The visit to Barnsley on Saturday 12th September is a well-trodden one for the Town in recent times, not to mention seven of our players who are former Tykes, with the two clubs having been promoted together from League One in 2018-19.
That season saw Nathan Jones’ side beaten 3-2 in south Yorkshire in a live TV game that immediately preceded a club record 28-match unbeaten league run, while last term our Oakwell trip produced the club’s first Championship victory in 12 years, with Jacob Butterfield, James Collins and Harry Cornick all on target inside the opening 31 minutes as Town ran out 3-1 winners.
Our first home match in the league comes on Saturday 19th September against Derby, who were beaten 3-2 on their last visit to Kenilworth Road in January when the Town fought back from a Wayne Rooney goal down to win 3-2 thanks to efforts from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Donervon Daniels and an OG by Jayden Bogle.
Saturday 26th September sees the club’s first visit to Vicarage Road for a Beds-Herts derby since 2006, when Ahmet Brkovic netted in a 1-1 draw played in front of 15,922 supporters. Unfortunately this one will be played behind closed doors, as we know all September fixtures at least will have to be, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The return fixture is scheduled for Saturday 17th April, providing neither club is involved in an FA Cup semi-final.
These opening Saturday fixtures could see Carabao Cup ties sandwiched in between should the Hatters see off Norwich in the first round tie that takes place at the Kenny on Saturday 5th September, then make further progress, as the opening four rounds are scheduled for midweeks through that month.
October sees just one match – a home date with newly-promoted Wycombe Wanderers – scheduled for October 3rd before the first international break.
The return to action on 17th October, with a visit from manager Jones’ former club Stoke City, triggers a spell of seven matches in three weeks before the next international break, with Nottingham Forest and Brentford making four October home games for the Hatters.
Looking further ahead, the festive programme will be book-ended by fixtures against AFC Bournemouth, who come to Kenilworth Road on Saturday 21st December before hosting us at the Vitality a month later on Saturday 16th January.
In between, we travel to Reading on Boxing Day before hosting Bristol City on Tuesday 29th December and QPR on Saturday 2nd January. The third round of the Emirates FA Cup, when the Town enter along with fellow Championship and Premier League clubs, is scheduled for Saturday 9th January.
Easter sees the return fixtures with Derby and Barnsley, before we end the season away at QPR on Saturday 8th May after tying up the home programme with the visit of Middlesbrough a week earlier.
Please note that at present this is a draft fixture list and all dates are subject to change.
LUTON TOWN - SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES 2020-21
(Click HERE for a pdf version)
