What to expect from Luton Town in the Premier League after play-offs triumph

Rob Edwards' Luton Town are priced at 2/1 to avoid relegation from the Premier League next season after sensationally earning promotion to the top flight for the first time in 31 years via the play-offs.

Luton Town are set to embark on the latest chapter of their fairytale story after clinching their third promotion in just six seasons following a dramatic penalty shootout play-offs final victory over Coventry City at Wembley.

Play-off final success for the Hatters caps off a remarkable season which saw ex-manager Nathan Jones depart for Southampton in November and be replaced by the inspirational Rob Edwards.

Welshman Edwards has been able to build on the strong foundations laid by his compatriot Jones, with Luton enjoying an impressive second half of the campaign to finish in third-place in the Championship table.

Attention will now turn to how a club with such modest resources, with one of the smallest budgets in the Championship never mind the Premier League, can compete against the star-studded squads found in the top flight.

bet365's Steve Freeth said: Luton's rise through the divisions over recent years is quite a story and while Kenilworth Road will undoubtedly figure prominently on social media over the next few days, not many teams will relish going there."

Despite the derision and scepticism which will inevitably come the way of the unfancied Luton ahead of their return to the big time next season, this spirited side will undoubtedly believe they have what it takes to prove the doubters wrong.

We take a look at what to expect from Luton in the promised land of the Premier League next year and their latest betting odds...

Luton Town Premier League season 23-24 odds:

• To Win Outright - 3000/1
• Top 4 - 500/1
• Top 6 - 200/1
• Top Half - 20/1
• Bottom Half - 1/66
• To Be Relegated - 4/11
• Not to be Relegated - 2/1

From National League to the Premier League

Residing in the fifth tier of English football, then known as the Conference Premier, as recently as nine years ago, it's been quite a trajectory for Luton Town to reach Premier League status.

Navigating their way through the divisions thanks to the outstanding management of John Still, Nathan Jones and Mick Harford, Luton's unlikely rapid ascent has been the envy of supporters of clubs up and down the country.

Although Luton certainly don't possess the finance or resources you'd expect from such a success story, it's important to stress this journey has been far from a fluke for the Hatters.

Luton have quite simply been able to consistently out-think and outwork clubs with greater riches, with Rob Edwards' current promotion-winning squad made up of a group of hungry players who form an effective tight-knit unit.

Operating in a well-oiled 3-5-2 system, Luton have a strong defence diligently marshalled by captain Tom Lockyer, with the physically robust front duo of Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo proving a handful for even the sternest of Championship backlines.

Perhaps the most conspicuous symbol of Luton's unbelievable rise to the Premier League is midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, with the 29-year-old becoming the first player ever to be promoted from the National League right through to the top flight at one club.

Organised yet dynamic, Luton look to suffocate their opponents with an aggressive press, with the Hatters also well-renowned for being extremely dangerous from set-piece situations.

Whilst many commentators point towards Luton's small and uncomfortable home venue of Kenilworth Road as underpinning their success, the Hatters' home and away record in the Championship this season can be viewed to be very similar.

At home Luton won 11, drew nine and lost four, whilst away they also won 11, drew eight and lost five.

As such it is clear this Luton team are more than capable of finding a way to get results at more glamorous stadiums, such as those they will be travelling to in the Premier League next term.

The Hatters can also take confidence from the fact that all three sides that were promoted from the Championship to the Premier League last term - Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest - were able to retain their top flight status this year.

Luton Town are currently 20/1 to finish in the top half of the Premier League next season, 200/1 to finish in the Top 6, 500/1 to finish in the Top 4, and a huge 3000/1 to sensationally be crowned champions.

Luton's modest Kenilworth Road home has a capacity of just 10,356, and will require upgrades this summer in order to meet Premier League standards.

A step too far?

As impressive as Luton have been in the Championship over the past two seasons, it is still difficult to envisage Rob Edwards' side going toe-to-toe with the likes of Pep Guardiola's swashbuckling Manchester City.

Very much punching above their weight with one of the cheapest assembled squads in the second tier, a step up to Premier League level will see Luton compete with teams packed with international quality on a weekly basis.

It will likely be a bit of an eye-opener for the players which have served them so well in recent years, such as stalwart Mpanzu, with Luton's fate ultimately to be determined by how quickly they can adapt and get to grips with the demands of the top flight.

Luton are currently priced at 4/11 to be relegated from the Premier League at the first time of asking, and 2/1 to survive.