Luton Prepare for QPR

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Luton Official Site
- STEIN LEFT TO PICK UP THE PIECES

Mike Newell and Brian Stein on the training ground
Brian Stein has said that Manager Mike Newell has identified his transfer targets and is doing everything he can to bring them in

First Team Coach Brian Stein and his coaching staff are attempting to hold things together after a hectic week both on and off the pitch, which could get even busier with the possibility of more player movements in and out of the Club during the transfer window.

After the mini-exodus of players that included the sale of Rowan Vine to Birmingham City, Carlos Edwards to Sunderland and Peter Holmes moving on loan to Chesterfield all in little over a week, Stein has been left to put together a jigsaw puzzle ahead of Tuesday night's FA Cup replay against QPR and Saturday's crunch Championship match against Barnsley.

Stein said: "We know what we can get out of the players, and they'll give 100% for the Club and for themselves. Obviously we are worried about our best players going but the lads have got an unbelievable spirit.

"But if you lose you best players then you don't get the same quality. We can't afford to sell anyone else.

"We couldn't afford to sell Viney and Carlos, but in the end they've gone to progress at a higher level with bigger clubs than Luton."

Injuries and suspensions had further depleted his squad, and Stein has also had to contend with the abject despair in the camp after another late collapse at West Brom on Friday night.

"We've got to put it to bed and get the players out of the blues they are feeling.

"After playing so well it was disappointing for everybody - especially the players after what they gave that night. There is just no justice."

Leon Barnett is available again after serving a one match suspension, and Kevin Foley has overcome the heel injury that has kept him out of the last three games.

Marlon Beresford will play in place of on-loan goalkeeper Dean Kiely, who has not been given permission from Portsmouth to feature.

"Keith Keane came in the other day and also done very well. Kevin is back in the squad, along with Leon. So we've got another headache because Keith played extremely well - once he got to grips with Jason Koumas - and he done himself proud."
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Stein moved to assure Hatters fans that everything possible is being done to bring in players who can improve the squad within the financial constraints Luton Town FC have to work with, and Manager Mike Newell is believed to be closing in on at least one target.

"Kevin and Leon trained today, so there are two more bodies, but we need another striker. It's of the utmost importance.

"We've told the Board who we want and what we want. The players we've got have done very well but we've got nothing underneath.

"We want to build a team for the future but we need a new stadium where we can attract decent attendances and compete with the bigger boys."

Stein also indicated that the void left in the side by the recent departures will hand some of the players who haven't been playing regular first team football the chance to shine.

"We got Bell last year. He hasn't played as much as he's wanted to, the same as Adam Boyd. They've had to be patient. Maybe it's time for Boydy now to take centre stage and start producing, like Bell has."

Despite the latest setbacks, Stein insisted that his team were as focused as ever about avenging QPR's controversial equaliser at Loftus Road and knocking them out of the FA Cup to set up a much-needed televised clash with Premiership side Blackburn Rovers.
"It's a fantastic draw. It's Newell's old club so he'll obviously be determined to beat QPR and go through."
Luton

QPR OFFICIAL SITE
HATTERS

Blackburn Rovers lie in wait for the victors of Tuesday night's FA Cup third round replay at Kenilworth Road.
The victors of the replay will lock horns with Mark Hughes' Premiership outfit in front of the BBC cameras on January 27th (12.30pm kick-off).
Shabazz Baidoo was the R's last gasp hero when the two sides met in a thrilling 2-2 draw on January 6th.
Entering the fray as a second half substitute, the teenager forced a replay after scoring with his hand in the closing stages of a rain-soaked clash at Loftus Road.
Dexter Blackstock soared to the top of the R's goalscoring charts with his seventh goal of the season just after the half hour.
Arriving onto Lee Cook's perfectly flighted corner, the former Southampton ace made no mistake from inside the six-yard box, heading home with aplomb.

However, in a fixture which has a habit of producing drama either side of the half-time whistle, goals a minute before and a minute after the break gave Luton the initiative.

Rowan Vine - who has now joined table-toppers Birmingham City - ensured it was all square at the break, when he struck from 15-yards on the stroke of half-time.

After notching two goals in as many minutes in the Championship fixture at Kenilworth Road in mid-November, Luton produced an almost carbon copy performance when Warren Feeney capitalised on hesitancy in the R's back four to make it 2-1 a minute into the second period.

The drama was relentless and when Baidoo leapt off the bench to notch his second goal of the season, a replay at Kenilworth Road loomed large.

There was still time for both sides to clinch victory, but on the balance of play, a draw - and a replay - was probably a fair result......
Last league game:
West Bromwich Albion 3, Luton Town 2.
Coca Cola Championship.
January 12th 2007.
Luton Town: Kiely, Keane, Coyne, Perrett, Davis, Brkovic (Boyd 66), Bell, Robinson, Emanuel (Langley 66), Morgan, Feeney.
Subs Not Used: Beresford, O'Leary, Stevens.
...Superhoopsbet.co.uk match odds:
Luton 11/10
QPR 11/5
Draw 11/5
Key player: Ahmet BRKOVIC
A tidy and hardworking midfielder, Ahmet Brkovic was an inspiration in the Hatters' success in League One two years ago.
Ideally suited to a right midfield berth, Brkvoic is equally comfortable on the left, a position he filled on many occasions last season.

The Hand of Shab - Baidoo celebrates
with Pat Kanyuka

Head to head:
QPR wins: 32
Luton wins: 29
Draws: 25
Hatters gaffer Mike Newell
Latest News: Don't Panic
Luton boss Mike Newell has urged the club's fans not to panic after the sale of top-scorer Rowan Vine to Championship pace-setters Birmingham.
Vine moved to St Andrews last week in a deal worth £2.5million, while fellow striker Carlos Edwards also left Kenilworth Road, moving to Sunderland.
Although Newell admits the team will miss the pair,he has urged Hatters fans to be patient.
He told Luton Today: "I'm not suggesting we will do well without Carlos and Viney until the end of the season because they've been influential players and have done well for us
"Everyone asked where the goals were going to come from when Howie (Steve Howard) left. They came from Viney. Now we'll just have to find someone else to get them now that Viney's gone - it's not the end of the world I promise you."
(source: TEAMtalk) QPR

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Ron Norris & Simon Skinner/QPR Net - Luton Preview

Ironically, a year ago, QPR were preparing for their trip...to Luton QPRvs Luton