Sheffield Wednesday vs Luton Town FC (5th Jan 2019)

SHEFF WED 0 LUTON TOWN 0

Hatters match Championship side at Hillsborough to earn third round replay

The Hatters were more than a match for Championship side Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough this afternoon as they stretched their unbeaten run to 16 matches in all competitions to earn a third round replay in the Emirates FA Cup.

The real core outcome of the game though, was the feeling that the squad can really compete at this level and that the squad has come so far under Nathan Jones’ guidance, the day before his third anniversary in the job.

The result means the Hatters will be in the hat for the fourth round draw on Monday night - ball number five - and will entertain the Owls again in due course under the lights at Fortress Kenny.

The gaffer made one change to the side that drew 0-0 with Barnsley on New Year's Day, with Luke Berry making his first start of the season after battling back from that horrific injury suffered at Colchester on Good Friday, replacing Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu who dropped to the bench.

What better place to make your return to the starting line-up, than in the FA Cup third round, away at Hillsborough, with more than 4,200 travelling Hatters behind you!

It was the hosts that started quickest, producing a chance within two minutes - Barry Bannan crossing from the right to find Stephen Fletcher unmarked. The Owls' forward rose highest, but couldn’t keep his header down, rising just over the bar and James Shea, who was rooted to the spot.

The Hatters settled into the game though and looked comfortable at the level, with Berry playing a wonderful over-lapping pass through to James Justin, but his ball into James Collins, lurking in the area was judged offside.

Sonny Bradley had a good header blocked by Cameron Dawson in the Owls’ goal, but the centre-half’s physicality on the Wednesday defender proved to be too much for referee Robert Jones, giving the foul in favour of the home side.

Wednesday were back at it again with some decent one-touch play that sent George Boyd on his way in front of the Luton goal. The forward appeared to be through but Matty Pearson’s sliding challenge in front of the away stand was greatly received by the army of Hatters supporters behind the goal.

Danny Hylton got the better of his former Aldershot team-mate Michael Hector to win the Hatters’ second corner of the afternoon, cleverly putting it past him on the by-line until his run was eventually stopped. However, the corner quickly dissolved into a Wednesday attack.

Adam Reach, with a neat first touch, took the ball away from the Hatters defence and the ex-Middlesbrough man fired at goal. Shea had to be ready for it, diving quickly down to his right as the ball sailed narrowly past the post. Fletcher was also a menace throughout the half, doing well in the six-yard box to create space, inviting several uneasy crosses.

There was another brilliant passing move from the Hatters, making its way to Justin on the edge of the area moments later, the defender hitting it too, but the shot never going to worry Dawson.

Andrew Shinnie then collected the ball in his own half and, following by a slick one-two with Hylton, the Scot drove towards the penalty area, but his shot was blocked.

The final chance of the half fell to the Hatters again, when Justin picked out Berry, whose shot from range was on target but not hard enough to trouble Dawson, who safely held the midfielder's clurliung shot.

The second half contained more promise as seen in the opening 45 minutes, the Hatters looking as if they had gained in confidence, playing more of the free-flowing attacking football that Kenilworth Road has become accustomed to throughout the course of this campaign.

Jack Stacey worked hard down the right throughout, on one occasion finding Berry’s outstretched leg at the far post. The midfielder couldn’t force his touch on target though.

‘He’s one of our own’ filled Hillsborough’s historic walls when Justin slid in to make a saving challenge to break down the Wednesday attack, winning a free-kick in the process. It was a memorable moment for the 20-year-old who has been outstanding so far this season.

The Owls continued to probe too, Matias forcing a terrific save from Shea in his final contribution before being substituted. It looked to be heading in at the near post, but the keeper got a strong hand on it to paw it out of play for a corner.

The Hatters keeper was called upon once more seven minutes later, just about tipping a cross away from danger as he fell backwards in a crowded area. The shot-stopper, as well as the whole squad, looked more than comfortable on the day though, dealing with pressure from a side who were unbeaten in four Championship matches.

Bradley even had time to go on an attacking run, battling forward with the ball fown the left as the game entered its final third. Although he was eventually stopped by three men in a Wednesday shirt, his effort and determination to make it up the field was remarkable.

It could have gone either way as the game became stretched at the end, two good sides trying to grab a late winner. Shinnie sent over a well-placed cross that Hylton couldn’t get on target and Bannan hit a good volley that made its way into Shea’s arms comfortably.

A draw was a fair result though, and an excellent result for the Hatters who looked more than capable of playing just as well as a Championship side, especially at such an iconic stadium.

Nathan Jones lapped up the applause at the end, and rightly so, building a side that the fans can get behind and be proud of.

The Hatters will now turn their attention to next week’s top of the table clash with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, where they’ll be hoping to grab three important points to keep them in the top two.

TOWN: Shea, Justin, Pearson, Bradley (C), Stacey, McCormack, Berry (LuaLua 82’), Shinnie, Lee (Jarvis 89’), Hylton, Collins (Mpanzu 66’). SUBS NOT USED: Jones, Sheehan, Grant, Isted.

WEDNESDAY: Dawson, Palmer, Fox, Fletcher (Nuhiu 76’), Bannan, Lees (C), Matias (Winnall 58’), Reach, Boyd, Hutchinson (Pelupessy 26’), Hector. SUBS NOT USED: Wildsmith, Thorniley, Baker, Shaw

Yellows: Reach

REFEREE: Robert Jones

ATT: 16,974 (4219 Away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=18&v=1d--OKVqPLU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIJdmN1ftms

Hatters earn an FA Cup replay after Owls stalemate

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

Luton Town are in the hat for the fourth round of the FA Cup after confidently holding Championship side Sheffield Wednesday to a goalless draw at Hillsborough this afternoon.

Although the hosts had most of the possession during the game, they were comfortably kept at arms length by the Hatters, who were the better side after the break, just failing to really test home keeper Cameron Dawson.

Both sides showed just how seriously they were taking this fixture, making one change each, Luke Berry handed his first start since that horrible injury suffered at Colchester in March last year, as Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu dropped to the bench, missing his first minutes of the season.

The hosts opted to swap goalkeepers, Dawson replacing Keiren Westwood, with two of Wednesday's Scottish internationals combining for the first opportunity, the dangerous Barry Bannan sending over a teasing cross for Steven Fletcher to head narrowly over.

Wednesday had the majority of possession in the opening exchanges, as was to be expected, with centre half Michael Hector making a number of easy on the eye sweeping diagonal passes, but it didn't lead to anything for Luton to worry unnessecarily about.

After a quiet opening 20 minutes, it was Fletcher who went closest again, his header from a corner gathered low to his right by Shea. Adam Reach wasn't too far away moments later, cleverly flicking the ball away from Sonny Bradley but dragging wide on his right foot.

Luton were always in the game themselves, getting into some promising positions, the best seeing James Collins slip at the vital moment after Elliot Lee's pass rebounded into his path. Reach then had another attempt, his volley flying off target, while on 35 minutes, Town had their first real sight, James Justin unable to keep his 20-yarder down.

Town finally worked Dawson five minutes before the break, Berry's long ranger gathered by the stopper underneath his crossbar.

Shea was called upon to keep it goalless in the last knockings of the first period, when Bannan's clever free kick found Marco Matias, his effort flipped over the top.

After the break, Luton made a far more positive start, the excellent Justin, who looked more than at home in his high level surroudnings, having a cross just cut out by Tom Lees, while Berry couldn't quite reach Jack Jack Stacey's delivery at the back post.

The interval also saw the Owls buck their ideas up, as Matias escaped in the box, his fierce effort seeing Shea get a strong right hand and turn it over the bar, the keeper also tipping Liam Palmer's teasing cross behind soon after.

Just after the hour, Luton boss Nathan Jones brought on Mpanzu for Collins, Lee moving upfront alongside Hylton and Berry into the tip of the diamond.

Hylton saw a header drift wide from Shinnie's first-time cross, as Wednesday's efforts were often more in hope than conviction, Bannan's volley easy for Shea.

Neither side could really fashion any opportunities in the closing stages, Lee's wayward effort about the best Town mustered, with Liam Palmer's low cross requiring a desperate clearance, meaning both sides will do it again at Kenilworth Road in little over a weeks time.

Owls: Cameron Dawson, Liam Palmer, Morgan Fox, Steven Fletcher (Atdhe Nuhiu 75), Barry Bannan, Tom Lees (C), Marco Matias (Sam Winnall 58), Adam Reach, George Boyd, Sam Hutchinson (Joey Pelupessy 26), Michael Hector.

Subs not used: Joe Wildsmith, Jordan Thorniley,, Ash Baker, Liam Shaw.

Hatters: James Shea, Jack Stacey, James Justin, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley (C), Alan McCormack, Luke Berry (Kazenga LuaLua 80), Andrew Shinnie, Elliot Lee (Aaron Jarvis 89), James Collins (Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu 66), Danny Hylton.

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Jorge Grant, Lloyd Jones, Alan Sheehan.

Booked: Reach 66. Referee: Robert Jones. Attendance: 16,974 (4,219 Luton).

Jones left 'beaming' by his Luton side during Wednesday draw

A ‘supremely proud’ Luton boss Nathan Jones declared he was left ‘beaming’ by his side’s display in their goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup third round this afternoon.

The Hatters were easily worth a replay with a fine performance at Hillsborough, where they kept their hosts at arms length for the majority of the contest, quietening the majority of the crowd for long periods.

The result means that Town are now in the hat for the fourth round draw on Monday, as Jones said: “I’m pleased with the fact we’ve come here and been as good as a very good Championship side.

“They’re unbeaten in four, beating Middlesbrough, they’ve gone to West Brom and drawn, these are a good side and I thought we were outstanding.

“You should be enthusing up here, because I’m beaming.

"I thought we were excellent, as we’ve come here and where we’ve come from, these are an established Championship club and to say we’ve been better would be slightly harsh, but it was an even game, a real even game.

“It was a Championship game, so if anyone turned up here today, they’d think it was a Championship game, and it was.

"That’s what I’m pleased at, as we are at that level, and I’m really, really delighted.

“In the second half, they had to change and match us up. They went to the diamond, something that they don’t do and that made me proud as well, as that shows our structure is very good.

“I’m so pleased they did as it would have been harsh if either side had nicked it as it was such an even game.

“But for us to come as League One side to a Championship side and do that, I’m supremely proud.”

Although Town stopper James Shea was the busier keeper, making two good saves from Marco Matias, the Owls could never really get a full head of steam going, such was Town's pressing and work-rate from one to 11.

The Hatters weren't without openings of their own either, as Jones added: “The only time they threatened us really was when they went a bit more direct as they’ve got big size and good strikers that cost them a lot of money, that they pay a lot of money to.

“So we knew that and to be honest, with a little bit more cutting edge, we could have won it.

“We’ve had some great opportunities, first half we showed real good structure, we pressed at the right times, we had good counter attacks, got into good areas, and we just lacked that little bit.

“Second half we got into great areas as well, I thought all round to a man, we were outstanding.

“We defended the box magnificently well, we pressed, we worked hard, I think this is a great club, it’s a great day for Luton Town football club.

“Four thousand fans cheering and it was a wonderful performance.

"It showed as it’s not a defence backed against the wall, scrapped, finally got it, cleared off the line and bar, not that type of performance.

“It was structured, it was composed, and I’m proud of them and you should be.”