Cambridge United vs Luton Town FC (5th Feb 2022)

Report | Cambridge United 0-3 Luton Town

The Hatters progressed into the fifth round of the Emirates FA Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory at League One Cambridge United.

First half goals from Reece Burke and Carlos Mendes Gomes, both their first for the club, and a late one from Admiral Muskwe ensured a smooth passage through a tricky tie at the Abbey.

Manager Nathan Jones made eight changes from the side that won 1-0 at Swansea in midweek.

Jed Steer was picked for his Luton debut between the sticks, and Elliot Thorpe started in midfield, his first involvement in the matchday squad and a career senior debut for the ex-Tottenham youngster.

Reece Burke, Gabe Osho and Fred Onyedinma keep their places from Tuesday's away win against Swansea City, whilst there is a start for Carlos Mendes Gomes in a forward role.

Exciting youngster Josh Neufville, 20, was making his return from a broken ankle suffered last May while on loan at Yeovil and was on the bench, as were development squad regulars Ed McJannet, 18, and 17-year-old Aidan Francis-Clarke.

With a full house behind them, Cambridge made the early running, Wes Hoolahan and Adam May both firing over in the opening ten minutes before Jerome had the Town's first sight of goal, but his attempt at steering Muskwe's low cross in was wide of the near post.

It didn't take long for the Hatters to break the deadlock, with Burke meeting Thorpe's right-wing free-kick with a header into the bottom corner, after Muskwe had been fouled by Harrison Dunk.

That was in the 14th minute, and by the 23rd it was two, Jerome doing well down the left channel and squaring the ball across the edge of the Cambridge box for Mendes Gomes, who evaded the lunging challenge of Dunk to slam his shot past Dimitar Mitov to open his Town account.

It was plain sailing for the remainder of the half, with the hosts threatening briefly and having a penalty appeal turned down as a ball ricocheted towards Peter Kioso's arm, but referee Joshua Smith was unmoved and Town remained well in control.

Tom Lockyer should have extended the advantage ten minutes after the break, instead firing over from close range after Muskwe had nodded Gabe Osho's cross into his path.

Cambridge spurned a chance to get back into it on the hour when Sam Smith dragged a shot wide from the edge of the Town box, then Wes Hoolahan fashioned a shooting opportunity, but didn't pull the trigger and Steer remained untroubled.

Jones replaced Thorpe with Danny Hylton with just over 20 minutes to go, then after Cambridge boss Mark Bonner had made a triple substitution, Jones brought midweek winning goalscorer Harry Cornick on for Jerome with just under quarter of an hour left.

Steer had to be alert to fall on an 80th-minute cross from Hoolahan that looked to be arcing inside the far post, then he got down low to his left to push away a 20-yarder from sub Ben Worman, with Smith rattling the crossbar with the follow-up, although it wouldn't have counted with the linesman's flag raised for offside.

The Hatters wrapped it up in the 89th minute with Muske bending one in from the right angle of the box, seconds after sub Campbell had seen a shot blocked, with the aid of a deflection off Sam Sherring.

Town will be ball number five in tomorrow morning's fifth round draw, due to take place at 11.40am in the build-up to the Liverpool v Cardiff tie on ITV.

Goals: Luton - Burke 14, Mendes Gomes 23, Muskwe 88

Att: 7, 937 (1,470 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EftjSzfJNjc – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/60177160 - match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UILug_vebNQ – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHBlN-wRgvE – Carlos Mendes Gomes interview

Nathan Jones' reaction to Cambridge win!

Manager Nathan Jones credited his team for their professional performance as they avoided a cup upset to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The gaffer made eight changes in the hopes of progressing and his gambles proved to pay off, with goals coming from Reece Burke, Carlos Mendes Gomes and Admiral Muskwe.

Speaking after the match, Jones said: "It's a tough place to come, it was a cup upset on the cards but I thought we were thoroughly professional. Cambridge are a good side that are doing really well, Mark Bonner is doing a great job but I thought we were really professional. When we had opportunities we took them and I think with a bit more quality, we could have had more.

"To come here, keep a clean-sheet and make eight changes, we've also had a few debuts, we've given game time to the players that needed that and they were able to come through it. It has been a good weekend."

Despite making wholesale changes it was a strong, competitive Luton side that ensured they would reach the fifth round for the first time since 2013.

"The front two played against Bristol City the other day, Gabe (Osho) has been doing fantastic, and the back three apart from (Dan) Potts have been playing week in, week out. Fred Onyedinma we played a lot of money for and Pete is a right-back we have a lot of hope for so it was a strong side.

"In the midfield area we had to play Carlos (Mendes Gomes) out of position and we gave Elliot (Thorpe) his debut and that was probably where we were gambling, but they've showed that they can cope."

Luton reach the FA Cup fifth round with a convincing victory at Cambridge

FA Cup fourth round: Cambridge United 0 Luton Town 3

Luton reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2013 with what was an ultimately convincing and comfortable triumph at Cambridge United this evening.

What had on paper been a really tricky tie against their League One hosts, who would have definitely fancied their chances after producing one of the shocks of the competition in the previous round when beating Premier League Newcastle United at St James' Park, never ever looked like materialising.

An early goal from Reece Burke, his first for the club, quickly followed by Carlos Mendes Gomes' maiden strike as well, killed off any realistic hopes the U's had, with a much-changed Luton able to see the rest of the contest out with relative ease.

Boss Nathan Jones swapped eight from the 1-0 win at Swansea on Tuesday night, midfielder Elliot Thorpe and deadline day signing from Aston Villa Jed Steer handed their debuts, Dan Potts, Tom Lockyer, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Peter Kioso, Admiral Muskwe and Cameron Jerome all included.

James Bree, Danny Hylton, Amari'i Bell and Danny Hylton dropped to the bench, where they were joined by youngsters Josh Neufville, Ed McJannet and Aidan Francis-Clarke.

The hosts looked to have settled quickly in what was a vociferous atmosphere at a sold-out Abbey Stadium, with the home fans eager to see their side engineer another Sunday spent on the back pages.

They looked capable of doing so in the early stages too, cheered on by a boisterous and lively home crowd, who clearly remembered their rivalry from the Conference days, Wes Hoolahan drilling over from an acute angle after some miscommunication between Steer and Potts, while Adam May sliced wide after Town couldn't clear their lines effectively.

Despite struggling to get a foothold in the opening 10 minutes, Luton did start to find one, Osho's lofted ball over the top for Muskwe seeing the attacker scamper away, his cross met by Jerome first time, who diverted wide.

Another fine move down the right on 14 minutes saw the visitors do what the top flight Magpies simply couldn't in the last round, and beat U's keeper Dimitar Mitov, as some fine link-up play through the lines saw Muskwe clumsily taken out.

The free kick was delivered into the area with real quality by Thorpe and Burke was there with a downward header which nestled in the corner of the net.

It was the perfect start for Jones' side, sapping the enthusiasm from the both their opponents and also the stands, and it was hit with what appeared a hammer blow just nine minutes later, Town notching a second.

The goal was one of United's doing too, a harmless throw forward met by home defender George Williams, who could only misdirect his header into the path of Jerome.

He advanced and picked out Mendes Gomes to his right who was able to take a touch and then clinically slam a low shot beyond Mitov to double the visitors' advantage.

The remainder of the half saw Luton in real control, reducing the Cambridge threats to a minimum, United unable to cause any problems from dead-ball situations, or look capable of finding a way through the Hatters' solid back-line.

Luton couldn't add to their tally, although they almost did 10 minutes into the second period, Osho doing superbly on the left to link with Jerome, his cross met by Muskwe, a stretching Lockyer lofting over from two yards.

The U's should have really halved the deficit just before the hour mark, a long ball not dealt with by Town, falling for a stumbling Sam Smith inside the area, but 12 yards out, he scuffed tamely wide.

Thorpe's maiden outing was ended on 70 minutes after he couldn't shake off an earlier knock, Hylton on in his place to renew his acquaintances with the Cambridge defence and supporters again.

There was still no real head of steam from the U's though, Hoolahan with a deep cross gathered at the second attempt by Steer, sub Jack Lankaster sending an ambitious well, well wide.

The Luton keeper did have to finally extend himself with five minutes to go, diving full length to his left and palm Ben Wormans's daisycutter away, the rebound sent against the bar by Smith, who had been flagged offside.

Jones took the chance to firm things up for the final few minutes, Campbell and Bell on for Onyedinma and Mendes Gomes, but he needn't have worried as rather than try and hold on, the Hatters just went and made it 3-0.

Harry Cornick, introduced earlier, did well on the right and Muskwe transferred it onto his left foot, shooting past Mitov via a slight deflection from just inside the box, to leave Luton fans tuning into tomorrow's fifth round draw with hopes of a bumper tie.

U's: Dimitar Mitov, George Williams, Paul Digby (C), James Brophy (Ben Worman 75), Samuel Smith, Harrison Dunk, Wes Hoolahan, Jubril Okedina, Adam May (Jack Lankester 75), Sam Sherring, Harvey Knibbs (Lorent Tolaj 75).

Subs not used: Jonah Gill, Greg Taylor, Liam O'Neill, Liam Bennett, Kai Yearn, Glenn McConnell.

Hatters: Jed Steer, Tom Lockyer, Reece Burke, Dan Potts (C), Peter Kioso, Fred Onyedinma (Amari'i Bell 88), Gabe Osho, Elliot Thorpe (Danny Hylton 69), Carlos Mendes Gomes (Allan Campbell 88), Admiral Muskwe, Cameron Jerome (Harry Cornick 78).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, James Bree, Josh Neufville, Ed McJannet, Aidan Francis-Clarke.

Referee: Josh Smith.

Booked: May 46, Onyedinma 57, Digby 77, Kioso 90.

Attendance: 7,937 (1,470 Luton).

Hatters chief talks up 'professional' display as Town ease past U's in FA Cup

Luton into fifth round by defeating Cambridge

Luton chief Nathan Jones hailed his side's professional display as they ensured they weren’t the victims of a cup upset when coming through their fourth round tie with Cambridge United 3-0 this evening.

After stunning Newcastle United at St James’ Park in the previous stage of the competition, hopes were high at a sold-out Abbey Stadium that the hosts could make further progress, and with the BBC televising the contest, they clearly thought so too.

But barring a lively opening by United, the Hatters wrested control to open the scoring through Reece Burke’s first goal for the club on 14 minutes, quickly doubled up by Carlos Mendes Gomes’ maiden strike too just after the midway point of the first half.

They added a third in the closing moments, Admiral Muskwe firing home, as Jones said: “It’s a tough place to come, the wind was swirling, a cup upset on the cards, but I thought we were thoroughly professional.

“Cambridge are a good slide, they’re doing really well, (Mark) Bonner’s doing a great job here, but I thought we were really professional.

“When we had opportunities we took them, if we had showed a little bit more quality we could have had more and then late on, we had a couple of opportunities to extend that.

"But to win 3-0, to come here and keep a clean sheet, make eight changes, to have a debut, a few people that needed game time have done that and we’ve come through it.

“I was able to give a lot of people game time and a lot of people rest too, so its been a good weekend.”

Jones had gone with a much-altered side, eight changes in fact from the 1-0 win at Swansea on Tuesday night, but it was still a strong side that took the field, with only debutant Elliot Thorpe and defender Dan Potts not featuring in the Championship recently.

The boss added: “When you say eight changes, I'm not making eight changes and putting in youth team players.

"That front two played against Bristol City the other day for example, Gabe’s (Osho) been doing fantastic, the back three apart from Potts have been playing week in week out, then Fred Onyedinma we paid a lot of money for and Peter’s (Kioso) a very good right back who we have good hopes for.

“So it’s a really strong side, it's probably just the midfield, we had to play Carlos out of position, and give Elliot Thorpe his debut, that was probably where we were really gambling.

"But they've shown that they can cope and we've come here, you've seen West Ham today, they've gone to a National League side earlier and really struggled, I think ours was slightly more comfortable.”