Luton Town came close to defeating league leaders Wellcombe Wanderers in dominant fashion, sending shockwaves through the rest of the second division.
Wellcombe Wanderers' head coach, Peter Taylor, praised Luton's performance in the post-match press conference:
"First of all, I want to congratulate Coach Ethan. He has done an incredible job. Luton is playing at a level well above the rest of the second-tier teams. Players like Jamie Vardy, Charlie Austin, Danny Drinkwater, N'Golo Kanté, young center-back Jeffrey, and even Adam White and Matt Schmidt on the bench are enviable talents. I honestly don't know where Ethan finds these incredible players."
Quantifying just how much better Luton is compared to their second-division rivals is difficult. Ethan himself felt uninspired by the level of competition, as his team was simply too strong. His real ambition was to guide Luton into the Premier League, where he truly belonged.
However, even if Luton secured promotion every season, it would take at least three years to reach the top flight. Until then, the only opportunity to test themselves against stronger opposition was in cup competitions. With the League Cup already out of reach, and their league form improving steadily, Ethan set his sights on the FA Cup.
Of course, the league campaign continued. Just four days after their match against Wellcombe Wanderers, Luton hosted Colchester United in the EFL Championship. Despite rotating much of their starting lineup, Luton eased to a comfortable 2-0 victory over their lower-ranked opponents.
On December 20th, in the 21st round of the league, Luton played at home against Morecambe. The visitors set up in a deep defensive block, frustrating Luton for most of the first half. But just before halftime, captain Kevin Keane broke the deadlock with a stunning long-range strike, giving his team the breakthrough they needed. With Morecambe forced to open up in the second half, Luton capitalized with two quick counter-attacks to seal a dominant 3-0 win. Their relentless form saw them continue to rack up points at an astonishing rate.
Following training on December 24th, Luton held a Christmas dinner at their training facility. The atmosphere was electric, as everything seemed to be moving in the right direction. They remained unbeaten in the league—the only team to do so.
"We could even secure promotion this season!" club owner David Morton exclaimed excitedly from the stage.
"Championship! Championship!" The players chanted in unison.
Ethan smiled as he looked at his squad.
Promotion? That was just the beginning.
But he kept his thoughts to himself, wary of putting too much pressure on his players.
As soon as Christmas ended, Luton faced what Ethan called a "brutal schedule."
On December 26th, they traveled away to face Cheltenham Town. With a crucial match against second-placed Lincoln City just two days later, Ethan opted for heavy rotation. Except for N'Golo Kanté, key players like Jamie Vardy, Charlie Austin, Kevin Keane, and Danny Drinkwater were all rested.
For over 80 minutes, the match remained deadlocked at 0-0. Luton struggled to break down Cheltenham's defensive setup. Just as Ethan was preparing to settle for a frustrating draw, disaster struck.
At that moment, Ethan had just unscrewed the cap of his water bottle when Cheltenham launched a devastating counterattack. Luton's corner was cleared, and an opposing winger burst forward at lightning speed. He carried the ball to the edge of the box before unleashing a stunning long-range strike. The ball soared past the goalkeeper, kissing the crossbar and post before nestling into the top corner.
"Damn it!" Ethan shouted, furiously throwing his water bottle to the ground, startling his coaching staff and substitutes on the bench.
The home fans erupted with joy. In this tiny stadium, which could barely hold a few thousand spectators, the celebrations made it feel like the Santiago Bernabéu. For Cheltenham, defeating the league's dominant force was a historic achievement—one they would brag about for weeks.
In the end, Luton suffered a disappointing defeat in their first game of the season. Ethan was frustrated with the result, but he also knew that such a setback was inevitable. No team can win every game indefinitely. Arsenal's legendary Invincibles season, when they won the Premier League without a single defeat, was a rare feat—an extraordinary combination of talent, tactics, and luck. Even during that campaign, Arsenal came close to losing on multiple occasions.
Ethan quickly adjusted his mindset. It was better to lose now than at a crucial moment—such as an FA Cup clash against Chelsea.
December's Final Match: Luton vs. Lincoln City (League Round 23)
Luton responded emphatically in their next match at home against Lincoln City. The previous defeat had clearly stung, as the players came out with intensity and aggression from the start. Ethan anticipated that Lincoln would sit deep in a defensive low block, so he made a tactical adjustment—starting Adam White.
White, however, still lacked match fitness. Among the first-team players, his endurance was the weakest. To improve his conditioning, fitness coach Mel had been putting in extra hours with him after every training session. Despite this, White was only capable of playing one half at full intensity.
His inclusion, though, proved pivotal. White's dribbling ability, honed on street football courts, reminded Ethan of Riyad Mahrez during Leicester City's title-winning season—a player who could unlock compact defenses. His impact was immediate, winning a free kick on the left side of the penalty area with a brilliant piece of skill.
From the resulting set-piece, Danny Drinkwater delivered an inch-perfect cross to Jeffrey, who rose highest and powered a header into the net.
With the lead secured, Luton grew in confidence. Just before halftime, Jamie Vardy doubled the advantage, putting the game firmly in Luton's control.
At halftime, Ethan substituted White, as his fitness levels could only sustain him for 45 minutes.
This victory was a relief for Ethan. His biggest concern had been the psychological impact of the previous loss—he feared it could trigger a downward spiral. However, this response reassured him. Luton still had a double-digit gap to close in the league, but this performance showed they were capable of fighting back.