• Saturday, 28 September 2024
Luton beat Bolton to reach fourth round of FA Cup

Luton beat Bolton to reach fourth round of FA Cup

Premier League side Luton Town came from behind to beat League One's Bolton in their FA Cup third round replay.

Dion Charles raised the roof by putting the third-tier hosts ahead on 11 minutes, but Tahith Chong equalised just four minutes later.

An exciting end-to-end game was decided by Chiedozie Ogbene, whose goal puts Luton in the fourth round for the fourth successive season.

Luton will now visit Crystal Palace or Everton on the weekend of 27 January.

Manager Rob Edwards said he is pleased to be facing Premier League opponents next, as he felt his side had not been at their best over two games against third division sides.

"I am pleased we are through, tonight was just about winning," he said. "We were not at our best, we were sloppy in too many moments and allowed them [Bolton] to build into the game.

"In a way it is better to play a Premier League team next, because we know we have to be full tilt. This game we just dropped a bit, and you can't do that.

"Bolton are a big club but we were favourites, we took our foot off the gas and Bolton could have punished us."

The Hatters dominated possession and chances in the early stages, but Bolton took the lead when a quick burst by Victor Adeboyejo down the right ended with a low cross into the box, which Charles side-footed past Tim Krul.

But Luton immediately responded through Chong's smart low finish in the area after the Premier League side won the ball deep in the Bolton half.

In an open game full of chances for both teams, Adeboyejo had an audacious 45-yard effort tipped on to the bar by Krul just ahead of half time, then shortly after Jordan Clark struck the woodwork for Luton before Bolton keeper Nathan Baxter made a fine double save.

Eventually Luton found the way through on 57 minutes, a slick team move ending with Ogbene firing home from close range.

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