Luton Town FC vs Wigan Athletic (7th Jan 2023)

Report | Luton Town 1-1 Wigan Athletic

The Hatters and Wigan will meet again as this Emirates FA Cup third round tie finished all-square at Kenilworth Road.

Tom Naylor gave the visitors an early lead, but Harry Cornick's first goal of the season brought Town level in first-half injury-time and means the Hatters will now travel to the DW Stadium twice in five days later this month, with a replay due for Tuesday 17th January ahead of the second league meeting of the season on Saturday 21st.

Rob Edwards made four changes, with Reece Burke making his first start since late September after coming off the bench and scoring the winner against Huddersfield Town on New Year's Day.

Gabe Osho returned to the starting line-up following his recent two-match suspension, while Louie Watson kept his place in midfield and Cauley Woodrow made his fourth start of the season.

Harry Cornick was the fourth change, replacing Elijah Adebayo who is celebrating his 25th birthday today and joining Carlton Morris up front.

Elliot Thorpe, recalled from his loan at Burton Albion, is amongst the substitutes and there is a first squad involvement for 17-year-old midfielder Jayden Luker.

Republic of Ireland international James McClean had the game's first shot in the 13th minute, but was well off target, before Campbell broke down the right and crossed for Morris to head straight at Latics keeper Ben Amos a minute later.

Tom Naylor put Wigan in front in the 17th minute when he tapped in from close range, turning home Curtis Tilt's volley back into the six-yard box after Horvath had saved well from Callum Lang's initial header.

The Hatters enjoyed plenty of possession without penetrating the Wigan defence, Morris whipping in a deep cross from the left that was just too high for Cornick, who then raced clear but his attempted 37th-minute curler wouldn't come back enough to nestle inside the far post.

A minute later it was Morris meeting a Potts cross from the left, heading well over the bar, but Town were level in first-half injury-time, with top scorer Morris the provider.

The striker created space on the left byline and stood up an inviting cross for Cornick send a glancing header in off the far post, with his first goal of the season.

Edwards made two changes at the break, with Luke Berry on in midfield for Campbell and Adebayo coming on up front in place of Morris, but it was Wigan who came quickly out of the blocks, Lang volleying an Ashley Fletcher cross wide inside the first minute.

The Hatters' first threatening moment of the second period came on 53 minutes when Bree's centre eventually landed at Bell's feet, via a Woodrow lay-off, but the left wing-back couldn't find the target for a second game in a row, shooting tamely wide.

Also like at Huddersfield on New Year's Day, Burke was proving a real attacking threat down the right, overlapping Bree a couple of times to give the Hatters another outlet before he was replaced just after the hour by Alfie Doughty.

Town were dominating by this point, and the former Charlton and Stoke wideman soon danced his way to the right byline and clipped a cross to the far post, but Woodrow saw his shot deflected behind for a corner.

Cameron Jerome was the next attacking threat to be introduced with just over a quarter of an hour to go, goalscorer Cornick departing with valuable minutes in the bank, as the Hatters continued to set up camp in the Wigan half.

He was joined moments later by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, replacing Watson who left the field to a rapturous reception after another impressive start at the base of the Town midfield.

In a rare foray into the Town half, Wigan had the ball in the back of the net when Horvath took a heavy tough and was closed down by Lang, athough referee David Webb had already blown for a foul before the Latics' front man finished from a tight angle.

Sub Thelo Aasgaard, scorer of the late winning goal when Wigan won the league game here earlier in the season, shot straight at Horvath with five minutes to go, then the visitors were quickly needing to defend again when Doughty drilled a free-kick in towards the near post.

Deep into the five additional minutes, Horvath made a superb save to deny goalscorer Naylor, before Wigan had the ball in the net after a scramble, but their joy was short-lived with an offside decision.

The result means ball number 15 in tomorrow's fourth round draw, due to take place at 4.05pm in the build-up to Manchester City v Chelsea, will represent both clubs.

Goals:

WA - Naylor 17

LT - Cornick 45+2'

Att: 5,660 (290 away)

Reaction | Rob Edwards on Wigan draw

Manager Rob Edwards felt a slow start cost his side as they were held to a 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Third Round this evening.

The away side took the lead after 17th minutes through Tom Naylor but Harry Cornick responded with his first goal of the season on the stroke of half-time.

Despite their best efforts in the second, Edwards’ side couldn’t find a winner which means a replay will settle the result of this cup tie.

“We wanted to win the game and try and get it done in one night,” the boss admitted after the match. “That’s not the case now so we’re going to have to go again. I said to the lads we paid for a slow start, we can’t come off it and I felt we did. It was evident we did for whatever reason but as the half grew on in the first half, we got better. I’m really pleased that we got the goal at a very good time and I thought in the second half we were excellent.

“I thought there was a lot of good things about us, I thought there was a lot more intensity, we got into a lot of good areas, it was the last bit that was lacking and that’s something we’ve got to look at. Overall, because of the start and going one-nil down, we will take the replay and we have to try and do it up there now.

“We have some very good players here and we got into some really good areas, it was just the last bit. It can be difficult when they get everyone back behind the ball and cover the space as well but I expect us to make one or two bigger chances than we did.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_QfdNc6aSo – Rob Edwards interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFlxDzIwqO8 – match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1gWWDBCWhM – match highlights

Cornick finally breaks his duck but Luton face FA Cup replay after being held by Wigan

FA Cup third round: Luton Town 1 Wigan Athletic 1

Luton will become very well acquainted with fellow Championship side Wigan Athletic over the next fortnight after drawing 1-1 with the Latics in the FA Cup third round at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

The result means that Rob Edwards' side will head to the DW Stadium for a replay, to be held more than likely in the week beginning January 16, while they will also head north to the same venue just a few days later to face their opponents in the Championship.

After stating in the press that he would go with a strong side for the contest, Edwards stuck to his word, making just four changes from New Year's Day 2-1 victory at Huddersfield.

Match-winner Reece Burke started his first game since late September, joined by Gabe Osho, Harry Cornick and Cauley Woodrow, as Elijah Adebayo, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Alfie Doughty dropped to the bench, Tom Lockyer out with a slight knock.

The was a smattering of youth in the squad too, Casey Pettit joined by the recently recalled Elliot Thorpe, with Development squad attacker Jayden Luker included.

The visitors, in a terrible run of form going into the contest, created the first opening on 12 minutes, James McLean slicing well wide after cutting in from the left wing.

Kolo Toure's side then took the lead on 18 minutes from a controversial corner given away by Dan Potts, the captain clearly believing it should have been a goal kick.

McLean's first delivery was repelled straight back to him, as his second cross was met by a thumping close range header from Callum Lang.

Ethan Horvath did superbly to parry, but the ball was kept alive by Wigan and an unmarked Tom Naylor beat the offside trap to tap home.

A fine run by Amari'i Bell leading to Woodrow's fierce drive blocked brought the home crowd alive for a moment, before they were quietened again by a game low on quality, barring the efforts of Louis Watson who made things look very easy, getting on the ball, lifting his head and passing forward, almost always finding a team-mate in space.

Town went close with 35 gone, Cornick, who had been previously well shackled, escaping the attentions of the Latics back-line, but his attempt to find the far corner was narrowly wide.

Luton threatened again shortly afterwards, Potts wrapping his foot around a cross and Morris heading awkwardly over the bar.

Just before the break, the game could have swung either way, as Wigan almost had a second, Fletcher finding space in the area and Horvath saving well low down.

Luton then went up the other end and did find the net, Morris doing all the hard work before standing up an inviting cross that Cornick glanced into via the the post for his long-awaited first goal of the season.

Edwards made what looked like two pre-planned changes at the break, as Morris and Campbell made way for Adebayo and Luke Berry, Wigan almost moving in front again, Lang's volley slipping wide.

James Bree, who had struggled with his final ball in the first period, made a far better start to the second, scampering down the right, his cross turned back by Woodrow for Bell to shank disappointingly wide.

As Town started to up the pressure, enjoying far greater possession and territory, they won a number of corners, only to see the Latics, who were looking anything but a side that had shipped four goals in their last three outings, stand firm.

Burke was replaced after an hour by Alfie Doughty, as the winger was released by another terrific pass from Osho, which was to become a theme of the second half, his cross just too high for Berry, Cornick's attempt deflecting over for another set-piece that the visitors were able to clear away.

Sensing a place in the fourth round, Thelo Aasgaard, who had scored the winner at Kenilworth Road in the league earlier in the season, unleashed an almost copybook strike with six minutes left, on this occasion putting it straight at Horvath.

Lang had the ball in the net after dispossessing Horvath, only for a foul to be given against the USA international, as in the closing stages, it was Wigan who came on strong.

Charlie Hughes put an attempt wide and then Naylor almost won it in stoppage time, his looping header fantastically tipped away by a stretching Horvath.

Athletic though they had stolen a place in round four from the resulting corner, Lang prodding home, but a flag from the referee’s assistant, given for an alleged foul against Horvath, meaning both sides are in the hat for the next round, and will do it all again in around 10 days time.

Hatters: Ethan Horvath, James Bree, Reece Burke (Alfie Doughty 62), Gabe Osho, Dan Potts (C), Amari'i Bell, Allan Campbell (Luke Berry 46), Louie Watson (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 76), Cauley Woodrow, Harry Cornick (Cameron Jerome 72), Carlton Morris (Elijah Adebayo 46).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Casy Pettit, Elliot Thorpe, Jayden Luker.

Latics: Ben Amos, Ryan Nyambe, Tom Naylor, Jack Whatmough, Jordan Cousins (Thelo Aasgaard, 74), Max Power (C), James McLean, Curtis Tilt (Charlie Hughes 77), Callum Lang, Ashley Fletcher (Will Keane 74), Rarmani Edmonds-Green (Tendayi Darikwa 89).

Subs not used: Jamie Jones, Gwion Edwards, Anthony Scully, Josh Magennis, Baba Adeeko.

Referee: David Webb.

Booked: Potts 90.

Attendance: 5,660 (290 Latics).

Edwards felt Luton paid the price for a slow start during cup draw with Latics

Hatters in the hat for round three but face replay at the DW Stadium

Town boss Rob Edwards felt his side paid for a slow start as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Wigan Athletic in their FA Cup third round contest at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

The visitors, who had gone into the game on the back of four straight defeats, conceding four goals in their last three matches, were up and running quicker, Tom Naylor opening the scoring on 17 minutes, tapping home after a brilliant save by Ethan Horvath.

Luton did begin to improve just before the break, Harry Cornick glancing Carlton Morris’s inviting cross over the line for his first goal of the season on the stroke of half time.

They upped the tempo in the second period as well, with 71 per cent possession in total, but despite dominating territory for large swathes of the tie, couldn’t seriously test Latics keeper Ben Amos.

Edwards’ side might have even gone out in stoppage time, Horvath making a terrific stop from Naylor’s looping header and Callum Lang’s goal from the resulting corner disallowed for an apparent infringement on the USA international.

The Luton boss knows his side had to be better from the outset when going up against the Championship strugglers though, as on seeing Town’s sequence of three straight victories ended, he said: “We paid for a slow start, we made a slow start.

"What they did well and it’s their prerogative, they’re away from home, they’ve obviously come off the back of a few defeats and they slowed it down well.

“They played it well, every time the ball went out it was 30 seconds or a minute for a throw-in or a goal kick, or a free-kick, and then it’s up to us.

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"We’ve got to lift it, we’ve got to lift that intensity and we didn’t do that well enough in the early stages of the game, so that was down to us.

"Then we conceded and it was hard for us to wrestle any control back.

"I felt we did that as the half went on, we huffed and puffed, a fantastic equaliser at a great time, which didn’t really change my half time team talk too much, because we needed to lift things.

"Then I thought credit to the lads, we did have that intensity second half.

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"We played some really good football without that final cutting edge.

"We got into some really good areas and it’s up to us now to get together and try to work hard on creating good, big chances when we do have those kinds of games.

"Credit to them for defending well, with good numbers, and then at the every, very end, big credit to Ethan for a fantastic save.

"He was doing his job, but did it very, very well.

“I can probably get my hair cut now as we haven’t won, so there’s one positive to come out of tonight.”