Knowing they would be facing Liverpool in the FA Cup final, Ethan felt a temporary sense of relief.
But he didn't have the luxury of strategizing for that match just yet—the league was still at a critical juncture.
On April 23rd, in the 43rd round of the EFL League One, Luton Town was set to face Wycombe Wanderers at Kenilworth Road.
The mood among the Luton camp was upbeat. Players, fans, even Ethan himself were confident of securing the three points.
But by halftime, that confidence had all but evaporated.
In the dying seconds of the first half, Wycombe stunned the home crowd with a thunderous direct free-kick that flew past Claude and into the net.
One-nil to the visitors.
The Wycombe bench erupted in celebration, with their manager Peter Taylor charging onto the pitch—earning himself a yellow card for his trouble.
Inside the dressing room, Ethan's expression was grim.
"Do you all think we've already won the league?!" he barked.
"We've got nothing yet! You play like you did in that first half and the title—our title—will slip through your fingers!"
His voice echoed off the walls as he slammed a fist onto the table.
The complacency on the players' faces quickly vanished.
Despite Wycombe being one of the stronger sides in the division, the Luton players hadn't treated them seriously. After all, this was a team that had given Premier League sides a run for their money in the cup—so subconsciously, the players had let their guard down in the league.
But Ethan's halftime hairdryer treatment brought reality crashing back.
They knew that a loss here could see the League One title slipping away at the final hurdle.
As the players trotted back onto the pitch, their expressions were steely with focus.
John, the assistant coach, leaned over and said quietly, "The fixture congestion's starting to take a toll. The lads look gassed."
"I know," Ethan replied. "But tired or not, you can't go out there looking like you've already given up. We can't afford to drop a single point."
John nodded. Even with a win, Luton would only be one point clear of Wycombe. The title race was far from over.
"Thankfully, the FA Cup final's not until May 20," John added. "That gives us a ten-day gap to recover and prepare."
Ethan nodded. That was the one silver lining—Luton's league campaign would wrap up on May 10. Liverpool, by contrast, would still be in the thick of the Premier League title race. Just three days before the FA Cup final, they were scheduled to play West Brom away in the 37th round of the league. If the title was still in reach, Klopp's side would be forced to go all-in.
The tighter Liverpool's schedule, the heavier their legs. That worked in Luton's favor.
But Ethan had no intention of turning his focus to Liverpool just yet. The League One title was non-negotiable.
For now, the FA Cup could wait.
The second half began, and Luton came out with fire in their boots.
They bombarded Wycombe's goal, throwing everything forward in a bid to claw back the deficit.
Wycombe, for their part, had come prepared. Peter Taylor had set them up in a deep, disciplined 5-4-1.
Five at the back, two holding midfielders shielding the defense, and a lone striker up front ready to hit on the break.
They weren't here to play—they were here to survive.
Luton, known more for their high pressing and counter-attacks, were struggling to break down the low block.
They weren't a team built for slow, possession-based siege warfare.
How do you crack a packed defense?
Long-range efforts were one option—but Ethan had another plan in mind.
He turned to his bench and made a double change in the 60th minute.
Adam and Lewis came on, and Luton shifted to a more aggressive 4-3-3.
Kevin Keane dropped deeper to form a compact midfield trio with Danny Drinkwater and N'Golo Kanté.
Up front, Adam pushed wide to join Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin in a fluid attacking three.
With Adam's close control and dribbling added to the mix, Ethan hoped to disrupt Wycombe's tight defensive shape and force an opening.
The siege had begun in earnest—and Luton weren't done yet.
Adam's appearance had a profound impact on the Wycombe Wanderers' defensive structure. His relentless dribbling down the left flank forced Wycombe to continually shift their formation to cover his advances.
But the real masterstroke didn't come from Adam's side.
In the 69th minute, as Wycombe compressed their defensive shape toward Adam's wing, Drinkwater smartly switched the play with a diagonal pass across the pitch. The ball landed at the feet of Kevin Keane, who found himself in acres of space on the right.
With no defender closing in, Keane struck cleanly. The ball soared through a crowded penalty area, smacked the underside of the crossbar, and ricocheted into the back of the net!
1–1! Luton had leveled the score!
But the equalizer only ignited Luton's hunger for more. They kept pressing forward, piling pressure on Wycombe's shaky back line.
Nervous energy rippled through the Wycombe fans. Their side's defense was beginning to crack under the weight of Luton's relentless attacks.
In the 76th minute, Charlie Austin latched onto a clever through ball in the box and unleashed a quick toe-poke. The ball clattered off the post and rolled harmlessly out for a goal kick—a narrow escape for Wycombe.
The near-miss rattled the home supporters, but their relief was short-lived.
Adam, still tormenting defenders on the left, sold a brilliant dummy to his marker and danced into the penalty area. He reached the byline and fired a low cross into the six-yard box.
Vardy met the ball with a diving header, forcing a desperate save from the goalkeeper. But the rebound fell kindly for Charlie Austin, who slammed it home with no hesitation!
The stadium erupted! Austin's goal put Luton in front, and his celebration was electric.
If they could hold this lead until the final whistle, Luton would leapfrog Wycombe at the top of the table!
From starting the season with a staggering 30-point deduction to now standing on the brink of topping the league—Luton had achieved something nothing short of miraculous.
Had they not been penalized, they would be a massive 30 points clear of second place!
A jaw-dropping margin. Luton's form made it clear—they were operating well above League Two level.
"This side could comfortably hold their own in the mid-table of the Premier League," commentator Letkinson declared on the live broadcast.
Opinions may differ on the exact caliber of Luton's squad, but there was no denying it now—their season was becoming the stuff of legend.
Wycombe tried to mount a counterattack late in the match, but their desperation only left them more exposed.
Luton punished them with ruthless efficiency.
Adam White, on a blistering counter, beat the last defender, rounded the goalkeeper, and slotted the ball into an empty net.
The Stadium exploded.
Fans jumped, screamed, and sang from the stands, rocking the ground to its foundations.
On the sidelines, manager Ethan applauded his team's performance, half-jokingly worrying the rickety old stadium might not survive the celebration.
Fortunately, the structure held. And when the final whistle blew, the roof nearly came off.
Luton Town had defeated Wycombe Wanderers and soared to the summit of the league table.
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