Luton Town FC vs Sheffield Wednesday (15th Jan 2019)

LUTON TOWN 0 SHEFF WEDS 1

Harford's Hatters bow out to Nuhui goal in cracking Cup tie at the Kenny

A scruffy goal was no way for this courageous Luton Town side to exit the FA Cup but they can take heart in a never-say-die performance against Sheffield Wednesday that had everything but a goal.

In the end, a combination of the woodwork, Owls goalie Cameron Dawson and a clearance off the line stood frustratingly in the way of a fourth round tie at Chesea. They deserved much more.

But disappointments can be tempered with a positive decision in tomorrow’s Power Court planning application meeting. In terms of importance, permission granted for a new 17,500-seat stadium trumps anything that could have been conjured up under the lights at Kenilworth Road, even if the Hatters did everything bar pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat.

Atdhe Nuhiu’s deflected goal a minute into the second half proved the decider yet, over the course of two cup ties, Town proved they can more than mix it with a Championship club. That, after all, is the aim as they must now concentrate on a promotion-chasing League One campaign.

Interim boss Mick Harford made two changes from Saturday’s 1-1 eague draw at his boyhood team Sunderland, bringing in Luke Berry and Kazenga LuaLua for Alan McCormack and the suspended Danny Hylton.

The manager’s side started sharply after he received a rousing pre kick-off reception, for his first game charge at Kenilworth Road since September 29, 2009.

The pace of the contest dropped off only to be revived in the last 20 minutes before the break.

During that period, Jack Stacey and James Collins both found Dawson in obdurate mood - a pattern that would continue throughout.

But the Owls then came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock when Steven Fletcher glanced Barry Bannan’s 25-yard volley off the woodwork with James Shea rooted to the spot.

Luton rallied and had, arguably, the chance of the half when LuaLua laid the ball intelligently off to Elliot Lee 10 yards from goal, but with a clear sight the striker blasted over.

The momentum Luton had built before the break was killed within a minute of the restart. The ball pinballed around the Luton penalty area with Nuhiu clubbing a deflected shot off Sonny Bradley, which nestled in the corner of Shea’s net.

It signalled a short period of comfort for the Championship side, but that was given a thorough shaking when James Justin marauded down the left and picked out Berry. The midfielder steadied himself but still aimed at Dawson who saved with his feet.

Shea stooped low to smother a low Adam Reach drive after Wednesday threatened to swarm over Luton on the counter, but that was a rare occasion.

Dan Potts was brought off the bench to replace Berry with 22 minutes remaining and his first taste of action was to beat a man and then blast goalwards, only for Dawson, once again, to push his shot away at full stretch.

Any sense that it just wasn’t going to be Town’s evening was heightened when Bradley, at the back stick, headed down Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s deep cross and with the goal at his mercy, Collins hit the woodwork from a few yards out.

And when Wednesday goalscorer Nuhiu headed off his own line to prevent Bradley’s header from dropping in, the jig was up and Town’s 17-game unbeaten streak came to an end. It didn’t feel like a defeat.

Next up, one of the most crucial decisions in the club and the town’s history.

TOWN: Shea, Justin, Bradley, Pearson, Stacey, Berry (Potts, 68), Lee (Jarvis, 88), Shinnie, Mpanzu, Collins, LuaLua

Subs not used: Potts, McCormack, Jones, Isted, Sheehan, Neufville

Yellow: Collins

WEDNESDAY: Dawson, Palmer, Fox, Fletcher (Matias, 90), Bannan, Thorniley, Lees, Nuhiu, Reach, Boyd, Hector

Subs not used: Jones, van Aken, Winnall, Baker, Wildsmith, Pudil

Yellows: Palmer, Boyd, Nuhiu

Goal: Nuhiu 46

Attendance: 9,259 (1,473)

REFEREE: Tim Robinson

MICK HARFORD ON THE DEFEAT TO SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Town interim boss Mick Harford was proud of his side despite the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday seeing them bow out of the Emirates FA Cup.

Atdhe Nuhiu got the all important goal in the 1-0 win for the Owls – his deflected strike in the first minute of the second half ensuring Steve Agnew's side head to Chelsea for the fourth round tie.

Town were very much Wednesday's equals throughout the fixture and will feel hard done by not to have at least taken the game to extra time as Elliot Lee, Luke Berry and James Collins all saw chances go begging.

Harford said: "We as a group of staff couldn't be prouder of the players or the fans, the way they backed the team and I just think we put in a performance that didn't deserve to lose. We played some great football, obviously they're a Championship side, we went toe-to-toe, I thought we moved the ball very well.

"They put us under pressure, but we adapted and kicked on and overall there's a lot of disappointed players in there, but they can take a lot of heart from that performance.

"As I said, if we keep putting in performances like this one this evening and the one on Saturday, we will be in the shake up come the end of the season."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgU8w695wbM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thYcYU77beA

No Chelsea payday for Luton as Owls edge to FA Cup win

FA Cup, third round replay: Luton Town 0 Sheffield Wednesday 1

Luton Town missed out on a bumper FA Cup payday at Premier League giants Chelsea after a narrow third round defeat against Sheffield Wednesday this evening.

Defeat was bitterly harsh on the hosts, as they had by far the better chances, with visiting stopper Cameron Dawson easily the busier of the two keepers.

However, try as they might, Town just couldn't score, shut out for the second successive home game, with promotion to the Championship the only thing on their minds now.

Interim boss Mick Harford made two changes, Kazenga LuaLua making his first FA Cup start for the club, while Luke Berry also came in, Danny Hylton beginning his four game ban and Alan McCormack dropping to the bench.

The visitors' Adam Reach escaped Town's defence early on, but couldn't find the target, while Wednesday created another decent opening on 13 minutes, George Boyd over the top.

Wednesday began to enjoy a good spell of possession, forcing Town back, but the Hatters stood firm, restricting their opponents to a long range attempt from Jordan Thorniley, easy for James Shea.

Hatters had their first shot on target after half an hour, Jack Stacey overlapping well to fizz an effort straight at Dawson, and they finally opened up their opponents' defence moments later, Elliot Lee finding James Collins who dragged wide on his left foot.

Luton then had a real let-off on 36 minutes, as Barry Bannan's speculative volley from distance was flicked on by Steven Fletcher, only to crash against the frame of the goal.

The Owls just about avoided a calamitous own goal when a red-faced Tom Lees' backpass was out of keeper Dawson's reach, sliding narrowly wide.

A buoyant Town really should have grabbed the lead on 42 minutes, when LuaLua's wonderful flick saw Lee take a touch only to blaze over from 10 yards.

With their tails up, shots started raining in on the visitors' goal, James Justin's 25 yarder requiring a fingertip behind by Dawson as Luton ramped up the pressure in the closing stages of the first half.

However, they switched off right at the start of the second period, and paid the price, as unable to clear their lines, Atdhe Nuhiu's close range effort beating Shea via a hefty deflection.

Although the Owls began to boss possession once more, Luton weren't without their opportunities, Justin finding an unmarked Berry who was denied by Dawson's legs.

Shea then made a crucial save as Wednesday overloaded the box, getting down smartly to gather Reach's low effort.

Town brought on Dan Potts for Berry, and the sub almost had an immediate impact, racing away to beat a challenge, his rasping drive drawing a fine save from Dawson.

It was all Luton from then and somehow the hosts weren't level on 77 minutes, as Sonny Bradley's downward header at the far post bounced up off Collins and on to the woodwork, leaving the striker mystified as to just how it stayed out.

Andrew Shinnie's drive was parried by Dawson, Justin had shouts for a penalty turned down and then Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu sliced wide as Luton searched for that leveller.

Late on Bradley again met Justin corner, his header nodded off the line by Nuhiu as it just wasn't to be Luton's night.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry (Dan Potts 69), Andrew Shinnie, Elliot Lee (Aaron Jarvis 88), James Collins, Kazenga LuaLua.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Alan McCormack, Lloyd Jones, Alan Sheehan, Josh Neufville.

Owls: Cameron Dawson, Liam Palmer, Morgan Fox, Steven Fletcher (Marco Matias 90), Barry Bannan, Jordan Thorniley, Tom Lees, Atdhe Nuhiu, Adam Reach, George Boyd, Michael Hector.

Subs not used: Joe Wildsmith, Joost Van Aken, Ashley Baker, Daniel Pudil, David Jones, Sam Winnall.

Booked: Nuhiu 10, Collins 37, Palmer 61, Boyd 80.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Attendance: 9,259 (1,473 Owls).

Harford** felt Luton were 'unfortunate' to go out to Wednesday**

Interim manager Mick Harford felt the Hatters could consider themselves unfortunate to be knocked out of the FA Cup by Sheffield Wednesday this evening.

The hosts created a number of chances throughout their third round replay against Championship opposition, but couldn't beat keeper Cameron Dawson, who made a string of fine saves.

They were made to pay by Atdhe Nuhiu's deflected strike just seconds after the interval, as Harford said: "I thought they were magnificent, against a Championship team, we went toe to toe for 90 minutes.

"They had a little spell in both halves where they’ve dominated possession a little bit, but never really hurt us.

“I think chance-wise, shots-wise we dominated them and are very, very unfortunate to not come away with some kind of result.

“I’m very proud of the players, the way they go about things, the way they’ve trained, the way they’ve worked hard, the way they played.

“They’ve got a great attitude to winning for this football club and I’m really, really happy with the performance.

“I’ll repeat it again, if we play like we did tonight and we did on Saturday, we’ll be in the shake up at the end of the season, absolutely.”

Elliot Lee missed a glorious opportunity in the first half, blazing over, while Town's best chance of the night saw James Collins somehow divert Sonny Bradley's header on to the post with the goal gaping.

Harford added: "We created all kinds of chances, we kept getting in.

"I thought Elliot was going to hit it on his left foot, he chopped it back on to his right, the keeper also made a good save. while Jack Stacey got down the line.

"Sonny Bradley's header back across to Collo where we’ve hit the post too, so overall I thought we dominated in terms of chances and corners and possession.

"But these are a Championship team and if you give them a chance, they’ll nick a goal off you.

"It was a scruffy old goal, but they’ll be delighted.

"We’re so delighted with the performance and the effort the players are putting in though."