Former Luton Town manager David Pleat has praised the current side for their “remarkable achievement” of reaching the Championship play-off final. At 78 years old, Pleat managed the Hatters in the top flight of English football in the 1980s and 1990s. He told BBC Radio 5 Live Sport that the current manager has done a “wonderful job” with recruitment and integrating players from lower leagues into the team. He also expressed his excitement at the prospect of facing big teams like Manchester City if they manage to beat Middlesbrough or Coventry.
The Hatters trailed 2-1 following the first leg of the play-off semi-final, but their intensity and passionate support from their fans saw them dominate the return match at Kenilworth Road, which they won with goals from Gabriel Osho and Wales international Tom Lockyer. Pleat noted that Luton played hard and fast, creating “a bit of mayhem in the box” which Sunderland couldn’t handle. He added that scoring a second goal on the cusp of half-time was a “massive, demoralising blow” to Sunderland.
Luton have estimated they will need to spend £10m on their Kenilworth Road home for next season should they reach the top flight, prior to a proposed move to a new stadium at Power Court for 2024-25. Chairman David Wilkinson told BBC Three Counties Radio that promotion would be “tremendous” for the town, as it would mean financial security and quicker progress with their plans.
Goalscorer Lockyer said that the one-goal defeat in the first leg had not been a bad result, and that he had confidence that with a full Kenilworth Road behind them they’d be able to do something special. Top scorer Carlton Morris added that the noise of the crowd had been like having a 12th man on the pitch, and praised the manager for instilling belief into the squad. He said he can’t wait for Wembley, but also has one eye on the bigger picture of wanting to do something special there.