Bulgarian champions CSKA Sofia, and drawing with Cypriot Second Division club APEP. A day after returning to England, the club signed Aberdeen's Finnish international defender Markus Heikkinen and Reading forward Dean Morgan on free transfers. Both Heikkinen and Morgan signed two-year contracts. Young striker Calvin Andrew joined League Two club Grimsby Town on loan for a month on 4 August. Luton began their season on 6 August with a 2–1 away win to recently relegated Crystal Palace, with Steve Howard and Ahmet Brković scoring, and captain Kevin Nicholls uncharacteristically missing a penalty. After the game, Luton manager Mike Newell reacted to comments in the Crystal Palace match programme that had suggested the game would be Luton's "cup final". Newell stated that "I do not expect to read condescending comments from fellow professionals." Three days later, Luton beat another side just relegated from the Premier League, winning 3–2 against Southampton at Kenilworth Road. New signing Dean Morgan scored the winning goal in stoppage-time. A 0–0 home draw with Leeds United was followed a week later with a 2–1 defeat to Stoke City in which Steve Howard was sent off for spitting at Carl Hoefkens. Howard received a three-game ban after Luton's appeal was rejected. The club progressed into the second round of the League Cup with a 3–1 win over Leyton Orient on 23 August. Luton won their third league game on 27 August, Ahmet Brković scoring a bicycle kick and Kevin Nicholls a penalty to secure victory over Leicester City. Luton were close to signing Ghanaian international midfielder Anthony Obodai from Ajax during the month, but the move fell through on 28 August due to complications with his visa. Warren Feeney scored his first Luton goal in a 2–1 home victory against Millwall on 29 August to put Luton into third position in the table. Defender Curtis Davies scored the other goal in what would prove to be his last game in a Luton shirt; on 31 August, transfer deadline day, Davies moved to Premier League side West Bromwich Albion for a fee of £3 million – both a Luton and West Brom record in terms of money received and spent respectively. Midfielder Michael Leary moved to Bristol Rovers on a one-month loan the same day. September and October Luton drew 1–1 at home to title favourites Wolverhampton Wanderers on 10 September, Kevin Nicholls scoring a late goal, and then