Luton Town face MK Dons this Saturday in their first league derby for 21 years. The lunchtime kick-off at Stadium MK revives the Bucks-Beds rivalry after a two-decade absence, with the clubs separated by just 20 miles. Their last league clash was in April 2005, with their only meeting since being an EFL Trophy tie in October 2018, which Luton won 3-0.

MK Dons FC said the fixture promises "an exciting afternoon at Stadium MK." Over 13,000 tickets have already been sold for the 12.30pm start, with a large away following expected to create a significant atmosphere. Luton come into the match sitting 13th in League One with 11 points from eight games. They are looking to build on the momentum from a 4-1 away win at Wycombe last time out, a result that featured goals from Kasey Palmer, Jamie Donley, Nahki Wells and Devante Cole.

Team news and form

Rob Edwards's side will be without several players due to injury, with the latest updates available on our injuries page. Gideon Kodua, Benny Benagr, Jayden Luker, and Shayden Morris are all sidelined with hamstring issues. Midfielders Sverre Sandal and Shandon Baptiste are out with knee problems and have no set return dates. Joseph Johnson, however, has returned to action.

Nahki Wells, the club's top scorer with five goals this season, is expected to partner Jamie Donley in attack. Wells has been directly involved in seven goals in eight League One games, contributing significantly to the team's stats. The Hatters' recent form reads two wins, one draw and two losses from their last five outings. They have scored a goal, on average, every 72 minutes of play this season.

Their opponents, MK Dons, are 23rd in the table and are the only side in the division yet to win a match this season. They lost 5-1 at home to Reading in their previous fixture and have several defensive absences. Kane Wilson and Ryan Barnett are out, Curtis Nelson is a doubt, and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy is definitely missing. Dan Crowley's availability is also uncertain.

Historical edge and looking ahead

Luton Town have won all three of their previous encounters with MK Dons. The Hatters will be aiming to extend that perfect record and climb the League One standings. Following this derby, Luton's next fixture is a home match against Cambridge United on Tuesday, October 21 calendar.

The match kicks off at Stadium MK on Saturday, October 17.

Read the full report at mkdons.com