Sunderland have been warned about how Luton Town could approach future battles against the Black Cats, with comments that Hatters boss Rob Edwards made in 2023.
Sunderland take on Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday evening, as a busy week of football for the Black Cats rumbles on.
Last time out, Regis Le Bris’ side beat Hull City 1-0 at the MKM Stadium, keeping them in 1st place of the table as they approach their 11th game of the season.
The Hatters were relegated from the Premier League last season. It comes after they beat Sunderland in the Championship play-off semi-finals in 2023 on their way to promotion.
Sunderland won the first leg at the Stadium of Light 2-1. But the Black Cats under Tony Mowbray lost the second leg 2-0 at Kenilworth Road.
The last Black Cats boss to claim a win at Kenilworth Road was Roy Keane in 2007, whose Sunderland side beat Luton Town 5-0 on the final day of the 2006/07 season to clinch the Championship title.
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Luton Town boss Rob Edwards could have a trick up his sleeve against Sunderland
Luton probably deserved their spot in the play-off final in 2023 ahead of Sunderland.
They beat Sunderland fair and square, but after the game, Hatters boss Rob Edwards revealed an old school tactic that helped his side overcome the Black Cats.
He told Luton Today: “But even when we weren’t great, they [Sunderland] didn’t have many opportunities and we limited them to pretty much nothing here and fully deserved it in the end, by just booting it.”
Luton Town adopted the long ball approach against Sunderland, who play on a much larger pitch at the Stadium of Light.
Speaking to the press before that second leg, Edwards commented on the pitch, saying: “The smaller pitch changes the game slightly because obviously the distances aren’t as big.
“But there’s still enough room there for them to try and play their game, it’s just a little bit of distance. We’re used to playing there, so it should suit us a little bit more.”
Sunderland, who play a neat, passing and pressing style of play under Le Bris, could be in for a new test against Luton Town on Wednesday night, should Edwards deploy the same tactic as he did against the Black Cats in 2023.
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Can Sunderland be knocked off the top of the Championship table on Wednesday?
Of the current top six in the Championship table, only Leeds United aren’t in action tonight.
The Whites beat Watford on Tuesday and now sit on level points with Sunderland who obviously have a game in hand.
On Wednesday, Blackburn Rovers host West Brom in a battle between 6th and 5th respectively. Burnley in 3rd travel to Hull City whilst Sheffield United in 4th go to Middlesbrough.
Burnley are just a point behind Sunderland and currently have a goal difference +1 better than Sunderland’s, whilst Sheffield United are three points behind Sunderland, with a goal difference -4 of that of the Black Cats.