Matt Schmidt and Jamie Vardy struggled to form an effective partnership. The primary issue was that Schmidt's aerial ability was ineffective without quality deliveries from the wings. Additionally, Schmidt lacked mobility, which made it easy for defenders to focus on marking Vardy, leaving him isolated. As a result, Schmidt was unable to alleviate the defensive pressure on his strike partner.
Luton's scheduled fourteenth-round fixture was postponed due to their opponents, Barnet, advancing to the third round of the League Cup, which required them to play a cup match that weekend. Consequently, Luton had a bye that round, but despite being idle, they remained above the relegation zone due to continued losses from teams below them.
In the fifteenth round, Charlie Austin returned to the lineup. His mobility and ability to hold up play significantly improved Luton's attacking fluidity.
On November 1st, Luton faced Shrewsbury Town away. Shrewsbury had been one of the strongest teams of the season, accumulating 27 points and sitting second in the league table. While Luton's recent winning streak had lifted them from the relegation zone, Shrewsbury, playing at home, were not expected to sit back and defend like weaker opponents.
However, if Shrewsbury's manager had known the outcome in advance, he might have reconsidered his approach.
Charlie Austin, returning from injury, delivered a stunning performance. From the moment the referee blew the whistle, Luton took control of the game.
In the 4th minute, Austin made a clever run inside the penalty area, received a well-placed pass, and calmly slotted the ball into the far corner with his right foot.
He quickly followed up with two more goals in the 11th and 13th minutes, completing a hat-trick within the first quarter of an hour.
Luton's high-pressing, quick passing style overwhelmed Shrewsbury, who struggled to cope with the relentless attacking pressure.
Despite already securing a hat-trick, Austin added a fourth goal just before halftime. This time, he showcased his aerial ability, positioning himself perfectly to meet a cross while Vardy smartly pulled defenders away to create space.
With a comfortable 4-0 lead at halftime, Luton manager Ethan made substitutions to rest key players. Austin and Vardy were taken off, along with midfielder Danny Drinkwater.
Matt Schmidt, who had struggled in a strike partnership, seemed more comfortable playing as a lone center forward in the second half.
Another notable substitution was 18-year-old defensive midfielder Hasan Ali, a player promoted from Luton's U19 team. Ethan valued Hasan's strong mental attributes—work rate, bravery, composure, and decisiveness—all rated above 70. Additionally, his physical endurance was exceptional, rated at 86, making him a tireless presence in midfield. Though his technical ability was still developing, his determination made him a valuable prospect for the team.
Ethan was also excited about Adam White, a 17-year-old winger recently promoted to the first team. While his debut wasn't flawless—his dribbling was promising, but his final deliveries were inconsistent—Ethan remained patient, knowing young players need time to develop.
In the 87th minute, White finally delivered a quality cross after a successful run down the right flank. He cut inside the penalty area before whipping in a well-placed ball.
Matt Schmidt, positioned perfectly, didn't even need to jump. He simply directed a powerful header past the goalkeeper to seal a dominant 5-0 victory for Luton.
This emphatic win erased concerns about the team's recent attacking struggles.
After the match, Ethan was pleased with the scouting efforts of his analyst, Lin Sen. Following the fifteenth round, Lin Sen visited Ethan's office to present a detailed data analysis of Luton's next opponent.
Luton's next opponent will be Walsall, a fifth-division team, in the FA Cup.
Ethan has an indifferent attitude towards the competition, as he does not intend to field his key players for this match. His focus remains on the league, and he is willing to rotate the squad for this cup fixture.
However, one thing that satisfies Ethan is Lin Sen's ability to work. Lin Sen has thoroughly analyzed Walsall's tactical setup, recent starting lineups, substitutes, and the strengths and weaknesses of their key players. His data-driven approach provides precisely the type of analysis Ethan has been looking for.
Previously, Ethan had considered assigning this task to John Aston. Although Aston was a talented player in his time, his analytical skills were lacking. As a result, Ethan decided to officially appoint Lin Sen as the team's data analyst. In a meeting with the coaching staff, he introduced Lin Sen:
"This is our data analyst. His main responsibility is to collect and analyze intelligence on our opponents."
When Ethan first arrived, some may have questioned whether he hired Lin Sen simply because they were both Chinese. However, given Ethan's success so far, no one dares to challenge his authority now.
On November 8, in the FA Cup second round, Luton faced Walsall away. Ethan rotated his squad, giving starts to Adam White and Matt Schmidt. Adam White delivered a standout performance, scoring twice—once in each half—by cutting inside from the wing and finishing clinically. Late in the game, he also assisted Matt Schmidt for a goal, sealing a dominant victory.
Luton's forwards are in excellent form. Although Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin have been prolific, they cannot afford to be complacent, as Adam White and Matt Schmidt are pushing for starting spots.
Luton then embarked on an impressive winning streak:
November 8: In the first round of the FA Cup, Luton defeated sixth-tier side Altrincham 3-0 at home, advancing to the second round.
November 15: In the 16th round of the league, Luton secured a 2-1 home win over Dagenham & Redbridge. Vardy opened the scoring in the first half, and Matt Schmidt, coming off the bench, netted from a corner in the second half.
November 22: In the 17th round, Luton triumphed 5-2 away against Rochdale.
November 26: In the 18th round, Luton defeated Brentford 2-0 at home.
With these results, Luton climbed to 15th in the standings with 17 points. They were now just 13 points behind Coventry, who occupied the final promotion playoff spot. Notts County remained at the top of the table, but Luton had significantly closed the gap.
Having started the season with a 30-point deduction, Luton has now reduced the deficit to just 20 points from the top. No one is talking about relegation anymore—at this rate, Luton could even push for promotion.
On November 29, in their final match of the month, Luton faced League One side Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup second round. Vardy struck in the first half, and Charlie Austin secured the win in the 83rd minute.
With this victory, Luton advanced to the third round of the FA Cup, continuing their remarkable turnaround.