Why Stevenage, Plymouth and Huddersfield will hate Luton Town's Wembley victory | OneFootball

Luton Town are building a head of steam in the League One play-off race, and a victory at Wembley will only serve to accelerate that

Luton Town have been quietly reinserting themselves in the play-off race in League One, and took the momentum from a six-game unbeaten run into the Vertu Trophy final on Sunday against Stockport County.

Luton were 3–1 victors in the battle of the Hatters, coming from behind after Stockport took an early lead through Adama Sidibeh.

Emilio Lawrence netted once more against Dave Challinor's side, after scoring Luton's goal in the 1-1 draw between the two in late March, and Nahki Wells, who has had a rather frustrating year in front of goal, scored the second and third en route to Wembley triumph.

That's now seven games unbeaten in all competitions, and one defeat in their last 12, too. They're still sitting 10th in the third tier, but do have at least one game in hand on the three sides ahead of them, and are six points behind Stevenage, who occupy that final play-off spot.

They're hitting form at the right time, and that win at Wembley will only serve to push them on ahead of these final five games. So should those ahead be worried about the threat of Jack Wilshere's side in the top-six run-in?

Luton Town can use their momentum to catapult themselves into the top six in the coming weeks

For Luton's fellow play-off challengers, they'd have been praying for a Stockport win on Sunday, as a loss there could have seen Jack Wilshere's side's confidence knocked somewhat ahead of a season-defining final few weeks.

Instead, they'll be going full steam ahead with confidence behind them, starting with Tuesday night's matchup at home against Northampton Town, who will be relegated if they do not beat the Hatters.

If Luton wins that game, they will climb above Reading and Plymouth Argyle, and possibly even Huddersfield Town, too, if they fail to win against Cardiff City. They could find themselves three points behind sixth-placed Stevenage if Alex Revell's side loses a tricky game away at Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday, too.

After that, Luton have matches against mid-table opposition in Mansfield Town and Barnsley, the latter being at home, and that's sandwiched between a trip to Rotherham United next Tuesday, who will likely already be relegated by the time they meet.

So, with two games against relegation candidates, and two against sides with little to play for, and with the Hatters enjoying their best unbeaten run of the season and hitting form at the right time, there may be little stopping Luton from picking up 12 more points before their final day trip to Bolton.

That matchup at the Toughsheet Stadium may cause one or two issues, but by then, Luton could already be in the top six. Stevenage still have Lincoln City to play before three favourable matchups, Plymouth still have to go to Bradford City between now and May, and Huddersfield, as mentioned, take on Cardiff, but also travel to Bolton, too.

Of the sides chasing down Alex Revell's side in the top six, Luton has the more favourable run-in and the momentum and quality in the squad to truly capitalise on it.

Play-off rivals will be hoping for a Wembley hangover at Luton Town

It's the old Icarus Concession, where you fly too close to the sun and, ultimately, the downfall that follows is great, and Stevenage and the rest of those vying for the final play-off spot in League One will be hoping that the same will be true of Luton's form.

However, we've also seen in the Championship in the last few weeks with Southampton after victory over Arsenal, that a win of such magnitude in the midst of an already impressive unbeaten run, albeit Luton's not as spectacular as the Saints, can only spur the side on to achieve even more remarkable feats.

But, even if the Hatters don't end up in the top six come the end of the campaign, this season would still be seen as an encouraging one due to the silverware they secured, so perhaps that's a cause for taking the foot off the gas slightly and simply enjoying the final five games for what they are.

I get the feeling that won't be the case in this Jack Wilshere side, though. They'll be doing their best to squeeze into that top six, and given how well they've handled the occasion at Wembley the last two times they've been there, there may be few betting against them if they manage to get to the play-off final on May 24.