The 2018–19 season was the 133rd in the history of Luton Town Football Club, a professional association football club based in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Their promotion from League Two in 2017–18 meant it was the club's first season in League One after a 10-year absence and 93rd season in the English Football League. The season ran from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.
Background and pre-season
The 2017–18 season was Nathan Jones' second full season as manager of Luton Town, having been appointed in January 2016. Luton began the season with an 8–2 victory over Yeovil Town, the club's biggest Football League victory since December 1996. Inconsistent results in their first six league matches left the club in mid-table, but seven wins from their next nine league matches, including a 7–1 win over Stevenage, saw Luton return to the top of the table. The club's first defeat in 10 league matches meant they lost first place once more, but they soon regained it three matches later, during which time they became the first team in the history of the Football League to score seven or more goals on three occasions before Christmas, after defeating Cambridge United 7–0. By early December, Luton were the highest-scoring team in the country with 63 goals in all competitions. However, their FA Cup third round exit at the hands of Newcastle United in January was followed up with a run of four wins from 12 league matches, which meant they relinquished first position once again in March. Luton finished the season in second place and were promoted to League One after a 10-year absence.
Review
August
Luton started the season with a 1–0 away defeat to Portsmouth on their return to League One, with Jamal Lowe scoring the winning goal in the 16th minute. The team recorded their first point of the season after drawing 1–1 at home to Sunderland, who took the lead shortly before half-time through Josh Maja with a shot into the bottom corner, before Matty Pearson equalised on 68 minutes from Alan Sheehan's cross. This was followed by a 1–0 away defeat to West Bromwich Albion in the first round of the EFL Cup, after Oliver Burke scored for the Championship team in the 62nd minute. Luton were beaten 3–1 away to Peterborough United, who were three goals up by half-time with two goals from Jason Cummings and one from Siriki Dembélé, before Danny Hylton scored a consolation goal for Luton from Andrew Shinnie's cross 12 minutes from time. Their first win of the season came after a 2–0 home victory over Southend United, in which Elliot Lee scored from seven yards to give Luton a second-minute lead after a shot from Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu deflected into his path. Hylton finished the scoring on 33 minutes with a penalty after Lee was fouled by Elvis Bwomono in the penalty area. Luton recorded a second successive home win after beating Shrewsbury Town 3–2, the away team taking the lead through a 23rd-minute penalty scored by Shaun Whalley. Jorge Grant levelled the score early into the second half with a free kick from 20 yards, before Lee Angol restored Shrewsbury's lead 15 minutes later after capitalising on a mistake by James Shea. Jack Stacey equalised from close range in the 73rd minute, and Lee scored the winning goal with a deflected 22-yard free kick three minutes later. Leeds United midfielder Eunan O'Kane was signed on loan until 10 January 2019, while Jake Jervis and Luke Gambin were loaned to AFC Wimbledon and Crawley Town respectively until the end of the season.