about consistency. I have absolutely no doubt if we find that, the results will come.

There are 17 odd games left and there is a lot still to play for. But we need to get a run together and make our good play count.

Look at Derby, a really good performance barring the result.

We switched off a couple of times and look what happened. Likewise, against Sheffield United who I felt we matched throughout the evening. We are a match for anyone

For you as a ball-playing midfielder, what do players like Tahith Chong and Onel Hernandez do that is so important?

You know you can give them the ball and they will simply get it up the pitch. It is exactly the thing Onel has brought to the team since he came in – a footballing mind that completely relieves pressure by carrying the ball down the touchline and into dangerous areas. Honestly, for me, I need those lads and I will endeavour to get the likes of Onel, Lyle [Taylor] and [Juninho] Bacuna the ball and they can make things happen, I know they can.

You have found your way back to the Midlands having come through the ranks at Walsall as an academy player. How have you found settling into the dressing room at Blues?

I am a local lad anyway so settling wasn’t an issue. I have had to get used to the team of course, but we all get on. Saying that sometimes we have been too much like mates and that is changing.

After the games against Derby County and Sheffield United, we had some choice words to say to one another and that is good. We are here to win games and if someone needs telling that is how it is.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

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BLUES NEWS | 7

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Fact file

Nickname: The Hatters

Formed: 1885 Stadium: Kenilworth Road Stadium Capacity: 10,265 Manager: Nathan Jones Last season finish: 12th in Championship

The Opposition

luton town

ONE TO WATCH

Elijah Adebayo STRIKER DOB: 7 January 1998 “Destined for the top” was how his Luton team-mates described the 24-year-old targetman in January when his performances were being scrutinised by Premier League scouts.

The former Walsall goal-getter has become one of the Championship’s most potent finishers this season, with the rangy striker’s excellent technical ability, peerless hold-up play and ruthlessness in the box putting him among the division’s leading scorers with a dozen league goals.

The 6ft 4ins gem has been the catalyst to the Hatters’ remarkable campaign, helping to fill the void left by James Collins’ departure, and defender Kal Naismith believes the former Fulham youth is destined for the top.

Explaining to Luton Today he said: “Everyone wants to play at the highest level, that is everyone’s dream, but he is at an unbelievable place, he has an unbelievable manager, got players that love him, respect him, try to play to his strengths and he’ll get there if he just keeps playing the way he is.

“Whatever his career path is will take care of itself. He is here at the minute and playing so well, he is an unbelievable player so rightly a lot of people are talking about him but he’s got a lot to accomplish here first before moving on I think.”

10 | BLUES NEWS

HEADS UP FOR HA

T

he Hatters’ form either side of the new year deserves a doth of the cap, having claimed five points from a possible nine against the Championship’s top three and had convincing wins at Blackpool and Reading.

12th last season, and narrowly sidestepping the relegation trapdoor the campaign before, is testament to the work being undertaken by manager Nathan Jones.

February has also started brightly for Luton Town. Success against Swansea City was a second consecutive clean-sheet and they made it three straight wins in midweek with a 2-1 victory over bottom-of-the-table Barnsley to remain on the cusp of the play-offs.

The Welshman has Town in finefettle, operating with a high-octane press in a 3-5-2 formation. A strong, direct and clinical approach has worked wonders and had the Luton chief waxing lyrical about his side’s “tactical awareness” and “complete away performance” after only a second victory in 16 visits to South Wales.

To be competing in the secondtier’s upper echelons after finishing

An aggressive and disciplined approach also proved too much for BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

IN THE DUGOUT

Nathan Jones DOB: 28 May 1973 Appointed: May 2020 The Welshman is in his second stint in charge at Kenilworth Road but appears tailormade for the Hatters.

Taking the reins in January 2016, after coaching roles at Charlton Athletic and Brighton & Hove Albion, Jones guided Luton to League Two security in 2015/16 before earning a play-off spot the following campaign and promotion the season after to end a 10-year absence from the third-tier.

By the time Stoke City came calling for his services he had Luton second in League One and ably placed for another elevation. Yet a controversial departure and an ill-feted 10 months with the Potters ended with a return to Bedfordshire in May 2020 and the bilingual boss has not looked back.

ATTERS

League One Cambridge United last weekend in the FA Cup. Town were 0-3 winners thanks to goals from Reece Burke, Carlos Mendes Gomes and Admiral Muskwe at Abbey Stadium to earn a Fifth Round tie against Chelsea in the competition for the first time since 2012.

manage this fantastic club, but also of the fact that I am the one entrusted to take it on to the next phase. We have been on a journey since 2016 and to be entrusted with the phases of the development here in a town and community that I love, I feel so humbled.

Jones signed a new contract until the summer of 2027 in January and is loving life at the Bedfordshire club, a side he led into League One in 2018 during a first stint in charge.

“I would love to be at the forefront of taking us to the Premier League, which is something that we believe is more than realistic. To do that a lot of things have to happen, but we have got a lot of continuity here, a really good structure and processes in everything we do. With that, and our constant development, the Premier League is what we want to achieve.”

Despite being among the bookies’ favourites for relegation last summer, the Town coach harbours loftier ambitions and told the club’s official website: “I am so proud to

Last summer’s recruitment strategy was to sign rapid attacking players to improve the club’s scoring prowess, having registered just 41 goals last term. Even at this stage

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Steering the club away from relegation upon his return, last season he earned a 12th-place finish with the club’s highest points tally at this level since 1982. This season the 48-year-old is on course to better that accomplishment and penned a new contract in January that will see him surpass David Pleat’s record 609 games in charge of the club if fulfilled.

Luton chief executive Gary Sweet certainly hopes that will prove the case, saying: “It is rare for a club and manager to have such a progressive and harmonious bond. Sometimes you must recognise when that bond is positively unique for both parties and make sure it is safeguarded.

BLUES NEWS | 11

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That’s why we’re donating advertising spaces around the ground to pet shops, bakeries, car repairers and record stores across the UK. And to celebrate, we’re offering you 15% OFF selected sellers between 14th and 17th February. This means you can bag yourself a fantastic deal while also supporting local businesses. It’s a win-win!

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Limited time 14 – 17 Feb

AROUND THE GROUNDS Only four points separate Huddersfield Town in fifth and tenth-place Sheffield United as the race for the play-offs intensifies.

with a third of the season remaining the Hatters have equalled that total, with Elijah Adebayo the catalyst to the marked improvement. The rangy striker has scored a dozen times in his first full Championship campaign, while Harry Cornick is also closing in on double figures.

Town have scored two or more goals in a game on 14 occasions this term, including putting five past Coventry City in September and three against Peterborough United, Swansea City, Middlesbrough, Blackpool and AFC Bournemouth, and further offensive options include Blues’ former Premier League goal scorer Cameron Jerome and two-time Luton Golden Boot winner Danny Hylton.

There are also some experienced campaigners in the middle of the park. Playmaker Henri Lansbury was captain at Nottingham Forest before four seasons at Aston Villa, box-tobox midfielder Pelly Mpanzu was Luton’s Player of the Year for 2020 and the talismanic Jordan Clark was Accrington Stanley’s award winner in 2019. Further options include Senegalese Mendes Gomez, Wales Under-21 international Elliot Thorpe, domineering Zimbabwe cap Muskwe, double League One promotion winner Fred Onyedinma and Glaswegian Allan Campbell, who was on target in midweek.

At the back Villa loanee Jed steer joined on deadline day after Croatia international Simon Sluga left to join www.bcfc.com

Bulgarian champions Ludogorets 1945 Razgrad. Although James Shea, who has six clean-sheets this season, got the nod on Tuesday evening.

The trio at the back has normally consisted of the ever-present and domineering Kal Naismith, while summer signing Reece Burke, former Reading youth Gabriel Osho, Wales cap Tom Lockyer and Dan Potts have interchanged. Former Villa man James Bree and ex-Blues Academy graduate Amari’i Bell have been utilised as yo-yoing wingbacks.

The future certainly appears bright for Town and boss Jones believes the hard-fought victory over the Reds was another indicator of progress made. He explained to BBC Three Counties Radio post-match: “ A year ago, or two seasons ago, we would have lost that game, and we have not beaten them [Barnsley] here, so to do that in a scrappy game shows we can dig out results as well.”

The Blades made sure Steve Bruce’s reign as West Bromwich Albion boss started with defeat as he returned to his first employers in midweek. A Billy Sharp brace proved the difference as he brought up 123 goals for his hometown club to bring them level on points with the Baggies in ninth.

Paul Heckingbottom’s Blades have won eight of their last 11 games and travel to a Terriers side unbeaten since November in a clash of the Championship’s form sides this afternoon.

Fellow promotion contenders Nottingham Forest will be hoping home advantage can maintain their charge up the table today. The Reds were second bottom in September when Steve Cooper took charge but climbed into the top six on Wednesday with a 0-2 success at Blackburn Rovers. However, they welcome a Stoke City side they have not beaten at the City Ground in the league since 2005.

The division’s leading two both won in midweek but have difficult challenges today. AFC Bournemouth head to a Blackpool side enjoying a five-game unbeaten run, while free-scoring Fulham travel to Humberside against the mercurial Hull City.

Elsewhere, the division’s most permeable defence at Peterborough United will be desperate to put the brakes on a run that sees them winless in the league since early December but face a resurgent Preston North End. Fellow strugglers Reading, who endured a sixth successive defeat in midweek, host Coventry City and bottom dwellers Barnsley are on home turf against a Queens Park Rangers since that have not lost away in the league for four months.

BLUES NEWS | 13

Football is a game of many opinions, but there is one that we must all share. There is no place for discrimination in our game. If you do not agree, then you are not welcome.

If you see or hear discrimination in this stadium, please report it to the nearest steward or via the Kick it Out App. Because we are all #TogetherAgainstDiscrimination Download the Kick it Out app for free from your app store.

EFL.com

Captain

Troy DeeneY Hello again Bluenoses, It has been a week since we last spoke and since then, I feel like we have been on the receiving end of a couple of difficult results.

I was at St. Andrew’s for the visit of Sheffield United last Friday night and there was not much between the teams. Many expect them to be there or thereabouts at the end of the campaign but as we did at the start of this season, we widely matched them throughout.

I know everyone was frustrated with the way the winner was scored and that is okay but for us as a team, it is about looking at what we could have done differently to prevent it in the first place.

Similarly, with AFC Bournemouth, they have undoubted quality, let’s not question that. But you know what, we had a go at them and fair play to their keeper [Mark Travers], he has made some great saves throughout the game.

But again, the onus is on us to punish teams like Bournemouth when we get the chance to. Peds [Kristian Pedersen] has nearly got on the end of one in the first half, Gards [Gary Gardner] has had a header saved, Jukey [Lukas Jutkiewicz] has had a chance – these were all good opportunities for us.

Then we get our goal, and they go down to ten men

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too and we’re all thinking ‘alright then’, let’s get at them but the third goal kills us, and it is game over.

But I am sure lots of us have seen not just Wednesday night’s game, but several recent results and I hope you are thinking that we are starting to show what we are about. Now, as we all know, it is about turning all this into points and picking up results, starting with today.

I am under no illusion as to how difficult this afternoon’s game will be. Nathan Jones has Luton Town firing, and they are as good a team as any in the league. But we need to take our chances and we must make our dominance count when we get those good spells we have been carving out recently.

On a personal note, it has been nice to be back amongst the lads this week as I got back out on the grass for full training. You don’t realise when you are injured and going through the process of recovery how much you miss the day-to-day goings-on of being in the team, the matchday routine and those sorts of things. But there is certainly light at the end of the tunnel and I am on my way back.

Come on then, let’s get St. Andrew’s rocking today and give the boys a hand. I will be there with you supporting the team.

Keep Right On, Troy Deeney

BLUES NEWS | 15

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BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

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BLUES NEWS | 17

7250

Half a century on from the glorious 1971/72 season when Freddie Goodwin’s Blues dramatically clinched promotion to the top flight having also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, we turn the Blues News spotlight on recalling one of the finest seasons in Blues’ post-war history.

@

F

by ROB MASON

ifty years ago today, Blues travelled to Preston North End in need of a win to increase pressure on the three teams above them (remember just two went up and there were no play-offs), particularly with the top two of Norwich City and Millwall meeting each other. In a hard-fought match, the Birmingham City contingent had to content themselves with a point from a goalless draw.

It was the ninth away draw from 15 games but with still just one game won and only eight goals scored on the road the promotion charge could not get out of third gear.

Undeniably a share of the spoils was fair to all concerned.

Preston had the better of things before the break forcing Blues back-up keeper Paul Cooper into excellent saves to thwart centre-back Alex Spark and striker Gerry Ingram.

Birmingham were more of an attacking force after the interval but could find no way past North End’s vastly experienced goalkeeper Alan Kelly.

The Canaries and Lions had scrapped out a two-all draw in front of a crowd of over 34,000 at Carrow Road but a point was gained on third-placed QPR who surprisingly lost their unbeaten home record to Blackpool. The worry of course was that being unable to produce away wins put pressure on Blues’ own unbeaten home record but

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CITY FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

18 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

when Burnley came to St. Andrew’s the following weekend any such worries dissipated as Blues turned on the style.

Manager Freddie Goodwin rated the first-half performance against the Clarets as the best of the season so far. Gordon Taylor certainly thought so. The man who until recently was chairman of the PFA had waited 58 weeks to score a goal instead of making them from his left-wing berth but when Gordon’s goal came it was well worth waiting for – a 25-yarder that screamed into the net. A 2-0 win was a small reward for a stylish display that thrilled another big crowd although they had to wait until four minutes from time for Bob Hatton to allow them to enjoy it by making it 2-0. He pounced on a rebound when the keeper parried a shot from Bob Latchford.

Burnley were an up-and-coming side who would win the division the following year. They had threatened to draw level in the second-half against a Blues side unchanged for the fourth game in a row but Granville Shackleton, the Burnley reporter in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph was in no doubt he had seen a team in the promotion groove. He wrote: “On their form this afternoon City are going to take a lot of beating and are clearly the big danger to Norwich City and Millwall in the promotion race. They clearly outclassed and outran Burnley in the first-half in which the Clarets were saved from a hammering by some brilliant saves from goalkeeper Alan Stevenson.”

With QPR and Norwich dropping points it was a good afternoon but there was no closing the gap on second-placed Millwall who were the team Blues had mainly set their sights on.

TEAMS PRESTON 0: Kelly, McMahon, Connor, Bird, McNab, Spavin, Young, Spark, McIlmoyle, Lyall, Ingram.

BLUES 0: Cooper, Carroll, Pendrey, Page, Hynd, Harland, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Hatton Taylor.

Attendance: 17,794

CLASS OF 71/72 Mike O’Grady

BLUES 2: Cooper, Carroll, Pendrey, Page, Hynd, Harland, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Hatton Taylor.

BURNLEY 0: Stevenson, Docherty, Wilson, West (Bellamy), Waldron, Dobson, Thomas, Casper, Fletcher, Probert, James Attendance: 32,035

ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL Due to the power shortages caused by the miners’ strike match programmes were smaller and midweek games were being played in the afternoon due to a floodlight ban. Despite this 39,000 turned up for a Monday afternoon game at Sunderland who were held to a draw

by Cardiff City before losing a second replay to the Bluebirds two days later at Manchester City’s Maine Road. Similarly, over 42,000 - only 500 short of the ground record -saw a Geoff Hurst hat-trick sink non-league Hereford in an FA Cup replay at Upton Park. Evidently impressed by Hereford dumping top-flight Newcastle United out of the cup an Australian millionaire offered to buy the club – provided he could take them all to play permanently down under! www.bcfc.com

Mike O’Grady arrived at Birmingham City on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers 24 hours before the Burnley game. Millwall manager Benny Fenton was distinctly unimpressed, “Bobby Bell helps Norwich City. Now O’Grady is playing for Birmingham City. Our promotion rivals benefit without laying out a penny.” No one appears to have told him that Millwall could also take a player on loan if they wanted to.

O’Grady had minimal impact on the season. He only started two league games and came off the bench once and although he was not cup-tied he did not appear in Blues’ cup run. The former England international had been part of the Leeds team that won the top-flight four seasons earlier.

BLUES NEWS | 19

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BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

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BLUES NEWS | 21

Junior Blues U11s Spotlight The Under-11 Junior Blues Team have had a great season so far on and off the pitch. After not completing a full campaign since 2019/20, the boys are loving being back out on the pitch with their mates and seeing them every week. They continue to give 100% and work very well with the coaches, but more importantly, as a grassroots team, they constantly have a smile on their faces! Well done lads and we wish you all the best for the remainder of the season.

February Half Term Football Camp Is your son or daughter aged between 5 and 14 and looking for something to do during the upcoming February half term?

Development Centres Our Development Centres have been a great success following the relaunch last month, if your son or daughter is aged between eight and 14 and are interested in attending a session, please visit the Official Soccer Schools website via www.officialsoccerschools.co.uk/birminghamcity.

22 | BLUES NEWS

The Community Trust are running a football camp at Langley School in Solihull from 10am-3pm from Monday to Friday of half-term.

There will be indoor and outdoor facilities so no matter what the weather, the children will have plenty of activities to be taking part in. For more information, please visit the Official Soccer Schools website via www.officialsoccerschools.co.uk/birminghamcity.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

www.bcfc.com

50

CRAIG GARDNER

available

available

TATE CAMPBELL

available

34

33

IVAN SUNJIC

20

19

CONNAL TRUEMAN

LYLE TAYLOR

18

Simone Ingram

Anna-Leigh Brooks

21

08

JORDAN JAMES

JUNINHO BACUNA

GARY GARDNER

07

06

TEDEN MENGI

JEREMIE BELA

10

09

available LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ

SCOTT HOGAN

TAYLOR RICHARDS

TAHITH CHONG

RYAN WOODS

01

02

04

03

05

Simon & Rosemarie Nash

53

MARCEL OAKLEY

27

NICO GORDON

11

ONEL HERNÁNDEZ

JORDAN GRAHAM

Simone Ingram

52

25

TROY DEENEY

24 Spotswood Facilities Management

36

GEORGE HALL Simone Ingram

LEE BOWYER

35

available

54 KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS

GEORGE FRIEND

MARC ROBERTS

KRISTIAN PEDERSEN

MAXIME COLIN

NEIL ETHERIDGE

BIRMINGHAM CITY SHIRT SPONSORSHIP 2021/22 For more information regarding player shirt sponsorship please contact us on 0121 772 0101 option 3 or email Commercial@bcfc.com

Oliver Collinson

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Simone Ingram

BLUES NEWS | 23

Blues 1 2 Leicester City BARCLAYS FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE | SUNDAY 6 FEBRUARY

B

lues Women fell to defeat against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League.

In the absence of Interim Head Coach Darren Carter due to illness, Marcus Bignot made two changes to the team that progressed past Sunderland in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup seven days earlier and both were at the sharp end.

Libby Smith returned up top and was supported by Jade Pennock, with Sarah Ewens and Emily Whelan named on the bench.

It was a relatively quiet opening to the game, with the visitors coming closest when Jemma Purfield’s free-kick from range flew past Emily Ramsey’s far post. But shortly after came the turning point in the game. A defensive mix-up saw Jess Sigsworth heading towards on goal, Ramsey came out to claim the ball but was adjudged to have fouled the striker. The referee then made the decision to show the Manchester United loanee a red card. 16-year-old Lucy Jones was brought on as the replacement ‘keeper but could not keep out Sigsworth’s low penalty.

Eight minutes later, the Foxes doubled their advantage. Purfield’s corner was attacked at the near post by a host of bodies, but no one managed to clear it 24 | BLUES NEWS

and the ball crept into the back of the net.

Blues rallied at the start of the second-half despite being operating with a player less. Veatriki Sarri saw her swerving free-kick spilt by Demi Lambourne, but the Foxes’ stopper managed to recover to palm the ball away from forward Pennock.

It was then the Blues forward that came closest to reducing the deficit. Lucy Quinn’s driven corner found the head of Pennock at the near post, but she could only divert her stooping effort into the side netting. But hope was restored for Blues with five minutes remaining.

Leicester failed to clear Holloway’s lofted free-kick, the ball then worked its way out to Sarri on the left who hung up a cross to the back post where Louise Quinn was waiting to head in.

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH REACTION: “To be fair to the players, they gave us absolutely everything. We just ran out of time in the end, I know Leicester had a couple of breakaways but that was because we were pushing so hard.

We could have asked for no more from the players, they did exactly what we wanted them to do from half-time which was to keep going in typical Blues

fashion. It is not over. We have said that to the girls, we will keep pushing, keep driving and hopefully we can turn things around and make sure we get enough points to stay in the league. We are still in it; the players believe that, and we will not give up the fight.”

Blues Women: Emily Ramsey, Gemma Lawley, Louise Quinn (captain), Rebecca Holloway, Harriet Scott (Jamie Finn 46), Christie Murray (Louanne Worsey 83), Veatriki Sarri, Lisa Robertson (Lucy Jones 28), Jade Pennock, Libby Smith (Emily Whelan 79), Lucy Quinn (Sarah Ewens 83).

Substitutes not used: Lucy Whipp, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle, Abbi Jenner.

Bookings: Ramsey sent off 26.

Leicester City: Demi Lambourne, Sophie Howard, Abbie McManus (captain), Ashleigh Plumptre, Esmee de Graaf, Molly Pike (Sophie Barker, 81), Sam Tierney (Esther Morgan, 90+2), Jemma Purfield, Jess Sigsworth, Shannon O’Brien (Natasha Flint, 66), Freya Gregory (Paige Bailey-Gayle, 81).

Substitutes not used: ACharlie Devlin, Missy Goodwin, Elysia Boddy, Connie Scofield, Sophie Harris.

Bookings: Sigsworth 90+5.

Referee: Robert Whitton.

Attendance: 810.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

Match Report

B

Under 23s

lues Under-23s were beaten

by Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League 2 on Monday night.

Josh Williams continued to plug away down the right but was rarely handed the required space to showcase his blistering pace and Spooner’s men were afforded a considerable amount of possession in the game, but the task of piercing through a dogged Wolves backline ultimately proved problematic.

Goals from Taylor Perry and substitute Nathan Fraser were enough to condemn Blues to their second successive defeat in Division 2.

Perry was on hand to slam home the opener midway through the first-half before Fraser settled proceedings with a well-taken effort late on.

Blues to their credit had a fair share of the ball throughout the evening but failed to find a way past a resolute old gold outfit at Aggborough.

The visitor’s lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with triallist Marcel Lewis deployed on the left of a trio of attacking midfielders supporting striker Kieran Wakefield. The game also marked the return of Marcel Oakley who was handed his first match minutes in two-and-a-half months following an ankle problem.

After a tentative opening, it was Wakefield who was presented with the first and what proved to be the biggest Blues chance of the game. Skipper Remi Walker won his duel in the centre circle and slid the ball through to Wakefield who timed his run perfectly.

The lively forward raced clear of the Wolves backline but saw his side-foot effort blocked by Sondergaard.

The visitors began to see a lot of the ball and set about prizing Wolves out of their slots. Blues’ backline had licence to shift the ball across the pitch

unopposed with the hosts sitting in and primed to pounce on any loose touch.

Such an approach nearly paid dividends when Nico Gordon took a heavy touch and was dispossessed deep inside his own half. Birtwistle drove towards goal but when attempting to square the ball to McLoughlin, saw his pass blocked by the retreating Rico Browne.

It was a crucial intervention by the young Blues defender but less than a minute later, his side were behind.

An in-swinging corner was met by the head of Wolves captain Marques. Zach Jeacock initially produced a fine save down to his left, but Harvey Griffiths was there to slam home the rebound.

Blues ended the first period on top but having moved up the pitch on numerous occasions, failed to test Sondergaard with any meaningful efforts on goal.

In truth, the hosts should have doubled their lead just minutes into the secondhalf. Taylor Perry ventured into the box undetected and when the ball was cut back to him from the right, the rangy midfielder miscued his effort.

It was a let off for Blues who, having been on the backfoot since the break, began to make inroads themselves by the hour-mark. Substitute Tommy Fogarty challenged bravely for a header inside the box, that after Oriel Soldevila showed a few silky touches to win his side a corner.

The Spaniard was then tripped on the edge of the box moments later, but Walker could only send the resulting free-kick whizzing past the post.

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As the game drew to a close and with men high up the pitch, Blues were caught short down the right.

Substitute Nathan Fraser was afforded time to steady himself inside the box before lashing his effort into the bottom corner to put the result beyond doubt.

Blues will now turn their attentions to the visit of Watford in the Premier League Cup in a week’s time.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Andreas Sondergaard, Dexter Lembikisa, Hugo Bueno, Oliver Tipton, Christian Marques, Justin Hubner, Harry Birtwistle (Fraser 75), Harvey Griffiths, Lee McLoughlin (Farmer 75), Taylor Perry (Kandola 67), Jack Hodnett.

Substitutes not used: Pascal Estrada, Ty Barnett, Owen Farmer, Nathan Fraser Booking: None.

Blues: Zack Jeacock, Marcel Oakley (Patterson 60), Kane ThompsonSommers, Brandon Khela, Rico Browne, Nico Gordon (Fogarty 45), Josh Williams, Remi Walker (captain), Kieran Wakefield, Oriel Soldevila, Marcel Lewis (Otis Lewis 57).

Substitutes not used: Oli Basey, Rico Patterson, Keke Simmonds.

Booking: Nico Gordon.

BLUES NEWS | 25

BOURNEMOUTH 3 1 blues SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | WEDNESDAY 9 FEBRUARY 2022

B

lues were on the scoresheet for a sixth consecutive game but could not avoid defeat away to second-placed AFC Bournemouth in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday night

However, the tide began to turn on the South Coast after the break and the Cherries, clearly feeling the pressure, had Jefferson Lerma sent off for a poor challenge on substitute Onel Hernandez.

turned Juninho Bacuna’s wicked cross goalwards but Mark Travers’ save proved to be a turning point as Jaidon Anthony scored the home side’s third 16 minutes from time to seal the points.

Lee Bowyer’s men threatened the hosts in either half but were ultimately let down by a first 45 in which they conceded twice, with Dominic Solanke scoring – as he did at St. Andrew’s in August – after Ryan Christie’s 17th minute opener.

And salt was rubbed into the Bournemouth wounds when the Cuban halved the arrears just two minutes later.

AFC Bournemouth (4-3-3): Mark Travers, Jack Stacey, Nathaniel Phillips, Lloyd Kelly (captain), Jordan Zemura, Todd Cantwell (Siriki Dembele 60), Jefferson Lerma, Philip Billing (Kieffer Moore 87), Ryan Christie (Lewis Cook 60), Dominic Solanke, Jaidon Anthony.

Things could have been very interesting when Lukas Jutkiewicz

Substitutes not used: Freddie Woodman, Chris Mepham, Ben Pearson, Gary Cahill.

Booking: Lerma sent off 67.

Captain Gazza

Captaining Blues is an honour for any player but doing it for the first time for your boyhood team is the stuff of dreams.

From his rousing words during the warm-up, to his drive and determination in the midfield quagmire, Gary Gardner showed himself as a fitting custodian of the armband at the Vitality Stadium.

26 | BLUES NEWS

Blues (3-5-2): Neil Etheridge, Maxime Colin, Teden Mengi (Onel Hernandez 63), Kristian Pedersen, Jeremie Bela, Gary Gardner (captain), Ivan Sunjic, Juninho Bacuna, Jordan Graham (Ryan Woods 89), Scott Hogan (Lukas Jutkiewicz 54), Lyle Taylor.

Substitutes not used: Connal Trueman, Tate Campbell, Remi Walker, Jordan James.

Booking: Gardner 20, Pedersen 34, Graham 47, Hernandez 67, Sunjic 90+2.

Referee: James Linnington.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

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BLUES NEWS | 27

ROLL CALL & LEAGUE TABLE PLAYER

LEAGUE APPS GLS

FA CUP APPS GLS

LEAGUE CUP APPS GLS

CCHUKS ANEKE (F)

1 (17) 2

0 (1) 0

2 (0) 0

POS.

P

W

D

L

GD

PTS

JUNINHO BACUNA (M)

3 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1

FULHAM

29

18

7

4

51

61

JEREMIE BELA (F)

20 (5) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

JOBE BELLINGHAM (F)

0 (1) 0

0 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

2

BOURNEMOUTH

29

16

7

6

22

55

TATE CAMPBELL (M)

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

3

BLACKBURN ROVERS

31

15

8

8

12

53

ALFIE CHANG (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

0 (1) 0

4

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

29

15

7

7

13

52

TAHITH CHONG (M)

13 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

5

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

31

13

10

8

6

49

MAXIME COLIN (D)

20 (1) 1

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

HARLEE DEAN (D)

14 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

6

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

30

13

7

10

10

46

TROY DEENEY (F)

14 (4) 4

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

7

MIDDLESBROUGH

29

13

7

9

6

46

NEIL ETHERIDGE (G)

8 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

8

LUTON TOWN

29

12

9

8

8

45

9

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

30

12

9

9

8

45

10

SHEFFIELD UNITED

28

13

6

9

6

45

11

STOKE CITY

29

12

6

11

6

42

GEORGE FRIEND (D)

9 (3) 0

1 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

GARY GARDNER (M)

18 (4) 4

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

NICO GORDON (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JORDAN GRAHAM (M)

9 (3) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

GEORGE HALL (M)

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

12

PRESTON NORTH END

31

10

12

9

-1

42

13

COVENTRY CITY

28

11

8

9

4

41

14

BLACKPOOL

30

11

8

11

-2

41

15

MILLWALL

29

9

10

10

-3

37

ONEL HERNANDEZ (M)

6 (1) 2

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

SCOTT HOGAN (F)

24 (4) 10

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

IVAN SANCHEZ (M)

0 (2) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JORDAN JAMES (M)

8 (4) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

JUAN CASTILLO (D)

1 (2) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

16

BRISTOL CITY

31

10

7

14

-14

37

15 (13) 2

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

17

SWANSEA CITY

29

9

8

12

-9

35

CHARLIE LAKIN (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

18

BIRMINGHAM CITY

31

8

9

14

-15

33

JONATHAN LEKO (F)

1 (3) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

RILEY McGREE (M)

10 (3) 2

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

19

HULL CITY

30

9

5

16

-9

32

TEDEN MENGI (D)

7 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

20

CARDIFF CITY

29

9

5

15

-13

32

LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ (F)

RENEDI MUSAMPU (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

21

READING

29

8

4

17

-23

22 *

MARCEL OAKLEY (D)

2 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 1

22

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

28

5

5

18

-36

20

KRISTIAN PEDERSEN (D) 25 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

MITCHELL ROBERTS (D)

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

23

DERBY COUNTY

30

9

12

9

0

18 *

MARC ROBERTS (D)

28 (0) 2

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

24

BARNSLEY

29

2

8

19

-27

14

DION SANDERSON (D)

14 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

MATIJA SARKIC (G)

23 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS (F) 0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

IVAN SUNJIC (M)

0 (1) 0

2 (0) 0

25 (4) 2

LYLE TAYLOR (F)

3 (0) 2

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

CONNAL TRUEMAN (G)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

REMI WALKER (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

JOSHUA WILLIAMS (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

RYAN WOODS (M)

18 (4) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

Fixtures & RESULTS 2021/22 DATE

KO

OPPONENT

RES

COMP

POS

ATT

STARTING XI

AUGUST Sat 07

8.00pm

SHEFFIELD UNITED

A

1-0

LEAGUE

5

29,043

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN 1 ■

TUE 10

7.45PM

COLCHESTER UNITED

H

1-0

EFL CUP

-

6,199

TRUEMAN

OAKLEY 1

GORDON

FRIEND

CASTILLO

SUNJIC

Sat 14

3.00pm

STOKE CITY

H

0-0

LEAGUE

10

10,189

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

WED 18

7.45pm

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

H

0-2

LEAGUE

11

9,922

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN

CHONG

SAT 21

3.00pm

LUTON TOWN

A

5-0

LEAGUE

8

10,014

SARKIC

ROBERTS 1 ■

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

TUE 24

7.45PM

FULHAM

H

0-2

EFL CUP

-

4,783

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

FRIEND

OAKLEY

SUNJIC

Sat 28

3.00pm

BARNSLEY

A

1-1

LEAGUE

8

13,950

SARKIC

COLIN

DEAN

PEDERSEN

OAKLEY

SUNJIC

FRI 10

8.00pm

DERBY COUNTY

H

2-0

LEAGUE

7

14,912

SARKIC

ROBERTS ■

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC ■

WED 15

7.45pm

FULHAM

H

1-4

LEAGUE

10

14,562

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

SAT 18

3.00pm

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

A

0-3

LEAGUE

11

12,199

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

DEENEY

Sat 25

3.00pm

PRESTON NORTH END

H

0-0

LEAGUE

12

14,925

SARKIC

SANDERSON

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

TUE 28

7.45pm

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

A

0-2

LEAGUE

13

12,257

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

SANDERSON

COLIN

SUNJIC ■

Sat 02

3.00pm

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

H

0-3

LEAGUE

16

15,148

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

Sat 16

3.00pm

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

A

0-1

LEAGUE

16

24,870

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

Wed 20

7.45pm

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

A

0-0

LEAGUE

19

15,618

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC

Sat 23

3.00pm

SWANSEA CITY

H

2-1

LEAGUE

17

16,132

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC

Sat 30

3.00pm

MIDDLESBROUGH

A

2-0

LEAGUE

15

21,582

SARKIC

ROBERTS 1

SANDERSON ■

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC

Tue 02

7.45pm

BRISTOL CITY

H

3-0

LEAGUE

13

16,143

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

BELA

FRIEND

SUNJIC

Sat 06

3.00pm

READING

H

1-2

LEAGUE

15

17,535

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN ■

BELA ■

ROBERTS

SUNJIC

Sat 20

3.00pm

HULL CITY

A

0-2

LEAGUE

15

12,409

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

BELA

DEAN

SUNJIC

Tue 23

7.45pm

COVENTRY CITY

A

0-0

LEAGUE

17

22,676

SARKIC

ROBERTS ■

SANDERSON ■

BELA

DEAN

SUNJIC ■

Sat 27

3.00pm

BLACKPOOL

H

1-0

LEAGUE

13

17,686

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN ■

BELA

SUNJIC

SAT 04

3.00pm

MILLWALL

A

1-3

LEAGUE

16

14,324

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS ■

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN ■

BELA

SUNJIC

Sat 11

3.00pm

CARDIFF CITY

H

2-2

LEAGUE

15

17,840

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND ■

SUNJIC 1 ■

Sat 18

3.00pm

BLACKBURN ROVERS

A

0-4

LEAGUE

17

12,148

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC ■

SUN 02

2.00pm

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

H

1-2

LEAGUE

18

18,279

SARKIC

COLIN

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC ■

Sat 08

5.30pm

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

H

0-1

FAC R3

-

9,823

ETHERIDGE

COLIN

MENGI

PEDERSEN

FRIEND ■

CAMPBELL SUNJIC

GARDNER ■

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY

Sat 15

3.00pm

PRESTON NORTH END

A

1-1

LEAGUE

18

12,821

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

MENGI ■

PEDERSEN

COLIN

TUE 18

7.45PM

FULHAM

A

2-6

LEAGUE

18

16,491

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

MENGI

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN

BELA

Sat 22

3.00pm

BARNSLEY

H

2-1

LEAGUE

18

15,742

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

MENGI

PEDERSEN

COLIN

WOODS

TUE 25

7.45pm

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

H

2-2

LEAGUE

18

16,380

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

MENGI

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

SUN 30

1.30pm

DERBY COUNTY

A

2-2

LEAGUE

17

32,211

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

MENGI

PEDERSEN

COLIN

WOODS ■

FRI 04

7.45pm

SHEFFIELD UNITED

H

1-2

LEAGUE

17

17,194

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS ■

MENGI

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN

WOODS

WED 09

7.45pm

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

A

1-3

LEAGUE

18

8,708

ETHERIDGE

COLIN

MENGI

PEDERSEN ■

SUNJIC ■

BELA

SAT 12

3.00pm

LUTON TOWN

H

LEAGUE

FEBRUARY

SAT 19

3.00pm

STOKE CITY

A

LEAGUE

TUE 22

8.00pm

READING

A

LEAGUE

Sat 26

3.00pm

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

H

LEAGUE

MARCH Sat 05

3.00pm

BRISTOL CITY

A

LEAGUE

Sat 12

3.00pm

HULL CITY

H

LEAGUE

TUE 15

7.45pm

MIDDLESBROUGH

H

LEAGUE

Sat 19

3.00pm

SWANSEA CITY

A

LEAGUE

APRIL sat 02

3.00pm

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

H

LEAGUE

sat 09

3.00pm

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

A

LEAGUE

fri 15

3.00pm

COVENTRY CITY

H

LEAGUE

mon 18

3.00pm

BLACKPOOL

A

LEAGUE

sat 23

3.00pm

MILLWALL

H

LEAGUE

Sat 30

3.00pm

CARDIFF CITY

A

LEAGUE

12.30pm

BLACKBURN ROVERS

H

LEAGUE

MAY Sat 01

30 | BLUES NEWS

The Dennison family, Sam, Sonya and Joshua from Drumquin, County Tyrone are looking forward to their first trip as a family today to watch the Blues against Luton Town.

They won a competition and are seated today in an Executive Box in the Kop with their good friends from Northern Ireland, Kevy & Fiona Agnew and family favourite relatives from Sutton Coldfield, namely Ryan, Kate Rankin, Freya and Eva. Sam who was born in Brum, was brought up in Hall Green and he along with his son Joshua are avid followers of the Blues. KRO.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs LUTON TOWN

SUB 1

SUB 2

SUB 3

UNUSED SUBS

CASTILLO (78) ■

WOODS ■

CHONG

BELA

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ

LEKO (68) ■

SUNJIC (74)

SANCHEZ

LAKIN

GRAHAM

LEKO

ANEKE

CAMPBELL (73)

McGREE (74)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, ANEKE, SANCHEZ

GARDNER

WOODS

BELA

HOGAN ■

JUTKIEWICZ

ANEKE (66)

LEKO (71)

GARDNER

WOODS

BELA

LEKO

JUTKIEWICZ

ANEKE (70)

HOGAN (79)

SÁNCHEZ (87)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, CASTILLO, SUNJIC TRUEMAN, FRIEND, CASTILLO, LEKO

SARKIC, BELLINGHAM, WALKER, CHANG, ROBERTS TRUEMAN, FRIEND, SÁNCHEZ, McGREE, CASTILLO

CHONG

WOODS

BELA

HOGAN 2

JUTKIEWICZ

ANEKE 1 (61)

SÁNCHEZ (70)

GARDNER 1 (81)

McGREE

FAMILIA-CASTILLO

LEKO

ANEKE

GRAHAM

LAKIN (61)

SIMMONDS (62)

CHANG (73)

BELA

WOODS

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ 1

CHONG

ANEKE (76)

LEKO (89)

BELA 1

WOODS

HOGAN 1

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

DEENEY (67)

GARDNER (74)

BELA

WOODS

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG ■

DEENEY 1 (53)

GARDNER (60) ■

ANEKE (75) ANEKE (58) ■

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, HOGAN, McGREE

McGREE (71)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, GRAHAM, CHANG

BELA

WOODS ■

GARDEN ■

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

SANDERSON (45)

SUNJIC (45)

BELA ■

WOODS

DEENEY

HOGAN

CHONG

ANEKE (67)

JUTKIEWICZ (68)

BELA

WOODS

DEENEY

HOGAN

CHONG

JUTKIEWICZ (56)

ANEKE (71)

TRUEMAN, BELLINGHAM, WALKER TRUEMAN, FRIEND, SÁNCHEZ, McGREE, GARDNER TRUEMAN, FRIEND, ANEKE, McGREE, SANDERSON TRUEMAN, FRIEND, McGREE, SANDERSON TRUEMAN, McGREE, GRAHAM, CHANG, OAKLEY

BELA

WOODS

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ ■

CHONG

McGREE (58)

ANEKE (58)

DEENEY (70)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, SANDERSON, GRAHAM

GARDNER

FRIEND

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

BELA (47)

ANEKE (78)

GRAHAM (83)

TRUEMAN, WOODS, DEAN, DEENEY

GARDNER

GRAHAM

McGREE ■

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

DEENEY (70)

GARDNER ■

GRAHAM

HOGAN

DEENEY 1

CHONG

McGREE 1 (63) ■

ANEKE (86)

TRUEMAN, WOODS, HOGAN, DEAN, ANEKE, SÁNCHEZ ETHERIDGE, WOODS, JUTKIEWICZ, DEAN, SÁNCHEZ

GARDNER ■

GRAHAM

HOGAN 1

DEENEY

McGREE ■

JUTKIEWICZ (67)

BELA (68)

ETHERIDGE, WOODS, ANEKE, DEAN, SÁNCHEZ

GARDNER 1

GRAHAM

McGREE 1

DEENEY

HOGAN 1

DEAN (45)

JUTKIEWICZ (73)

JAMES (84)

GARDNER

OAKLEY ■

McGREE ■

DEENEY

HOGAN 1

WOODS (69)

JUTKIEWICZ (85)

ANEKE (85)

ETHERIDGE, JAMES, FAMILIA-CASTILLO, WALKER

GARDNER ■

WOODS

McGREE

DEENEY

HOGAN ■

JAMES (45)

JUTKIEWICZ (61)

ANEKE (77)

ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, OAKLEY, FAMILIA-CASTILLO

OAKLEY

WOODS ■

McGREE

DEENEY

HOGAN

FAMILIA-CASTILLO (65)

JUTKIEWICZ (86)

JAMES (86)

JAMES

GRAHAM

McGREE ■

DEENEY

HOGAN

ANEKE (66)

JUTKIEWICZ 1 (75)

JAMES

GRAHAM

McGREE

DEENEY

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ (45)

ANEKE (80)

JAMES

GRAHAM

McGREE

DEENEY 1

HOGAN

ANEKE (78)

JUTKIEWICZ (90)

JAMES

GRAHAM

McGREE

DEENEY

ANEKE

BELA (37)

COLIN (45)

JAMES

GARDNER

FAMILIA-CASTILLO

DEENEY

HALL

WOOD (45)

ANEKE 1 (67)

HOGAN (85)

JAMES

WOOD ■

GARDNER

DEENEY

HOGAN

BELLINGHAM (70)

ANEKE (88)

SUNJIC (90+4)

TRUEMAN, WALKER, ROBERTS, FAMILIA-CASTILLO

ETHERIDGE, WOODS, ANEKE, FAMILIA-CASTILLO

ETHERIDGE, ANEKE, BELLINGHAM, ROBERTS ETHERIDGE, DEAN, FAMILIA-CASTILLO, WALKER, OAKLEY TRUEMAN, HALL, FAMILIA-CASTILLO, DEAN, FRIEND ETHERIDGE, BELA, DEAN, FAMILIA-CASTILLO, HALL

JUTKIEWICZ (67)

ETHERIDGE, WOODS, HOGAN, HALL ETHERIDGE, BELLINGHAM, WALKER, CAMPBELL

JAMES

GARDNER

BELA

HERNÁNDEZ

JUTKIEWICZ

WOODS (82)

BELLINGHAM (83)

HOGAN 1 (83)

TRUEMAN, WALKER, MASAMPU, CAMPBELL

WOODS

GARDNER 1

SUNJIC 1

HERNÁNDEZ

JUTKIEWICZ

FRIEND (64)

HOGAN (64)

JAMES (82)

TRUEMAN, BELLINGHAM, MASAMPU, CAMPBELL

JAMES

GARDNER ■

HOGAN 1

HERNÁNDEZ 1

JUTKIEWICZ

SUNJIC (69)

BELA (84)

FRIEND (90+6)

TRUEMAN, GRAHAM, BELLINGHAM, CAMPBELL

JUTKIEWICZ

JAMES

WOODS

HERNÁNDEZ

HOGAN 1

BELA (45)

GARDNER 1 (60)

GRAHAM (77)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, TRUEMAN, CAMPBELL

BACUNA

GARDNER ■

TAYLOR 1

HERNÁNDEZ

HOGAN 1

SUNJIC (68)

FRIEND (80)

JAMES (83) ■

TRUEMAN, JUTKIEWICZ, BELA, GRAHAM

BACUNA ■

GARDNER

TAYLOR 1 ■

HERNÁNDEZ

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ (83)

GRAHAM (83)

BACUNA

GARDNER ■

TAYLOR

GRAHAM ■

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ (54)

HERNÁNDEZ 1 (63) ■

In memory of Robert Wilso A belov ed partner to Tracy. Precious father to Jessn.ica, and devoted Grandad to SavannahKelly, Dale and Millie supporter of Birmingham City Footband Vienna. Loyal all Club. Forever loved and always missed. We love you! X

www.bcfc.com

Rest in Peace, Roy Felton from all of the BCFC family.

TRUEMAN, JAMES, SUNJIC, BELLINGHAM, CAMPBELL WOODS (89)

TRUEMAN, JAMES, WALKER, CAMPBELL

In loving memory of Charles Arth ur Haycock.

Beloved Blues fan, Grandfath er, Father and Brother.

One year on, gone but not forgo tten.

BLUES NEWS | 31

BIRMINGHAM CITY HEAD COACH: LEE BOWYER NEIL ETHERIDGE MAXIME COLIN KRISTIAN PEDERSEN MARC ROBERTS GEORGE FRIEND RYAN WOODS TAHITH CHONG TAYLOR RICHARDS SCOTT HOGAN LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ JEREMIE BELA TEDEN MENGI JORDAN JAMES GARY GARDNER JUNINHO BACUNA JORDAN GRAHAM ONEL HERNANDEZ GK CONNAL TRUEMAN LYLE TAYLOR IVAN SUNJIC GEORGE HALL TROY DEENEY GK ZACH JEACOCK JOBE BELLINGHAM ADAN GEORGE REMI WALKER ALFIE CHANG NICO GORDON KYLE HURST MARCEL OAKLEY TATE CAMPBELL KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS GK

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 18 19 20 21 24 25 27 33 34 35 36 38 39 40 41 42 50 51 52 53 54

■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

NEXT UP AT ST. ANDREW’S HUDDERSFIELD TOWN SATURDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2022 KICK-OFF 3PM

LUTON TOWN MANAGER: NATHAN JONES

■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■ ■■

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 32 35

JAMES SHEA GK JAMES BREE DAN POTTS KAL NAISMITH SONNY BRADLEY GLEN REA HARRY CORNICK LUKE BERRY DANNY HYLTON ELIJAH ADEBAYO CARLOS MENDES GOMES TOM LOCKYER REECE BURKE PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU JORDAN CLARK PETER KIOSO HARRY ISTED GK ALAN CAMPBELL HENRI LANSBURY FRED ONYEDINMA JED STEER GK ADMIRAL MUSKWE ELLIOT THORPE AMARI’I BELL GABRIEL OSHO CAMERON JERMONE

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE DARREN BOND ASSISTANT REFEREE PHILIP DERMOTT ASSISTANT REFEREE RICHARD WILD 4TH OFFICIAL MARTIN COY