Luton boss Rob Edwards takes responsibility for poor start to the season after defeat to QPR

Luton boss Rob Edwards takes responsibility for his side’s poor start to the 2024/25 season after suffering a 2-1 defeat to QPR.

This isn’t the start the Hatters were hoping for on their return to the second tier, only taking a solitary point from their four Championship outings.

Luton lost 4-1 at home to Burnley on the opening day, drew 0-0 away at Portsmouth, lost 1-0 at Preston, drew 1-1 with QPR after 90 minutes before losing on penalties in the Carabao Cup, then took on Queens Park Rangers again in the league and lost 2-1.

After 4 games played, and before everyone else plays this weekend, Luton sit 23rd in the Championship. There is a long way to go of course, but the poor form is a cause for concern.

International break now, hard work begins to try and start picking up some points after that with his side to play Millwall, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle in September.

Edwards said post-match: “It’s on me, and it’s on us, there’s no doubt about it.

“We put ourselves in a great position to win the game, 1-0 up and I thought playing really well in the first half, I thought we were still in really good control until their first goal.

“I thought we should have gone 2-0 up, we had a big, big chance, but that can happen. The goals were really disappointing, I’ve been saying that for too long and again, it’s on me, I’m not blaming anyone.

“People can make mistakes, but then there’s got to come a point where we’ve got to deal with the better.

“It’s too easy for them to score the first goal which rocked us for a minute or two, I don’t think we should have thrown the ball into Shandon (Baptiste) for the second goal and then we didn’t defend the cross.”

After the final whistle, he and his players walked around the pitch to take in the reaction from the home fans, saying: “I was saying thank you and apologising to those who were showing their frustration. We took in the applause when we were winning.

“We’ve now got a couple of weeks to work on things but I’ve got no doubt we’re good enough and that results will come.”

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes added: “They’re a very physical side, they scored, that was the first moment and six or seven minutes of the second half they were very dominant.

“Nardi made a great save to keep us in the game, and after that we made some adjustments, but against a team that pressed so high and being so dynamic, it’s about getting the right combination.

“We got to 1-1 and that was the case. We got in behind them, we managed to get the goal which was exceptional and then we were very good.

“We got the second goal, we had good control, the last four or five minutes we came under pressure, but it was a good shift.”

🗣️ “We’re angry tonight like a lot of people. It’s on me.”

The boss dissects the game this evening. pic.twitter.com/IRXP4GYrNh

— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) August 30, 2024

Hear from Martí after victory at Luton 🗣 pic.twitter.com/sbUDfwLIuu

— QPR FC (@QPR) August 30, 2024

Here’s how fans reacted as Luton boss Rob Edwards takes responsibility for his side’s poor start to the season after defeat to QPR…

@LTFC_Dave: Talk is cheap, unfortunately. Need to start producing where it matters on the pitch. First games back after the break are huge

@chazabbb: covered up the first goal saying we forced them to go long… when we’ve conceded 4 already this season from long balls is an interesting approach to say the least

@JALC_x: “we’re in a world where we need to win straight away”? if I recall correctly we were supposed to be aiming for at least playoffs.. it’s unreasonable to expect a win in our first 4 games against the likes of preston and portsmouth?

@1AndrewMitchell: As much as I hate to say it, stubbornness is RE’s downfall in management. He got success with his formation and this style at FGR, tried it at Watford (badly) and rode the crest of Jones’ good work at Luton. He needs to adapt now.

@EJCLTFC: In all fairness, I don’t think he’s far wrong here. We’ll come good, stay together.

@tom_lewo: Should’ve got Taylor on abit earlier for morris, seeing he spent 3/4 of the game on the floor…

@KatLTFC: It isn’t good enough. You better get cracking and make this work 🤷‍♀️

@slipper_luke: Please Luton, im begging do not sack him

@ChappersLTFC: ⏳ Tick tock Mr Edwards. Tick tock.

@ltfcJosh: Change this shit shape it worked for 2 games out of like 30 odd, it’s absolutely arse

@KGeorgiev90: Bloke looks lost… maybe stop playing out-dated putrid football ??

@SeanQPR: He is deluded saying they gifted us two goals; we gifted them the first and then scored two great goals to win the game

@OliverBanwell: Not good enough… but disjointed? It’s not like we made 13 signings and we’re waiting on them to gel, it’s the same core team who should know what it takes to be in the mix

@andy_jones23: There are no easy games in this division, but the next four after the international break are a big opportunity to right some wrongs. #LTFC

@SSE_LTFC: Shocking stuff really.