Wilshere wants full throttle Kenilworth Road for Notts County
Luton Town make one change for their League One home opener against Notts County on 22 August 2026, with Mads Andersen replacing Hakeem Odoffin in defence. Manager Jack Wilshere wants the Magpies to face a full-throttle Kenilworth Road as the Hatters chase a second straight win after beating Reading 4-3. The luton town notts county fixture is Luton's first home game of the season and Notts County's first away match in the third tier.
Key Takeaways
- Jack Wilshere makes a single change, bringing Mads Andersen in for Hakeem Odoffin to partner George Johnston at the back.
- Wilshere calls for Kenilworth Road to be at "full throttle" with a full stadium and front-foot football against promoted Notts County.
- Notts County arrive confident after a 1-1 draw with Leicester City and a competitive Carabao Cup tie at Burnley.
- Luton won 4-3 at Reading last weekend thanks to a 96th-minute Gideon Kodua goal.
- Referee Benjamin Speedie officiates the fixture at Kenilworth Road.
What change did Jack Wilshere make to Luton's lineup?
Wilshere rotated his defence for Luton's opening home League One match. Odoffin, who was forced off late in the 4-3 win at Reading after a clash of heads with Harrison Ashby, was declared fit but drops to the bench. Andersen, the former Rotherham United centre-half, starts alongside Johnston.
The rest of the XI mirrors the Reading side: Keeley in goal; Jones, Naismith (captain), Walsh, Clark, Palmer, Lawrence, Richards and Wells all retain their places. Kodua, who scored the stoppage-time winner at Reading, begins on the bench.
Why does Wilshere want a 'full throttle' Kenilworth Road?
The Luton boss said he wants opponents to feel the stadium at full capacity, with singing supporters and a team on the front foot from the first whistle. He pointed to the Barnsley home game as a model, when the crowd helped carry Town through a tough contest.
Wilshere noted the connection between players and fans has strengthened since he took charge. He wants his squad to reward that support with purpose, hunger and aggressive pressing when they lose possession — the kind of atmosphere that makes fixtures in the Bizarre World of English football's smaller grounds so distinctive.
How are Notts County approaching their first League One away game?
Notts County returned to the third tier after beating Salford City 3-0 in the League Two play-off final at Wembley in May. Last weekend they held Leicester City to a 1-1 draw at Meadow Lane, and earlier drew at Burnley in the Carabao Cup before losing on penalties.
Wilshere warned County are aggressive and press high. He expects energy and confidence from Stuart Maynard's side, even if their possession style may shift against higher-level opposition. County's confirmed XI includes captain Bedeau, Belshaw in goal, and Tsaroulla and Robertson in attack.
What are the confirmed Luton Town vs Notts County lineups?
Luton Town: Keeley; Jones, Naismith (C), Andersen, Johnston; Walsh, Clark, Palmer; Lawrence, Richards, Wells. Subs: Shea, Benagr, Ashby, Johnson, Marshall, Kodua, Odoffin.
Notts County: Belshaw; Gibbons, Bedeau (C), Roberts; Cooper, Ness, Lipsiuc, Evans, Smyth, Robertson, Tsaroulla. Subs: Griffiths, Grant, Kouhyar, Samuels-Smith, Ndlovu, Mustapha, Baker.
Reporting from Luton Today and Vital Football confirms kick-off on 22 August 2026 as Luton's second game of a 46-fixture League One campaign.