Football Season Review

Luton Town enjoyed a successful season which ended in promotion to League One after finishing as runners-up to Champions Accrington Stanley. Manager Nathan Jones was under intense pressure to deliver having missed out last season when they were beaten by Blackpool in the play-off semi-finals. His reliance on loan goalkeepers had proved costly and he made sure there was no repeat with the captures of James Shea and Marek Stech on permanent deals. The Hatters have one of the biggest budgets in the division and there was more money in the kitty having allowed Cameron McGeehan, Isaac Vassell and Jack Marriott to leave for significant fees. That money was reinvested in the likes of full-back Jack Stacey, midfielder Luke Berry and strikers Elliot Lee and James Collins. They made a real statement of intent on the opening day of the season when they thrashed Yeovil Town 8-2 at Kenilworth Road. They followed that up with a 7-1 drubbing of local rivals Stevenage in October and a 7-0 mauling of Cambridge United in November. They looked destined for the League Two table but were unable to sustain their form in the second half of the season. They conceded an injury-time winner to lose 2-1 at home to Accrington Stanley in March as they were overtaken by the Reds in the battle to be crowned Champions. It came in the midst of a run of just one win in seven matches but they overcame the promotion jitters to finish in second place. They were the highest goalscorers in the division, notching 94 goals in their 46 league matches and also boasted the joint-best defensive record alongside Accrington Stanley with just 46 goals conceded. Five players were included in the team of the year in defenders Alan Sheehan, Dan Potts and Jack Stacey, Luke Berry and striker Danny Hylton. The latter finished as leading goalscorer with 23 goals and was voted as player of the season again. They looked well placed to challenge at the top end of League One next season.

Player of the Season: Danny Hylton