AFC Bournemouth
On Saturday evening AFC Bournemouth will welcome Championship side Luton Town to Vitality Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup, here's a view from Kenilworth Road.
Heading into the cup tie, the Hatters prop up the table in the second tier, with survival the key aim for Graeme Jones' side following a remarkable two-season stretch where the club recorded back-to-back promotions.
On New Year's Day defender Sonny Bradley's header gave the Hatters a lead at the interval at Millwall, but the Lions turned things round to roar back and win 3-1 at the New Den, a result that moved Luton to the foot of the table, four points from safety.
Mike Simmonds from the Luton Herald & Post spoke to afcb.co.uk about the season so far and how the Hatters are likely to approach their introduction to this season's FA Cup.
afcb.co.uk: After a tough recent run what do Luton need to do to bolster their survival bid?
MS: I think January is going to be crucial for their survival hopes. It’s quite obvious that the club needs to strengthen, especially defensively, the full-back area has been an issue since losing Jack Stacey to Bournemouth and James Justin to Leicester. That issue’s not really been resolved yet, and the club have conceded the most goals in the division and only kept one clean sheet all season.
They spent a lot of money on the goalkeeper, Simon Sluga, who had a tough start to life at this level. He did come back in recently and did quite well and then missed minutes due to an injury. They need to strengthen, particularly defensively, and bring in some players who can bolster the attack as well as they’re a little bit short all over at the minute.
afcb.co.uk: Who have been the standout players for the side so far during the season?
MS: James Collins (above) up front has scored eight so far this season, this is his first season at this level though he’s vastly experience playing at a lower level.
He’s done well, and Harry Cornick too – the ex-Bournemouth player – he’s up to six goals now. He’d not been a big goalscorer for the club really and last season he was used more as a substitute, while he’s started most of the games this year. His finishing has improved greatly and he’s been a player who’s really come through.
On loan Izzy Brown is now injured but he did look a class act when he was fully-fit and playing games.
In terms of standout players it is quite tough to think of too many more because in defence they’ve conceded so many goals. Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (pictured below) in midfield has been very good. He’s been with the club since the National League days and come through all the leagues, he’s a big favourite and has stepped up to this level.
afcb.co.uk: Onto the FA Cup, how will Luton approach this match away at Vitality Stadium?
MS: They might make some changes to give some players who haven’t had many minutes a game. The main aim this season is to stay up, that’s such a big thing for the club as they don’t want to go straight back down again.
I don’t think there will be 11 changes or that a massively-weakened side will be put out, but if they could swap staying up for a cup run they certainly would do.
With playing so many games over Christmas and New Year it might be a case of resting some of the main players for the league game the following weekend. However, Luton don’t have the biggest squad of first-team players, so I think the actual squad will actually stay fairly similar.
