Division Two: Burnley v Luton Town - Pete Oliver's match preview

LUTON old boy Steve Davis is planning to head off any possible revival from his former club and get the Clarets' promotion bandwagon back on the rails at Turf Moor tonight.

Davis was a big favourite at Kenilworth Road before his return to Burnley mid-way through last season.

And although he has been missed by the Hatters since his £750,000 departure, the current Clarets skipper is yet to get the better of Lennie Lawrence's side in the two games since.

Luton have won 2-1 home and away but tonight would be a timely moment to put that record straight with Town having lost their last four games and Burnley desperate for three points to resume their push for the top after Saturday's setback against Preston.

"You don't want to go two games and two defeats so it's a big game and it happens to be against Luton so it makes it a bit bigger for me and Mitch," admitted Davis.

"I think they were invincible at home but that seems to have gone a little bit as well and they're not doing too well on their travels.

"So if we can put them under a bit of pressure hopefully we'll manage to get a victory. "It should be a good football match because Luton like to play which could suit us.

"But we need to put them under pressure. Luton are the sort of side that if you let them play are a good side."

Mitchell Thomas is another former Luton stalwart now enjoying a fresh chapter in his career at Turf Moor.

And his return after a one-match ban forced him out of the 3-0 defeat against Preston will be vital to the Clarets' prospects of picking up the three points.

"I think he's maybe surprised himself the way he's played at centre-half because he hasn't played there for a few years.

"But he's been outstanding and he's a big part of the team," acknowledged Davis, who will be back as the spare man behind Thomas and Ian Cox in the heart of a defence that creaked in Thomas's absence on Saturday.

"The fact that Dean (West) went off didn't help matters much. But that's gone now and we have to look forward to tonight and try and bounce back," Davis added.

Luton's 1-0 defeat at Wrexham on Saturday was their 11th loss away from home this season and they must be vulnerable tonight if Burnley can set a hot pace and score an early goal.

The Hatters have had goalkeeping problems which Lawrence looked to solve by signing Ben Roberts on loan from former club Middlesbrough. But he hasn't had the best of starts and it will be a test of character for him and one or two of Luton's other young players.

After a blip against Preston, the Clarets should be strong enough to recover with a victory that Davis believes can still be a prelude to a promotion challenge.

"We were disappointed with the result but you don't lose confidence, you just pick yourself up and get on with it," he added.

"The games are Saturday-Tuesday now until the end of March so there are plenty of points to play for and if we can pick up our fair share of wins we'll at least consolidate our position.

"There are still 14 games to go and a few of the top teams have still got to play each other. I think we've only got Millwall to play at home out of the top six at the moment so there's plenty to play for."

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