The Blues have drawn League Two Luton Town away in the first round of the Carabao Cup, the competition known as the EFL Cup last season.

The draw took place at lunchtime in Bangkok where the competition’s new sponsor, Carabao Energy Drink, are based and was carried out by former France and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit, Carabao’s CEO Sathien Setthasit, the British ambassador to Thailand, Brian Davidson, and the EFL’s chief executive Shaun Harvey.

Town and the Hatters have previously been drawn together in the competition on two occasions.

In November 1987 John Duncan's Blues were beaten 1-0 at Portman Road in the fourth round of what was then known as the Littlewoods Cup with Brian Stein on target. The Hatters went on to win the trophy that season.

Luton were also victorious in a two-legged second round tie between the sides in September 1998, winning the Kenilworth Road match 4-2 - David Johnson and home defender Sol Davis netting for Town and Andrew Fotiadis, Stuart Douglas, Davis at the right end and Marvin Johnson for Luton - after George Burley's Town had won 2-1 at Portman Road when Manu Thetis and James Scowcroft were on the scoresheet for the Blues.

First round ties take place in the week commencing 7th August with the game likely to be on the Tuesday.

Overall, the Blues have won 11 games (eight in the league) between the sides, Luton 12 (nine) with five (three) having ended in draws.

The teams last met in a pre-season friendly in July 2012 at Kenilworth Road when then-Conference Luton ran out 2-0 winners, defender Janos Kovacs heading a goal in each half.

The most recent competitive game between the teams was back in March 2007 when goals from Alan Lee and Matt Richards saw the Blues to a 2-0 win at Kenilworth Road.

Earlier that season Lee had grabbed his only Town hat-trick in a 5-0 thrashing of the Hatters at Portman Road, Sylvain Legwinski and Jaime Peters having netted earlier goals.

The Luton squad includes former Blues striker Jack Marriott whose only senior start for Town - in addition to two sub appearances in the Championship - came in the same competition having come through the academy.

The 22-year-old joined the Hatters in May 2015 having been released by the Blues. Since his move Marriott has scored 28 goals in 54 starts and 37 sub appearances.

Last year the Blues were beaten 1-0 at home in the first round by League Two Stevenage, who they have faced in the opening round in three of the last four seasons.

Town will learn their 2017/18 Championship fixtures at 9am on Wednesday 21st June when they will be available on TWTD.

Photo: Action Images

Facefacts added 21:02 - Jun 18 Whoever said our poor cup displays affect our league form is right. In January that is 100% the case. In August the other team is simply more 'up for it'. Enjoyed my one visit to Luton during the early 90s think it was a total sellout jam packed into a very small away section the season we went up when Neil Thompson scored at sunny Southend.
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