Luton Town manager Rob Edwards has played down concerns about his side’s recent lack of possession, citing key absentees as the main reason for their struggles in recent games.
The Hatters have been outplayed in possession over their last six matches, averaging just over 36%, but Edwards insists this is not a cause for alarm.
Adjusting to Player Absences
Luton’s latest outing, a 1-1 draw with Swansea City, saw the visitors control 64.9% of possession. Despite the disparity, a stellar performance from goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski secured a point for the Hatters. Speaking about the situation, Edwards pointed to the absence of technical players like Ross Barkley and Sambi Lokonga, both of whom played pivotal roles earlier in the season.
“We’ve lost some of those players, and that’s not quite where we’re at,” Edwards explained. “We’re having to just find a different way again, and with seven or eight injuries to key players, it’s very difficult.”
Edwards highlighted how Luton had adapted to being an out-of-possession team during their Championship play-off victory two years ago. Even during their Premier League campaign, they managed to compete against strong opposition with limited possession. However, the departure of key midfielders and the injuries to replacements like Liam Walsh and Shandon Baptiste have forced the team to rethink their approach.
“When we got promoted a couple of years ago we never had more possession than anyone, so I think people just need to be a little bit more realistic, have a look at who’s playing, who we’ve lost and realise that we’re not going to completely dominate teams with the ball.”
Striker Challenges
The team’s struggles have also affected their attacking players, with Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo often dropping deep to regain the ball. This has left the Hatters with little presence up front, making it easier for opponents to regain possession and mount counterattacks. Swansea’s Matt Grimes and Josh Tymon exemplified this dynamic in the last match, recording over 100 touches each.
Writer’s View
While Edwards’ pragmatic approach is understandable given the circumstances, it’s clear that Luton’s current struggles with possession are limiting their ability to control games. Injuries and key departures have undoubtedly hindered their progress, but this is also an opportunity to explore alternative strategies and develop younger players. If the Hatters can weather this storm, they may emerge stronger with a more adaptable squad, ready to compete at a higher level. The upcoming fixtures will test their resilience and could define their season.
