As the colleague handling Adam's transfer situation on Ethan's behalf continued his work, the League Two season gradually entered its second half.
Due to scheduling adjustments for certain teams participating in the FA Cup and other tournaments, Luton's 25th-round match was postponed. Instead, the 26th-round fixture was brought forward to January 17.
In Round 17 of the league, Luton Town traveled to face Darnington in an away match.
The game itself didn't bring too many surprises. Before the first half had even ended, Luton took a 2–0 lead thanks to a close-range goal from Jamie Vardy and a long-range strike from Danny Drinkwater.
A two-goal advantage at halftime almost guaranteed Luton's victory. In League Two, no team has shown the capability to mount a comeback against Luton after going two goals down.
In the 63rd minute, Charlie Austin added to the scoreline with a spectacular bicycle kick, converting a cross from a teammate and scoring a "worldie" to seal the game.
The final whistle blew with Luton defeating Darnington 3–0 away from home. This victory took Luton's points tally to 40.
The away fans were ecstatic. With 40 points, Luton climbed to 8th place in the standings. Brentford, currently in 7th, had 41 points—Luton was now just one point shy of a playoff position!
Considering their red-hot form this season, that one-point gap seemed well within reach for Luton.
The players were thrilled with the win. When the final whistle blew, even the substitutes and Adam—recently working with the press—rushed onto the pitch. Despite it being an away game, the team celebrated wildly.
Manager Ethan, while visibly pleased, kept his emotions in check. After a brief fist pump, he approached the opposing coach for a handshake and then made his way down the tunnel.
However, his good mood didn't last long—it evaporated during the post-match press conference.
"Coach Ethan," a reporter asked, "Mark Hughes said in an interview that Adam White is a generational talent and it's irresponsible to keep him in League Two. What's your opinion?"
Another asked, "Has Manchester City submitted a bid?"
And another: "How likely is it that Adam White stays before the transfer window closes?"
Ethan, visibly annoyed, grabbed the microphone.
"This is a post-match press conference about our game against Darnington—not Manchester City's media session," he said firmly. "You should ask Mark Hughes those questions."
"In this game, we earned our 40th league point and are just one point away from breaking into the top seven. That's an incredible achievement for a team that had 30 points deducted before the season even began. If we hadn't been penalized, Luton would be leading the league by nearly 20 points! That's what you should be talking about."
With that, Ethan left the microphone on the table and walked out.
In the back row of the press room, Luton fan and journalist Roy Sauer couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Despite her usual disagreements with Ethan, this time she was firmly on his side. The reporters in the front row had clearly missed the point.
Although Ethan didn't address the transfer rumors, the media didn't let up.
The next day, headlines were filled with speculation about Adam White's potential move to Manchester City. The press claimed inside information—even fabricating supposed negotiation details.
And Adam wasn't the only one. Several of Luton's core players were rumored to be transfer targets as the winter window heated up. With transfer news dominating readership, such stories were inevitable.
To protect the squad from distraction, Ethan imposed a media blackout. Players were prohibited from giving interviews without club approval.
Outside Luton's training base, more and more reporters were camped out, eager for scoops. But inside, the squad remained focused.
Training continued undisturbed. Luton's next match would be an away fixture against Preston North End in the FA Cup.
Preston, a mid-table Championship side, were two tiers above Luton in the football pyramid. While not as formidable as Chelsea, Ethan wasn't taking them lightly.
"We're up against a Championship side—we're still a League Two team!" Ethan told his players on the training ground. Dressed in a tracksuit and cap, he stood in the center as the squad gathered around him.
"Don't underestimate them," he warned, tapping his temples with both hands. "Some of you are still basking in the glory of beating Chelsea. If we go into this next match with that mindset, we're going to lose!"
His message was clear: Stay focused.
Sure enough, when the match kicked off at Deepdale, Luton faced heavy pressure early on. Preston launched a ferocious attack, and the Hatters were nearly punished. Only a missed opportunity—Preston forward Brown hitting the crossbar—kept the game level in the opening minutes.
Fortunately, after a few minutes of early chaos, Luton's formation quickly stabilized. Preston's attacking pressure was gradually pushed back as Luton gained more control and cleared the danger.
In the first half, the two teams engaged in a fierce midfield battle. Luton managed to create a few promising counterattacks, but unfortunately, they couldn't convert any of them into shots on target.
The first half ended in a goalless draw — 0–0.
The second half began with similar tension. After an aggressive start to the match, Preston realized that pressing too high left them vulnerable to Luton's counterattacks. As a result, they adjusted their approach, opting to play more cautiously and compete for control in midfield.
Luton manager Ethan anticipated this tactical shift. In the 65th minute, with the match still deadlocked, he called Adam over from the bench.
There weren't many Luton fans in the away section, and due to the tight, tense nature of the game, they had been relatively quiet. But when Adam stepped to the sidelines, their energy changed. The crowd immediately came alive, standing up and chanting his name.
Thanks to media attention, Adam had become Luton's most recognizable player — even though he was only a substitute.
Ethan gave him final instructions:
"Do you see their right back?" he pointed. "He's 34 — target him. Use your vision to find the space. Don't rush your pass. Look at the positioning of our forwards and midfielders. Once you break through, pick your moment and deliver. And if you see a chance to shoot — don't hesitate!"
Adam nodded confidently. Ethan patted him on the shoulder.
Luton made the substitution: Adam came on to replace left midfielder Lewis Emmanuel.
It was Luton who made the first move to strengthen their attack — a bold approach, considering this was a match between a League Two team and a Championship side. But the impact was immediate.
Adam injected energy into Luton's offense. He quickly found success against Preston's right back, Hart, whose age showed as he struggled to match Adam's pace.
Breaking down the right flank, Adam drove the ball into the penalty area. Both Jamie Vardy and Charlie Austin surged forward, drawing Preston's defenders inward and opening up space at the top of the box.
Spotting the opportunity, Adam cut the ball back in a perfect inverted triangle pass.
N'Golo Kanté had timed his run brilliantly into the open space and fired a shot with his right foot. The ball deflected off a defender's foot and wrong-footed the goalkeeper — into the net!
Luton's substitution had paid off instantly!
Now in the lead, Luton played with greater calm and confidence.
In the 81st minute, after a defensive interception, Kanté carried the ball forward and laid it off to the left. Adam, once again breaking down the flank, whipped in a cross to the far post. Vardy rose above his marker and powered a header past the keeper, sealing the victory.
Preston threw everything forward in the closing stages, but Luton's defense stood firm. They resisted wave after wave of pressure and saw out the match with discipline and grit.
In the end, Luton triumphed 2–0 and edged closer to the fifth round of the FA Cup — a memorable victory against a higher-league opponent!