Luton v Millwall: Honours even at The Kenny

• 5 of the last 9 meetings have ended all-square

• Luton have drawn 7 of 11 home games

• Tight fixture forecast for Kenilworth Road

Luton v Millwall

Sunday December 18, 11:30

Edwards disappointed by late Luton loss

New Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted he was left feeling flat by the manner of Town's stoppage-time defeat in his first game in charge of the club at Middlesbrough last weekend. The Hatters looked to have done enough to earn a point at The Riverside, with Jordan Clark's first half goal quickly cancelled out by Chuba Akpom's close range header.

However, Amari'i Bell was sent off with 13 minutes remaining, and Matt Crooks pounced to volley home in the first minute of five added on, meaning Luton made the long trip home with nothing to show for their efforts, as Edwards said: "The dressing room is flat, we're all a bit flat because we worked so hard and came so close to picking up a good away point."

Edwards added, "It wasn't to be. There are bits for us to learn and reflect on and get better at. We didn't create too much and that's something we want to continue to work on, but we limited them to not much as well. We just probably lacked a little bit of control, we gave the ball away too cheaply on a number of occasions but I don't think there was much in it."

Town fielded an unchanged side from their last game before the international break with World Cup duo Ethan Horvath and Tom Lockyer both included, and Reece Burke not fit enough to return. The only alteration saw Cameron Jerome back on the bench for Josh Williams. Bell is now suspended.

Millwall held at home

Millwall returned to The Den for the first time after the World Cup break with a 1-1 draw at home to struggling Wigan. The Lions had the better things early on in the game but found themselves 1-0 down shortly after the half-hour mark after Will Keane's rebound goal caught out goalkeeper George Long to give the Latics the lead.

However, with five minutes until the half-time break, Gary Rowett's men found an equaliser thanks to Zian Flemming's sweetly-struck volley, sending the two sides in level at half-time. Both sides created chances after break, although neither goalkeeper were largely tested as the game fizzled out in the dying stages, with the duo having to settle for a stalemate.

It left Millwall chief Rowett frustrated by his side's lack of quality. Speaking post-match, he said: "It was a lovely goal but that was the main bit of quality in the game. I think we worked hard, we competed, but when it came down to it we didn't have that zip in our performance on and off the ball and that's something we need to work hard to get back."

Skipper Shaun Hutchinson and Mason Bennett return to the Lions' starting XI with Charlie Cresswell and George Honeyman dropping to the bench. Benik Afobe and Ryan Leonard were still sidelined and are considered doubts again for Sunday's showdown, whilst Callum Styles could also miss out. Tyler Burey was back in the squad last weekend.

Close contest forecast for The Kenny

Luton have managed a solitary success in their last nine league meetings with Millwall (W1-D5-L3), a 2-0 victory at The Den last term. Nevertheless, the Hatters are unbeaten in their past five match-ups against the Lions at Kenilworth Road, although the most recent four such showdowns have each finished all-square (W1-D4-L0).

Luton 2.707/4 have registered only one win in their last seven Championship outings (W1-D3-L3) to slide into mid-table and four points adrift of the play-off places. The Hatters have claimed top honours only twice in 11 home fixtures in 2022/23 (W2-D7-L2) with no second-tier side returning more draws in the division than Town.

Only Huddersfield (5) have earned fewer away points in the Championship than Millwall 3.052/1 this season (9). However, the Lions have triumphed in two of their last five on the road. Exclude trips to the top-four and the Bermondsey boys boast a reasonable W2-D3-L2 record on their travels with Gary Rowett's charges sat just a place outside of the top-six.

Ignore goals and back the draw

Under 2.5 Goals looks a little short at 1.574/7. Few goals featured in Luton's fixtures during Nathan Jones' reign - 15/22 (68%) of Town's Championship contests produced Under 2.5 Goals profit - yet there's hope the Hatters will open up a little following the appointment of Rob Edwards and therefore it makes sense to leave the goals markets alone on Sunday.

Millwall's away matches have seen 5/11 (45%) Over 2.5 Goals 2.255/4 and Both Teams To Score 1.9010/11 winners, although a more appealing play could be to back another Draw 3.259/4 between the pair. It's paid out in five of their last nine league match-ups, in seven of Luton's 11 home ties, and three of Millwall's seven away days at non-top-four opposition.