PREVIEW: Luton Town v Bath City

Hopes had been raised for the Romans after they finished a mightily impressive 10th last season, but this campaign couldn’t have begun any worse, as they lost 10 of their opening 13 league matches, drawing the other three, including one against Luton, before finally beating Darlington 2-0 on October 8 to register their first win.

Any thoughts of a revival were way off the mark though as Bath have won just two more league matches since then and travel to Kenilworth Road on the back of their worst sequence of league results in 40 years as they have not won in eight, losing their last seven successive matches, with the last victory on January 3 against Newport County.

The Romans are yet to win away from home this campaign either and all of that means Adie Britton’s sides are quite obviously languishing at the bottom of the league, 10 points from safety with 36 left to play for.

City have tried to strengthen in recent weeks, with midfielder Tom Doherty joining on non-contract terms after being released by Newport County, while Exeter City youngster Chris Shephard has signed on a month’s loan.

The club also appointed their first-ever female chairman back in August when Manda Rigby took the reins, the only woman at the helm in the top five divisions of English football.

Town have never tasted defeat to their struggling opponents either, with one win and two draws from their three previous meetings.

Team news: Hatters welcome back Craig McAllister, Godfrey Poku and Andre Boucaud who were cup-tied in the FA Trophy, while Curtis Osano might be available after returning to training this week.

Definitely out are Amari Morgan-Smith, Dan Gleeson and James Dance, with Dean Beckwith struggling too.

City will be without hamstring injury victim Sekani Simpson, while striker Lee Phillips, who scored against Luton earlier this season and at Kenilworth Road last campaign has joined Eastleigh on loan.

In charge: Adie Britton – had managerial spells with Welton Rovers, Swindon Supermarine, Cinderford and Merthyr before moving to Bath City in 2005 as assistant.

Promoted to the number one role in October 2008, and was linked with the vacant job at Newport County this season, but opted to stay with the Romans.

View from the opposition: Manager Adie Britton - “It’s a good time for us to go there.

“I’ll never lose my enthusiasm for it. What has happened this season has been very upsetting but I knew this could happen to us at any time following promotion.

“That’s because I understand the financial situation. Luton had 7,000 there when we played them last season and that is the size of the task we face.

“We are in the same division as Luton, Grimsby, Mansfield and Wrexham but we are not competitors of theirs, just like Wigan don’t compete with Manchester United.

“But we genuinely go into every game thinking we can win and that will be the case again on Saturday.”

One to watch: Sean Canham - Seemingly the only real goal threat Bath possess and is hitting some decent form. On loan from Hereford United, he played for Team Bath, scoring over 50 goals, before moving Notts County in 2008 and then Hereford in 2010 before returning to his spiritual home at Twerton Park.

After just one goal in his first six matches has now scored seven from 13 including in the last game, a 2-1 home defeat to Kidderminster Harriers.

Last time out: Hatters were comfortable 3-1 winners over their opponents at Kenilworth Road as they marked their 125th anniversary, with a host of famous ex-players and managers paraded in front of the crowd during the break.

Danny Crow opened the scoring on 16 minutes before George Pilkington added the second on 28, while striker Taiwo Atieno netted a rare goal too.

Much-maligned signing Pavel Besta made a second half appearance as Lee Phillips pulled one back for the visitors.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Dan Gleeson, Freddie Murray, George Pilkington, Zdenek Kroca, Jake Howells, Keith Keane, Andy Drury, Matthew Barnes-Homer, Taiwo Atieno (Pavel Besta 57), Danny Crow (Dan Walker 74).

Attendance: 7,003.

For all the latest Luton Town FC news, reports, stats, player profiles, live match updates, prediction table and a complete fixture list, visit our Hatters Microsite.