Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield has vowed to come back fighting after the Hatters suffered a second successive relegation.
The Hatters were lauded for their brief stay in the Premier League a year ago, despite dropping back to the Championship at the first attempt. They were expected to challenge in the upper reaches of the Championship this season, but found themselves once again fighting for their lives.
The decision was made to replace Rob Edwards with Bloomfield in January, with the former Wycombe Wanderers boss eventually seeing an upturn in results. A run of three successive wins heading into the final day lifted them out of the bottom three for the first time since the beginning of the year.
A win at West Bromwich Albion would have secured their second tier status, but they fell apart at just the wrong moment to suffer a 5-3 defeat. That, alongside results elsewhere, condemned them to relegation to League One.
Bloomfield Makes Promise
Following the game, Bloomfield admitted he was bitterly disappointed with the performance but vowed that his team will come back fighting. Speaking to the media, the 41-year-old said:
“It was a particularly painful day for everyone involved at our football club.
“We apologise to our supporters because a second relegation in a row is particularly painful for them.
“We were poor and it was very disappointing.
“Over the previous couple of months we have dragged ourselves right back into it and the performances have been particularly good.
“But this club comes back fighting and we will do again.”
Continuing, the former midfielder expressed his surprise at how the game unfolded:
“We weren’t good enough from start to finish, considering the severity of the situation.
“I was very surprised and very disappointed, as are the players.
“There were a few things that went wrong for us. One, the day, and secondly, considering our recent performances have been very good and this one wasn’t.
“We’re together as a group and we will look at everyone involved and what we could have done better over the time we’ve been here.
“We’ll make sure we come back fighting next season.”
Writer’s View
Luton put survival in their own hands heading into yesterday’s trip to the West Midlands but ultimately fell at the final hurdle. They will be favourites to bounce back instantly in League One, especially because of the financial riches they inherited during their stay in the Premier League. Bloomfield won’t be given many second chances though, and he will be expected to achieve promotion. He could find himself in the firing line if that ever looks in doubt.
