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Luton Town delivered a resounding blow to league leaders Wycombe Wanderers, crushing them in a manner that turned heads throughout the Second Division.

Wycombe's manager, Peter Taylor, admitted in the post-match press conference, "First, I want to congratulate Coach Gao Bo. He's done a phenomenal job, and Luton is now at least a level above the rest of the Second Division. Players like Vardy, Charlie Austin, Drinkwater, Kanté, the young center-back Jeffrey, and even Adam White and Matt Schmidt on the bench, are enviable talents. I don't know where Gao Bo found these outstanding players."

Quantifying Luton's superiority over their league rivals is challenging. Gao Bo himself seemed almost disinterested in the Second Division competition, as the opposition often felt far too weak. His real ambition? Taking Luton to the Premier League. But even with rapid yearly promotions, reaching the top flight would take at least three seasons. For now, Gao Bo pinned his hopes of testing his squad against top-tier opponents on the FA Cup.

Still, the league had to be tackled game by game. Four days after their victory over Wycombe, Luton faced Colchester United in a midweek fixture. With a rotated lineup, they secured a comfortable 2-0 home win.

On December 20, in the 21st round, a fully refreshed starting XI faced Morecambe. Up against a deep defensive "iron curtain," Luton struggled for much of the first half. However, captain Kevin Keane's stunning long-range strike on the cusp of halftime broke the deadlock. Forced to attack in the second half, Morecambe left gaps at the back, which Luton exploited with two counter-attacks, sealing a 3-0 victory.

By December 24, Luton's atmosphere was brimming with optimism. At the team's Christmas dinner, club owner David Morton passionately declared, "We even have a shot at promotion this season!"

The players enthusiastically chanted, "League One! League One!"

Gao Bo smiled, observing the team's morale, but his ambitions extended far beyond just promotion. Keeping those thoughts to himself, he didn't want to burden the players with unnecessary pressure.

Soon after Christmas, Luton faced a grueling schedule that Gao Bo sarcastically dubbed a "shit schedule."

On December 26, they traveled to Cheltenham. With a critical match against second-placed Lincoln City just two days later, Gao Bo heavily rotated his squad. Despite dominating possession, Luton failed to break through Cheltenham's iron-clad defense. Then, in the 82nd minute, disaster struck. After clearing a corner, Cheltenham's speedy winger unleashed a stunning long-range strike that clipped the top corner of the net. It was a moment of brilliance that left Gao Bo furious, tossing his water bottle in frustration.

Cheltenham fans erupted in celebration, and their small stadium felt as electrifying as Real Madrid's Bernabéu. For the home side, defeating the league's dominant team was an unforgettable achievement.

The match ended 1-0, marking Luton's first loss of the season. Though disappointed, Gao Bo understood that no team remains unbeaten forever. Even Arsenal's legendary Invincibles relied on a mix of skill and luck to achieve their feat. Gao Bo quickly refocused, reasoning that it was better to lose now than in a crucial FA Cup clash against Chelsea.

The loss seemed to ignite a fire within Luton as they prepared for their December 28 showdown with Lincoln City. Restoring his strongest XI, Gao Bo anticipated another defensive approach from their opponents. To counter this, he started Adam White, a young winger with electrifying pace and dribbling skills honed on the streets. Though Adam's fitness limited him to 45 minutes, his contributions were decisive.

In the 25th minute, Adam's dynamic run on the left flank drew a foul near the edge of the box. Danny Drinkwater delivered a pinpoint free kick, and Jeffrey rose above the defense to head the ball into the net, giving Luton the lead.

Before halftime, Jamie Vardy doubled the advantage with a clinical finish. Adam was substituted at the break, having exhausted his energy reserves, but Luton maintained control in the second half to secure a 2-0 victory.

This win brought relief to Gao Bo, who feared that the previous loss might trigger a downward spiral. Despite being more than ten points behind the league leaders due to their early-season penalty, Luton's determination and performance continued to set them apart.

For Gao Bo, however, this was only the beginning of his journey toward greatness.