Matt Ingram delays honeymoon to extend Hatters loan ahead of Championship play-off clash

Luton Town’s fairytale season will look to reach new heights when they host Huddersfield for their Championship play-off semi-final first leg.

The Hatters were in the Conference in 2014 but are now just three games away from reaching the Premier League for the first time.

Luton and Huddersfield are set to clash for a spot at Wembley

Harry Cornick’s bizarre winner against Reading at the weekend kept the club’s top-flight dreams alive.

But play-off rivals Huddersfield present an enormous task, with Luton having failed to beat the Terriers in their last four meetings.

This Championship play-off semi-final first leg will take place on Friday, May 13.

talkSPORT will have exclusive coverage of the game at Kenilworth Road which will kick off at 7:45pm.

Commentary will come from Jim Proudfoot and former Republic of Ireland striker David Connolly.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2, click  HERE for the live stream.

• App iPhone – Download from the Apple store
• Android – Download from Google Play
• Radio – talkSPORT is available across the United Kingdom via DAB digital radio and on 1089 or 1053 AM
• TV – Listen to talkSPORT through your TV on the following channels: Sky: Channel 0108 Virgin Media: Channel 927 Freeview: Channel 723 Freesat: Channel 731

showdown

Tottenham v Arsenal LIVE reaction: Kane and Son, Holding sent off for Gunners

compromise

Coutinho takes huge pay cut to join Villa permanently as Barca take big hit

UPGRADE?

Serie A superstar and £65m man in – Man United’s new look midfield under Ten Hag

INSIDER

Newcastle keen on Schmeichel, Man United ‘dream of Rice’, Wolves to sell Jimenez

humble

Van Bronckhorst responds to claim Rangers can one-up Celtic by winning Europa League

astute

Flamini loved playing Spurs, is now a top CEO but had to clarify billionaire status

AFP

Luton even had a memorable FA Cup run that was ended by Chelsea this season

Luton vs Huddersfield: Team news

Nathan Jones still has a list of absentees for this showdown with the likes of Luke Berry, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Elijah Adebayo all out.

As for Huddersfield, boss Carlos Corberan has no such worries to contend with and has an almost fully fit squad to choose from.

Luton vs Huddersfield: What has been said?

Matt Ingram, who joined Luton on an emergency loan from Hull earlier this month, has had his deal extended to cover the play-offs.

The 28-year-old has now been forced to delay his honeymoon for the second time having originally been prevented by Covid travel restrictions last year.

“I had a honeymoon booked but that’s had to be cancelled now as I was meant to go away on the 15th, but it was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down,” he told the club website. 

“Hopefully we get all the way to the play-off final and then we’ll look to rebook after that, but my focus is very much on Friday, very much on the game, very much on football.

“The honeymoon has taken a back seat and that will get sorted out when it gets sorted out.”

Getty

Ingram has extended his Luton loan and delayed his honeymoon to feature in the playoffs

Luton vs Huddersfield: Match facts

• No team scored more goals from corners in the regular Championship season than Huddersfield (14), with this accounting for a league-high 22% of their overall league goals this term.
• Since his first competitive appearance in English football in the 2017-18 season, Luton’s Elijah Adebayo has scored 49 goals in all competitions, while 13 of his 17 strikes for the Hatters this term have come at Kenilworth Road.
• Third placed Brentford won the Championship play-offs last season – however, the team finishing third hasn’t been promoted in consecutive campaigns since both the 2011 (Swansea) and 2012 finals (West Ham).
• The team finishing in sixth place has gone on to reach the Championship play-off final in two of the last three seasons, as many as in the 13 previous campaigns. However, sixth place hasn’t been promoted to the Premier League since Blackpool in 2010.
• Since the introduction of the Football League play-offs, only Blackpool (6) have been promoted via this method more often than Huddersfield (4).
• This is just Luton’s third appearance in the Football League play-offs, with the Hatters losing in the semi-final both times – against Crewe in 1996-97 (third tier) and Blackpool in 2016-17 (fourth tier).
• Huddersfield kept a clean sheet in both of their regular league meetings against Luton this season, drawing 0-0 away and winning 2-0 at home. The last time they kept three clean sheets against an opponent in a season was in 2010-11, doing so against both Carlisle United and Tranmere Rovers.
• Luton Town are winless in their last four meetings with Huddersfield (D3 L1), losing 2-0 last time out.

Betting Offer Of The Day

BetVictor: Bet £10 Get £60 in Free Bets + 60 Free Spins* – CLAIM HERE

• Get £20 free bet on the FA Cup Final 14.05.22
• Get £20 free bet on the final weekend of PL 22.05.22
• Get £20 free bet on the Champions League Final 28.05.22

18+ New customers only. Opt in, bet £10+  on football at odds 2.00+ Offer valid from 10:00 GMT 05.05.22 until 16:45 GMT 14.05.22 No cash out. Get 3x £20 Free Bets on selected events + 60 Free Spins on Fishin’ Frenzy Slot. Bonuses expire in 7 days. Card payments only. T&Cs apply, see below. begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly