Luton earn FA Cup third-round replay after goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday

Posted Saturday, January 05, 2019 by PA

Luton will be in the FA Cup fourth round draw for the first time since 2013 after earning a goalless draw away to Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

The Hatters defended well in the face of Wednesday pressure, who themselves snatched at chances and lacked a clinical nature in front of goal, resulting in a third successive draw for the home side.

Wednesday caretaker-manager Steve Agnew made just one change for his first game in charge, but a goalless return will see the Owls make the trip to Kenilworth Road in a third-round replay later this month.

Luton came out of the blocks with the intent to press early, but the class of Barry Bannan brought the first chance of the game for the home side.

The midfielder floated a cross to fellow Scotland international Steven Fletcher at the far post, however his header back across goal flew narrowly over the bar – a warning to Nathan Jones’ visiting Hatters.

Luton grew into the game as it settled down, but the width of Wednesday proved to be a constant threat with Morgan Fox’s cross only just evading Fletcher.

Danny Hylton looked lively in a game which lacked tempo in the opening half. He beat Michael Hector to the byline only to see his low pull-back cleared by the Wednesday defence.

At the other end of the pitch, Adam Reach had a good chance to open the scoring for the home side when his flick over Sonny Bradley opened some space but the winger fired just wide.

Despite the clearer chances falling to the hosts, Luton did see chances fall to James Justin, who shot over and Luke Berry whose strike from distance was easily held by Cameron Dawson.

The Owls were far from fluent in the first period, but Marco Matias tested James Shea on the stroke of half-time, the goalkeeper palming the shot over after a well-worked free-kick.

The second half started in much the same vein, with Wednesday looking the brighter but without the end product.

After absorbing pressure, Luton were quick to break and Justin found joint top-scorer Elliot Lee, however his shot from range was blocked.

The home support grew frustrated, but Wednesday continued to press and their passing game started to come to fruition with the first chance of the second period falling to Matias.

George Boyd put Matias through on the right side of the box before his snap-shot forced a good one-handed save from Shea.

Substitute Atdhe Nuhiu came on and caused problems, winning aerial flick-ons as the Owls went more direct but could not convert their chances with Reach and Bannan both seeing shots from distance blocked as the away side closed out a well-earned draw to force a replay.