Match Previews

Match Preview | West Ham United

The Hatters are set to stage their first-ever Premier League fixture at Kenilworth Road as we host second-place West Ham United, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

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David Moyes’ Hammers are undefeated so far this season after impressive victories against Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion, while Rob Edwards’ Hatters are yet to get off the mark after two games.

This will be Kenilworth Road’s first top-flight fixture since April 1992; Town are undefeated in their last eight top-flight home fixtures.

Our match sponsors for this fixture are W & W Plastering.

The opposition

Following their Europa Conference League triumph and the departure of captain Declan Rice to Arsenal this summer, West Ham have started the new season brightly.

The Hammers have picked up seven points from a possible nine and sit only behind treble winners Manchester City in the Premier League table.

Manager David Moyes has a strong record against Luton Town, the Scotsman is undefeated in seven meetings with the Hatters across all competitions.

The star man for the Hammers so far has been new signing James Ward-Prowse, who was signed from boyhood club Southampton earlier this month.

The free-kick specialist has been involved in three goals in his first two games for West Ham, while also accumulating seven goal contributions in his last six Premier League appearances.

Words from Rob

“It was great to be at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup, it was nice to see all the supporters and you could sense the excitement for Friday already.

“It’s going to be really special, I want everyone to get there nice and early, have a look around at the new stand and all the changes to then concentrate on making a lot of noise for the game.

“Kenilworth Road is a unique stadium and there has been a lot said about it, it was nice for our lads to go there and experience it on Tuesday night.”

Watch The Preview with Rob Edwards ahead of West Ham's visit to Kenilworth Road...

Last meeting

Luton Town played a Kenilworth Road classic under the lights when we last hosted West Ham, as the Hatters triumphed in the FA Cup quarter-final replay against the Hammers in 1994.

Scott Oakes scored an iconic hat-trick, cancelling out goals either side of half-time from Martin Allen and Ian Bishop.

21-year-old Oakes wrote his name in the Hatters history books as his treble sent the Hatters to the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium.

Last time out

Our return to Kenilworth Road for the first time since our Championship play-off semi-final victory was successful as the Hatters advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup against Gillingham.

Full debutant Jacob Brown found the net in less than two minutes before an Alfie Doughty screamer put us two goals ahead at half-time.

Gillingham pulled a goal back through Jayden Clarke before Cauley Woodrow found the top corner for his first goal of the season.

Tom Nichols headed in what proved to be a consolation goal, with the Hatters now set to travel to Exeter City in the next round.

Team news

Defender Reece Burke will look to continue his progress with an appearance against his old club after starting at Chelsea and getting 45 minutes against Gillingham.

Gabe Osho is still ruled out ahead of this fixture, while Dan Potts and Jordan Clark are long-term absentees.

Officials

The referee for our fixture against West Ham will be 42-year-old Paul Tierney.

Jones has taken charge of two games so far this season, including last week’s Premier League stalemate between Arsenal and 10-man Fulham at Emirates Stadium.

Luton Town last had a game ran by Tierney in August 2015 when the Hatters hosted Stoke City in the League Cup at Kenilworth Road.

Referee: Paul Tierney

Assistant Referees: Neil Davies & Scott Ledger

Fourth Official: Craig Pawson

VAR: John Brooks

AVAR: Steven Meredith

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