Jordan Clark is again expected to form at least part of Rob Edwards’ midfield structure for this clash against rivals QPR on Friday. He missed out of the opening day defeat to Burnley due to injury but was instantly back in the team when available, such is his importance to the team. The Hatters only have one goal to their name in league action so far, none of them strikers. It therefore places more importance on others in the side to step up, and Clark will be expected to be one of them. The former Accrington Stanley man was unfortunate not to net in the previous league game when his shot on target forced the goalkeeper into a strong save. Preston built from the back and some strong pressing from Clark allowed him to drive forward into the box and get his shot away. It is just the kind of scenario which could easily happen here given QPR manager Martí Cifuentes encourages his team to be confident on the ball. The last time Luton were in the Championship in 2022/23, Clark averged 1.67 shots per match. Plus, that was in a slightly different role to the one he plays now, and given how Luton are seeking a first league win of the season they should be quite aggressive in their approach and someone like Clark should be centre stage and a big part of it.

Morris ended last season as Luton’s top league goalscorer but his 11 goals ultimately were not enough to ensure survival against relegation from the Premier League. The season before he also proved exactly why he is a top striker at Championship level, too. His 20 goals in league action was 13 more than anyone else in the squad, and he will be especially desperate to open his league goalscoring account in this campaign having not yet done so three matches in. Although the 28-year-old is yet to score in league action it hasn’t been for a lack of trying. After three league games he has had four shots, two of which hit the target. However, this can be upgraded considering that although he started them all, in one he was subbed after 33 minutes because a tactical change was needed after their goalkeeper was sent off. His importance to the team is also backed up by other statistics like being joint-highest in Luton’s Premier League team last season in terms of shots, but was a clear first in relation to shots on target. Therefore, with goals proving hard to come by, he is still the man they will look to and he won’t shy away from that responsibility. QPR are also averaging 2.0 goals conceded per Championship game, which in itself suggests that if their defence is put under pressure then it can crumble somewhat. Morris therefore will be confident in his ability to find spaces through his clever movement to get those chances to score.

There was a fair amount of excitement heading into the season for QPR given it is their first full campaign under Cifuentes. However, it has perhaps largely been more negative than positive so far, but they won’t be alone in that being the case at this point in the season. Certainly one bright spark has been the addition of Karamoko Dembélé, who recently joined on loan from French side Brest. Two league games in he is already averaging 2.50 shots per game, so he would expect to fire in at least one on Friday night in Luton. Dembélé was ultimately signed having impressed while on loan in League One with Blackpool last season, and it is no shock to now see him in the Championship. During his stint at the Bloomfield Road club, which covered 44 appearances in all competitions, he would average 1.30 shots per game. This came while playing in a deeper role than the one he is now being utilised in with Rangers. There is no doubt Dembélé has really had to hit the ground running given that QPR are minus their star attacker Ilias Chair through injury. He won’t be back for a few months potentially, so someone with the pinch of stardust that Dembélé has is all the more important right now. He is the only one that is somewhat similar to the kind of impact Chair offers this team.

To say the centre forward role has been an issue for QPR for a while now is an understatement. A fair few have tried to fill this gap, but injuries and lack of form has meant nobody has really been able to nail it down. However, it would appear Michael Frey is the man in possession of the shirt and will be given an opportunity to keep it. He found the back of the net versus Plymouth in the last league game, which backed up his strike against Cambridge in the League Cup earlier in the month. He has already beaten his goal return for QPR last season in all competitions having joined mid-season in 2023/24. The Swiss forward is averaging 2.0 shots per league game so far, which again is another indication of his confidence levels. He clearly needed time to settle in with a new club in a new country, plus a fairly lengthy injury also did him no favours. R’s fans are now starting to see the best of him. Frey recorded four shots in the Plymouth match, which was QPR’s last in league action, and having scored in that one he will be full of confidence in his game. Luton haven’t started the season too strongly and given their defence is yet to settle because of new signings and various injuries, Frey may sense a degree of vulnerability to expose.

Since the start of February, Luton have only managed to claim one clean sheet in all competitions. That actually occurred earlier this season when drawing 0-0 away to Portsmouth, however they had ten men from quite early in that clash, meaning it was a case of sitting back and playing for a point. On the flip side, they’ve scored in every home league match since losing to Tottenham back in October 2023. The goals may have dried up a little bit for The Hatters this season but it hasn’t been for the want of trying. They’re currently ranked only second to Middlesbrough in the Championship xGF tally. This number suggests Rob Edwards’ side created the chances to have scored almost five goals more than they have done in league action, if their finishing had been to an average level. It is particularly difficult to ignore the fact that both teams to score has been a winning bet in each and every QPR match in all competitions played this season. The Hoops are averaging 1.40 goals scored per game in all competitions in the current campaign, but they have to be concerned at conceding an average of 1.60 goals per match. As things stand, they have the joint-third worst defensive record in the division. Knowing this, it builds a strong case for each side to oblige on Friday night.

Koki Saito is poised for a second consecutive league start having looked bright in just 68 minutes of Championship action so far. The summer loan signing from Lommel posted 0.71 shots on target per 90 for Sparta Rotterdam in the Eredivisie last season and 0.72 the season prior for the same side at the same level. From this season’s small sample he’s at 1.25 per 90 for QPR in the league, hitting the target with one of his three shots. His shooting averages over a large sample size suggest that 1.91 is a generous price, especially with Luton conceding 4.67 shots on target per game in their 2024/25 opening league encounters.

Adebayo is an eyebrow-raising 3.0 to have two or more shots on target against QPR. He has registered more shots on target in the league than any other player coming into this match and will be one of the main goal threats for a Hatters side who are comfortably odds-on to get the win. The 26-year-old is at 1.72 shots on target per 90 from 2.9 90s in the Championship so far this season, the vast majority of Luton minutes, and posted 1.96 shots per 90 in the Premier League last season. In the three Championship seasons before Luton’s promotion, Adebayo posted 2.50, 1.95 and 2.30 shots per 90, therefore at odds of 3.0 we should certainly get a run for our money with this the longest odds leg of the bet builder. This bet has landed in Luton’s last two league outings.

Jimmy Dunne is having a whale of a time for Rangers at present. The centre back is currently averaging 2.67 shots per 90 and 1.33 shots on target per 90 in the Championship, having played every minute for the West Londoners. Dunne 1.12 shots per 90 in the league last season and he had five against Plymouth Argyle last weekend with two hitting the target. He’s had eight in total across the opening three league outings, and will fancy his chances with Luton allowing 8.33 shots per 90 on their own goal so far this term.