Luton and Barnet have already exited the EFL Cup after the first round, but the EFL Trophy is there for the taking, as the two teams meet in the first round of the group stage.
It's been years since Luton and Barnet shared the stage, but given the Hatters' back-to-back relegations and continuous inconsistent form, the teams may soon find themselves back together in the same tier. Matt Bloomfield's team has alternated wins and defeats this season, winning four of seven games to date. But the key fact is Luton played their best match last weekend, going 3-0 away at Burton.
Barnet had one of the worst season starts in all professional tiers in England, losing their first four matches in a row, but have now gone unbeaten in the last three. The Bees face similar problems as Luton – their attack is not effective and the few chances they create usually miss the target. Nevertheless, the Hatters showed more promise in their most recent fixture and it is up to them to achieve rare B2B wins.
How the bookies view it: An easy home win for the Hatters
Bookmakers clearly favour the side from the higher tier, as Luton are a massive betting favourite with 9/20. Alternatively, you can back the visitors to win at 9/2 or the draw at 33/10.
Recent head to head: Luton silenced Barnet over and over again
As previously mentioned, Luton and Barnet have not met in years, not since both sides were in League Two in 2018. But nonetheless, we should mention the all-time stats, as well as the most recent encounters. Luton have an impressive advantage with nine wins to two, while one match ended level. Moreover, Luton won four of the last five H2Hs.
Players to watch: Nordas needed this boost
Luton desperately need an active goalscorer, as the team struggles in the final third. So, Lasse Selvag Nordas' first goal for the club came at the perfect time this weekend. The Norwegian striker is close to becoming an irreplaceable part of this squad, and his two goal contributions against Burnley should serve as a huge confidence booster.
Probable line-ups_
Luton: Keeley, McGuinness, Lonwijk, Makosso, Naismith, Nardas, Walsh, Saville, Clark, Wells, Alli
Barnet: Slicker, Collinge, Kenstale, Senior, Galvin, Shelton, Kanu, Glover, Hartigan, Hawkins, Stead
Anything else catch the eye?
Luton should be the favourites on paper, and the odds paint the same picture. They play in a better league and should have accumulated more skills and knowledge through their recent experiences, but we doubt the EFL Trophy is among their key goals. The main focus should be promotion, which is why we expect some rotations and a weakened Luton.
Barnet may find a way to take advantage of the circumstances, although we expect a tough clash overall. Both sides have been struggling with the goal-scoring aspect of the game, and we expect a tight game between two teams who are not that far apart. Moreover, four of the last five H2Hs featured fewer than three goals before full-time.
GambleAware