At 3am on August 13th, the English Championship will see its final first round match, with Luton hosting Burnley.
Luton were relegated from the Premier League last season after a dismal campaign that saw them finish in 19th place with only 6 wins, 8 draws, and 24 losses in 38 matches. While they weren’t considered a strong team in the Premier League, they are capable of achieving a good result in the Championship, with the clear objective of returning to the top flight.
In their 38 Premier League matches, they scored 52 goals but conceded a whopping 85, a defensive record that was the second worst in the league. Despite their attack being on par with many other Premier League teams, it was their porous defense that ultimately led to their relegation. During the pre-season, Luton played 6 matches but struggled, managing just 1 win, 1 draw, and 4 losses. Worryingly, these losses came against relatively weak opposition, leaving Luton fans apprehensive about the season ahead. They need to improve drastically before the start of the season.
In the summer transfer window, Luton parted ways with their midfield linchpin Barkley, and brought in young right-back Walters and defensive midfielder Baptiste from Brentford. They are clearly focused on rebuilding their defense. Despite several clubs chasing their forward star, Tahith Chong, they managed to keep him on board. In terms of injuries, Luton are dealing with absences from Brown, Burke, Anderson, and Bell, casting a shadow over their season.
Burnley also fell from the Premier League, finishing just below Luton in 19th place with a record of 5 wins, 9 draws, and 24 losses. Like Luton, they are aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League. To that end, they have appointed Scott Parker as their new manager. The young manager brings a wealth of experience, having achieved a record of 48 wins, 25 draws, and 19 losses in 92 Championship matches.
Burnley’s 38 matches last season saw them score 41 goals and concede 78, a far from impressive performance at both ends of the pitch. They were ranked 3rd from the bottom for goals scored and a dismal 3rd for goals conceded. Their pre-season consisted of only 2 matches. The first resulted in a 1-2 defeat to the lower league English side, Warrington Rylands, but the second saw an improvement as they drew 1-1 with Spanish side Cadiz.
Beyond the managerial change, Burnley have also bid farewell to goalkeepers, Világius and Muric, and brought in Haraldsson and Green, hoping the new goalkeepers will help improve the defensive record. Currently, Burnley have a fully fit squad, ready and eager for the new season.
In their 8 previous meetings, Burnley boasts an undefeated record, with 4 wins and 4 draws. Looking at the strengths of both sides, they appear evenly matched. However, Luton has yet to fully integrate their new players, while Burnley’s core remains largely unchanged from last season. Based on current strength and form, Burnley holds the edge, giving them a strong chance of securing a winning start to the season.
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