EFL Championship 2022/23: How Luton Town emerged as victors against Coventry City to reach the Premier League – tactical analysis

Luton Town are a Premier League team. That statement is a testament to the incredible work done by those at the club throughout the season, but if at the start of the season someone told you that the EFL Championship play-off final would be between Luton and Coventry City, the chances of you taking it seriously were probably low. Yet, that is exactly what we got, with both teams surpassing everyone’s expectations and more than earning their respective spots in the final.

This final was the climax of an incredible story for both teams – both clubs have experienced sad times over recent years with relegations and point deductions paying a visit to both. But they have both come out of the other side stronger, and these two clubs reaching the Championship play-off final is a testament to the amazing work done to recover from such difficult times.

Luton have impressed many with their consistent form this season – the tactics behind that consistency has been admired by many, and recently covered by us! After a hard-fought battle at Wembley, Luton Town came out as victors over Coventry City, and this tactical analysis will provide insight into how the game unfolded.

While the finale wasn’t a tactical battle for the ages, this analysis will highlight some of the key elements of each side’s play as they failed to beat each other over the course of 120-plus minutes. We will begin with a look at how Luton grabbed the game in the first half, how they started the stronger of the two teams, and how it set the tone for the first half. We will then take a look at the goals scored by both sides on the day while reflecting on how the respective goals impacted the game.

Lineups

Coventry, under the guidance of Mark Robins, lined up in a 3-5-1-1 with the same starting 11 as their play-off second leg victory over Middlesborough. Goalscorer Gustavo Hamer was joined by former Arsenal youngster Ben Sheaf and Liam Kelly in midfield; Jamie Allen played the linking role between midfield and attack. At the back, veteran Kyle McFadzean partnered Luke McNally and 19-year-old Callum Doyle – Jake Bidwell and Brooke Norton-Cuffy (on loan from Arsenal) operated as the wing-backs, providing wide support.

Eventual winners Luton went for the 3-5-2, the shape they’ve used more than any other this season, and like their counterparts, their lineup remained unchanged from their second-leg triumph over Sunderland. Tom Lockyer, who ended up having to leave the field of play early on due to a scary-looking injury, lined up at the back alongside Gabriel Osho and Amari’i Bell, with Alfie Doughty and Cody Drameh playing as the wing-backs. In midfield, goalscorer Jordan Clarke was joined by Marvellous Nakamba and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, with the latter now holding the illustrious record of being the first-ever player to go from non-league to the Premier League with the same club! In attack, Carlton Morris partnered Elijah Adebayo.