Luton Town FC vs Wycombe Wanderers (26th Dec 2025)

26/12/2025 LUTON TOWN 4-0 WYCOMBE WANDERERS

Town cruise to Boxing Day victory

Hatters record biggest win of Jack Wilshere era with thumping victory over Wycombe

Four goals helped the Town bounce back to form with a fine festive win over Wycombe Wanderers at Kenilworth Road.

Gideon Kodua scored a first half brace against his former club and the Hatters’ biggest victory of the Jack Wilshere era was complete with goals from captain Jordan Clark and substitute Shayden Morris after the break.

It was no more than the Town deserved for an excellent display – although they were helped thanks to some yuletide generosity from the visitors for three of the goals.

But the Hatters cared not to moved to within three points of the play-offs and banish the disappointment from the defeat at Reading.

Wilshere made one enforced change to the side that lost last week with Kal Naismith, who came off at the Madejski Stadium with a calf injury, replaced by Joe Johnson in defence.

And the Town wasted no time in racing into an early lead. Liam Walsh, who was excellent throughout, threaded a perfect ball into midfield to Lamine Fanne. He in turn fed Kodua on the right and the winger’s drilled finish went under the body of Will Norris in the Wanderers’ goal.

Kodua was full of confidence, and the Town almost added a quickfire second when the goalscorer crossed for Cohen Bramall only for his header to drop just wide.

Wycombe, who came into the game just one point below the Hatters in the table, tested Josh Keeley for the first time on 12 minutes when the goalkeeper beat away an effort from Sam Bell, but it was a rare foray forward by the visitors as the Town dominated.

Norris made up his error on 29 minutes to prevent the Hatters from doubling their lead to prevent Nahki Well’s well-hit low drive from finding the corner and three minutes later the Town were even closer to extending the lead when Fanne’s low was cleared off the line.

Chances continued to fall for the Town with Kodua and an acrobatic effort from Clark close making it 2-0 before eventually the elusive second did come a minute before half-time.

This one owed even more to a mix-up in the Wycombe defence as there appeared no danger when Anders Hagelskjaer took control of the ball on the edge of his own box. However, the defender’s attempted pass back to Norris instead found Kodua and the winger was able to stroke home into an unguarded net – it was his seventh goal of the season.

Wycombe rallied at the start of the second half in a bid to get back into the game but failed to seriously test Keeley before Wilshere brought on Jerry Yates and George Saville for the final quarter. And the change almost had an immediate effect as Clark made it 3-0 on 70 minutes.

Kodua this time turned provider, hanging up a ball from the right. Yates pinned Norris and the ball bounced off Jack Grimmer into the path of Clark and the captain smashed home from 12 yards for his fifth of the season.

Another double change for the Town had the same desired effect moments later. Morris and Hakeem Odoffin replaced Bramall and Teden Mengi and minutes after their introduction it was four. Wycombe substitute Taylor Allen dallied on ball, allowing Morris to rob the defender, race through on goal and finish well from six yards.

Wycombe almost snuck a consolation when Grimmer headed straight at Keeley with the goal at his mercy before Kodua, on a mission to complete his hat-trick, belted an effort just wide with the final chance.

The Town will aim for more of the same against Orient on Monday night. See you then. Happy Christmas. UTT.

Town: Keeley, Lonwijk, Johnson, Mengi, Andersen, Walsh, Fanne, Kodua, Clark, Bramall, Wells.

Subs: Shea, Yates, Morris, Odoffin, Brown, Saville, Nelson.

Attendance: 11,596, including 1,092 from Wycombe.

League One: Luton Town 4 Wycombe Wanderers 0

Late Christmas presents handed out at Kenilworth Road as Luton thrash woeful Wycombe

Luton Town easily racked up their biggest victory of the season as they hammered a woeful Wycombe Wanderers side 4-0 at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

It was a much-needed success for the Hatters, who had drawn their last two league games on home soil, meaning manager Jack Wilshere was able to watch his team end their four game winless run in style, closing the gap on the play-offs to three points, as they also importantly moved into a plus goal difference as well.

The hosts made one change from the 3-2 defeat against Reading before Christmas, academy graduate Joe Johnson coming in for his first league start this term with Kal Naismith out injured, while Hakeem Odoffin was fit enough for the bench. It wasn’t long before the rout started either, Town taking the lead with a goal of such implicity after just seven minutes, Teden Mengi finding Liam Walsh, who was able to play a wonderful midfield-splitting pass to Lamine Fanne.

He turned and charged forward, playing in Gideon Kodua to his right, the attacker cracking a low shot goalwards that visiting keeper Will Norris made a complete hash of, parrying into his net for the attacker’s fifth league goal of the season. The Hatters went close soon afterwards too, another patient move involving Walsh once more, his ball finding Kodua, the attacker, who was on loan at the Chairboys last term, delivering a cross that Cohen Bramall headed narrowly wide.

Wycombe offered little in the final third early on, although Sam Bell did escape on the left, his cross-shot parried by Keeley. It was the visiting keeper called into action on 18 minutes though when Nahki Wells’ cross-shot was left by Jordan Clark, Norris able to spread himself to prevent it tamely crossing the line. Walsh, who continued to be the architect of the hosts’ best moments, was soon at it again, another sublime crossfield pass to the feet of Kodua, who was able to come off his flank and have a go on his left foot this time, only narrowly missing the top corner

Just before the half hour, skipper Clark produced a moment of magic to spin away from his man and send Wells on his way, the forward showing some real positivity to transfer the ball on to his left foot and shoot goalwards, Norris getting down to push behind for a corner. With 33 gone, Town were unluckily denied a second goal when Walsh’s corner was played back to Fanne by Wells, his low shot beating Norris but not Dan Casey stationed on the line, as the ball hit the post with the defender able to hack the rebound away.

Luton continued to have the better of proceedings as they attacked with urgency from a Wanderers corner, Wells doing well to nip in and get the move going, finding Kodua who then crossed for Walsh, his volley deflected behind for a corner. Town had yet another chance just before the break too when they won a free kick which Walsh, who was Town's best performer in the opening 45 minutes, cleverly dinked a pass to Clark, his audacious volley landing harmlessly in the away fans.

The main concern was the Hatters weren’t able to get the second goal their play fully deserved, but that all changed on 44 minutes, the Chairboys defence gift-wrapping an opportunity for Kodua, as Anders Hagelskjaer got himself in a muddle, his backpass eluding Norris, allowing Kodua to steal in and walk the ball over the line to double his and the hosts’ tally.

With Luton needing a repeat of their opening 45 minutes to seal a good start to what is a hectic festive period, it came under the slightest of pressure in the early stages of the second period, Wycombe finally demonstrating some intent, Mengi and Mads Andersen standing firm to prevent Junior Quitirna from pulling one back.

Town might have had a third when some more impressive vision from Walsh saw Bramall’s cross headed out to Fanne who lashed over from 20 yards, but all the Chairboys could offer from their tiny bit of ascendancy was a Luke Leahy free kick that didn’t test Keeley. Having brought on George Saville and Jerry Yates, Luton then ensured there was no comeback on 70 minutes when Kodua turned provider on this occasion.

He got at his man on the right and produced a cross that saw Yates challenge Norris, the ball hitting Jack Grimmer before dropping to Clark who gratefully smashed home on his left foot from eight yards out. It didn’t stop there though, the Wycombe defence continuing to hand out some late Christmas presents, as Taylor Allen’s pass was straight to replacement Shayden Morris, who took a touch to get into the box before slotting into the net, Norris diving out of the way to allow the Hatters to rack up a fourth.

Late on, Wycombe finally mustered their only shot on target when Grimes headed straight at Keeley, before Kodua, who had been desperate to complete his hat-trick, had a pop, arrowing over the bar, as Town will be hoping that their next opponents Leyton Orient are just as charitable when they head to Bedfordshire on Monday.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Nigel Lonwijk, Teden Mengi (Hakeem Odoffin 76), Mads Andersen, Joe Johnson, Liam Walsh, Lamine Fanne (George Saville 68), Jordan Clark (Zack Nelson 84), Gideon Kodua, Nahki Wells (Jerry Yates 68), Cohen Bramall (Shayden Morris 76).

Subs not used: James Shea, Jacob Brown.

Chairboys: Will Norris, Jack Grimmer ©, Daniel Harvie, Junior Quitirna (Taylor Allen 75), Luke Leahy (Caolan Boyd-Munce 75), Sam Bell, Dan Casey, Ewan Henderson (Jamie Mullins 87), Magnus Westergaard (Alex Lowry 58), Fred Onyedinma (Niall Huggins 87), Anders Hagelskjaer.

Subs not used: Mikki van Sas, Connor Taylor.

Booked: Westergaard 42.

Referee: Dean Whitestone.

Attendance: 11,596 (1,092 Chairboys).

Luton chief happy with convincing Boxing Day victory over Chairboys

Town put four past Wanderers

Hatters boss Jack Wilshere was happy to see his side’s performance rewarded with the most convincing victory of his time in charge with a thumping 4-0 win over Wycombe Wanderers at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

After losing 3-2 at Reading on Thursday night, having produced a display that Wilshere felt deserved more, he got both against a Chairboys side who were determined to keep Christmas going for as long as possible, handing out a number of gifts to their opponents during the contest. First, Gideon Kodua’s shot was parried into the net by keeper Will Norris on seven minutes, before the attacker then took full advantage of a woeful backpass from Anders Hagelskjaer which eluded an out of position Norris, allowing the ex-Wycombe loanee to walk the ball into the net.

After the break, skipper for the day Jordan Clark smashed home from eight yards out with 20 minute left, while Town swiftly had a fourth, Taylor Allen’s pass straight to Shayden Morris who, having just entered the field of play, was able to speed into the box and then with his second touch slip his effort beyond Norris.

Speaking afterwards, Wilshere said: “When I spoke to the players just then I said this is what we should have done against Reading because it was a good performance. Today the performance was better as I felt we had a bit more purpose, we had more threat and we created more opportunities. We still had a good performance against Reading, but it’s nice to win and win convincingly and dominate so much of the game.

"I actually thought the start of the second half they came out, and you always expect that. They’ll try something different, try and be a little bit more aggressive, but we dealt with that moment well and I’m really happy with how we did. It’s the league we’re in, as you can go from dominating to all of a sudden be suffering for a bit and I think we did that well today. We managed that moment and then the subs helped by coming on the pitch to see the game out, so a really good performance.”

Wilshere had no idea who would be fit for Wycombe clash as Covid sweeps through Luton squad

Hatters boss discusses selection issues ahead of Boxing Day contest

Luton boss Jack Wilshere has revealed he wasn’t sure what side he was going to be able to put out against Wycombe Wanderers on Boxing Day due to a Covid infection sweeping through the Town squad at the moment.

The Hatters chief has had a number of players unavailable for selection recently, including Lasse Nordas, Christ Makosso and Reuell Walters, while centre half Teden Mengi, who gave a towering display in what was a crushing 4-0 triumph at Kenilworth Road, had been a doubt right up until the morning of the game.

Speaking afterwards about just what the club are doing to try and limit the spread of the virus, Wilshere said: “There’s been some illness which is annoying and you know what it’s like as well, there’s probably more to come, so that’s why it’s important that everyone makes sure they stay ready. It’s that dreaded word (Covid).

"We’re doing all the usual things as you can imagine, no shaking hands, don’t spend too much time with each other, that’s hard as we always are together, but there’s different protocols now and probably some players in there do have Covid as well, but they just have no symptoms. It’s when you’re feeling better (you can play). There was talk earlier on Monday about how many is it if they have it, is the game called off and it’s not like that anymore, so you could have seen an U21 team out there!

"We have to be careful, we have to wash our hands, we have to make sure we try to do everything we can, but also sometimes we know if we’re going to get it, that’s going to happen. That was my message to the players on Christmas Eve, I can’t tell you the team, I can’t tell you the squad now as anything can happen overnight. You might come down with it, you might come down with it, it was difficult, but I think the players understood it. Everyone came in today, hungry and ready to go and then I had some decisions to make around the squad but some of them were taken out of my hands.

"Christ was ill, it was literally Teden and Christ were ill, and yesterday Christ was playing as Teden was worse, and then Christ went worse overnight, Teden got a little bit better and Teden was outstanding. Lasse was ill, that’s the reason Lasse wasn’t in, so hopefully no more. I praised the players afterwards, but I said to them, you have to recover, you have to do whatever it takes. Get yourself to the training ground, we’ve got some unbelievable recovery systems there, so go there, do what it takes, make sure you’re sleeping, make sure you’re spending time with your families, that’s important.”

Despite the illness, Wilshere might also find himself in the position where he also has a few more options available to him when the O’s are in town, as he continued: “There’s a couple of players back on pitch. Izzy’s (Jones) back on pitch, maybe too soon, we’ll have to see how he is over the weekend. Reuell picked up a slight injury and then got ill, so he missed a few days and it probably set him back a little bit, but I think he’ll be ready to train now, Jake’s (Richards) a little bit further away because he was ill.”

With Town easing past Wycombe on Boxing Day, leading 3-0 in the 70th minute, Wilshere, who had already taken off Lamine Fanne and Nahki Wells by that point, was able to give both Mengi and the impressive Cohen Bramall a breather, while skipper for the day Jordan Clark, who had bagged the third goal, followed suit in the closing stages, Jerry Yates, George Saville, Shayden Morris, Hakeem Odoffin and Zack Nelson all coming on. With six more games coming up in the next 22 days, Wilshere added: “We were trying to protect them.

"Teden had been a little bit ill the last few days. I spoke to him this morning and he was desperate to play, so then we thought about the next few games, you’ve got someone who’s as quick as Cohen, you always worry that the turnarounds aren’t good, but he’s been robust enough. So it was a little bit of that, but also a little bit to get players on the pitch, as I know how hard it is when you’re not playing, you’re training and giving everything and I thought they made a difference as well.”

Hatters chief's decision to give Town's players Christmas Day off works a treat

Luton deliver the goods by beating Wycombe Wanderers on Boxing Day

Luton boss Jack Wilshere admitted he had been torn when making the decision to give his players Christmas Day off, but was left more than happy with how it turned out as after the Hatters delivered a Boxing Day cracker of a performance when hammering Wycombe Wanderers 4-0 at Kenilworth Road yesterday.

Having played before the rest of the League One sides after being beaten 3-2 by Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Thursday night, Town’s squad had eight days in which to build up for the contest, as they searched for a first league success in four matches. To give them the best chance of doing just that, Wilshere let his players spend December 25 with their families and it proved to be the perfect preparation as Gideon Kodua’s first half double, plus goals from Jordan Clark and Shayden Morris saw the Hatters romp to their biggest league success on home soil for almost two years, that when beating Brighton & Hove Albion by the same scoreline in a Premier League fixture on January 30, 2024.

Going through the process of making his mind up about what was the best thing to do, then speaking after the game, Wilshere said: “We were off yesterday and as my first Christmas as a manager I was thinking, what do we do? Are we going to be in? Are we going to be off? Obviously Powelly’s (Chris Powell, assistant) experience helped me and I made a decision that I think is a big thing. As you can do all you can, training and everything, but actually being around your loved ones, being with your family, being with your kids, that gives you so much energy, and I think you saw that today, so next Christmas off as well!”

Wilshere, who had a playing career that spanned just under 15 years, much of it being spent with Premier League giants Arsenal, stated it was a change of tack for himself too, having been used to coming in and training on Christmas Day when he was at the Emirates Stadium, adding: “The majority of my career was with Arsene (Wenger), and the European, foreign players, they celebrate on the 24th, so their main meal was on the 24th. He didn’t care about the 25th, we were all in, always.

"I remember my first time with the first team at 16, being in on Christmas Day and then travelling to Aston Villa away on Christmas night. Since then that’s all I’ve known and then I went to Bournemouth and Edddie Howe would give us it off, with a GPS (global positioning system), so I was so torn. One thing I would say about this group is that they’re really committed, professional, focused and I think they appreciate the trust more than anything, and you can see today it worked.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxxCgGOKPDk – Jack Wilshere post match

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDBoM07EIlc – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kta7yOquZQA – extended match highlights