Luton Town midfielder George Saville believes the Hatters are suffering from a “mentality problem” that must be addressed if they are to turn their season around, following another defeat that cost manager Matt Bloomfield his job.
The Hatters were beaten 2-0 by Stevenage at the weekend, their fifth loss in 11 League 1 fixtures this season. That is a run that leaves them well adrift of the promotion contenders.
It also marked their 52nd defeat in 95 league games since the summer of 2023, when they were promoted to the Premier League before enduring back-to-back relegations.
To make matters worse, stand-in boss Alex Lawless fielded a strong side in the EFL Trophy against League 2 side Cambridge United, only to be soundly beaten 3-1, further compounding the misery around the Kenny.
That comes almost two years to the day from them hosting Tottenham Hotspurs as equals.
“Something Has to Change”
Saville, who joined the club in July after leaving Millwall, said the hangover from those relegations has created a psychological burden that continues to weigh the squad down.
“Something has to change — it’s a mentality thing,” said the Northern Ireland international. “You can feel it around the place.
“There’s a hesitancy, a lack of belief in big moments, and it’s costing us games. We’ve got good players here, but belief and confidence are missing right now.”
The 31-year-old has been one of few consistent performers for Luton in what has been a turbulent campaign that has already seen managerial change. Bloomfield’s dismissal came just 3 months into the job, with the club hierarchy now seeking their fifth permanent boss in 2 years.
Dark Cloud Still Hanging
Despite only arriving in the summer, Saville says the sense of frustration among both players and supporters is clear, and insists that leadership within the dressing room is vital if the Hatters are to recover.
“The talent is there, but we’ve got to start showing character again. It’s easy to get caught in that negative cycle after relegations, but this club’s too big to stay down for long,” he added.
“We owe it to ourselves and the fans to change the mentality.”
Writer’s View
Luton’s slide from Premier League hopefuls to League 1 strugglers has been as swift as it has been painful. Saville’s honesty underlines the deeper issues at Kenilworth Road. This is not just about tactics or selection, but belief.
With a new manager set to be appointed in the coming days, rebuilding confidence will be just as important as fixing the defensive lapses that have plagued them. The Hatters still have time to turn things around, but as Saville admits, the change must start in their heads.
