Stat Attack: Luton Town vs. Notts County, Saturday 9 December 2017

Head to head

Notts County and Luton Town have faced off 70 times in their history.

The first meeting came in January 1912 when the Magpies secured a 4-2 away win in the FA Cup.

Luton dominate the head-to-head with 35 wins over Notts, 20 draws and 15 defeats.

Out of the 11 matches between the two that have taken place since the turn of the century, Notts have won four, drawn four and lost four.

The Hatters have won just one of their last four League Two matches against Notts (D1 L2), failing to score in two of the previous three matches between the two sides.

The Magpies have lost two of their last eight matches against Luton at Kenilworth Road in the Football League (W3 D3).

Stats

Luton have scored 20 goals in their last five league matches at Kenilworth Road (W4 L1), conceding five - no side has won more home matches than Luton in League Two this season (8 - also Notts County).

Notts County have gone five away matches without a victory in League Two (D3 L2), having won four on the bounce prior to this run; The Magpies last went longer without an away victory in February last season (a run of seven consecutive away defeats).

No League Two side has scored more goals in the last 15 minutes of matches than Luton (13 - four more than the next best side - 9, Notts County).

History

Luton Town Football Club was formed on 11 April 1885, the product of a merger of the two leading local teams, Luton Town Wanderers and Excelsior.

The club was the first in southern England to turn professional, making payments to players as early as 1890 and turning fully professional a year later.

It joined the Football League before the 1897–98 season, left in 1900 because of financial problems, and rejoined in 1920.

Luton reached the First Division in 1955–56 and contested a major final for the first time when playing Nottingham Forest in the 1959 FA Cup Final.

The team was then relegated from the top division in 1959–60, and demoted twice more in the following five years, playing in the Fourth Division from the 1965–66 season. However, it was promoted back to the top level by 1974–75.

Luton Town's most recent successful period began in 1981–82, when the club won the Second Division and gained promotion to the First.

Luton defeated Arsenal 3–2 in the 1988 Football League Cup Final and remained in the First Division until relegation at the end of the 1991–92 season.

Between 2007 and 2009, financial difficulties caused the club to fall from the second tier of English football to the fifth in successive seasons.

The last of these relegations came during the 2008–09 season, when 30 points were docked from Luton's tally for various financial irregularities.

Luton then spent five seasons in non-League football before winning the Conference Premier in 2013–14, securing promotion back into the Football League.

The club's nickname, "the Hatters", reflects Luton's historical connection with the hat making trade, which has been prominent there since the 1600s.

The nickname was originally a variant on the now rarely seen straw-plaiters. Supporters of the club are also called Hatters.

Luton is associated with two very different colour schemes - white and black (first permanently adopted in 1920), and orange, navy and white (first used in 1973, and worn by the team as of the 2015–16 season).

Team News

James Collins could return for Luton in the top-of-the-table clash against Notts.The eight-goal striker has missed the last five games with a leg injury but has this week resumed training.

Harry Cornick is also close to returning after a hamstring problem.

Scott Cuthbert and Alan McCormack, however, remain on the sidelines for the Hatters.

Notts striker Shola Ameobi is a doubt for the trip to Kenilworth Road as he has been nursing a groin problem in recent weeks.

If Ameobi is fit he will play up front alongside Jon Stead, replacing Lewis Alessandra.

Few other changes are expected, though a possible change in midfield could see Robert Milsom come in for Elliott Hewitt.

Share your thoughts about this Stat Attack on Pride of Nottingham by signing up to the website, visiting the forum and joining in the chat with hundreds of fellow Notts County fans.

Fancy showcasing your brand or business on Pride of Nottingham? Click here to find out more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities with us.