Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Luton Town 0.
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Luton Town in FA Cup third round
- From the section FA Cup
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League One Luton held hosts Sheffield Wednesday to a goalless draw to earn an FA Cup third-round replay.
Scotland striker Steven Fletcher twice went close for the hosts, who are mid-table in the Championship and have won the competition three times.
Luton keeper James Shea then denied Marco Matias either side of the break.
But the Hatters, who are 13 games unbeaten in the league, deserve another chance at reaching the fourth round after a positive second-half display.
The replay will take place at Luton's Kenilworth Road ground on Tuesday, 15 January.
Fletcher headed narrowly over from an early Barry Bannan cross but the Owls had to wait another 21 minutes for their next chance, Fletcher's header forcing a low save by Shea from a Bannan corner.
Adam Reach showed some neat footwork before firing just wide from 20 yards, while Luton looked threatening on the counter-attack, with Luke Berry testing Cameron Dawson with a long-range strike.
Wednesday replied with a well-worked free-kick as Bannan found Matias, whose shot was tipped over by Shea, and just after half-time the ex-Arsenal trainee, 27, denied Matias again after Bannan's slide-rule pass.
Attacking the away end, Luton were more adventurous after the break, but that Matias chance was the only effort on target until Bannan's 77th-minute volley, which was comfortable for Shea.
Elliott Lee flashed a shot across the Wednesday goal late on but that was the closest Luton went to clinching an upset at Hillsborough - although they will be delighted to welcome Saturday's hosts to Kenilworth Road for the replay.
Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager Steve Agnew:
"I thought we had the better chances in a game that towards the end opened up a bit. We're disappointed not to win the game, but equally we're still in the hat.
"The players have had a heavy Christmas period, but we went strong because we felt they could go again. Sam (Hutchinson) had a bit of a groin problem and Barry (Bannan) came off at the end with a bit of a whack.
"But defensively we looked really solid. There was a concern of too many goals being conceded, but that's been addressed.
"The players are in a good shape and have got a good resilience about them. The only thing we lacked today was the goal."
Luton manager Nathan Jones:
"I think it was deserved and I thought it was an even game between an established Championship side and us, who want to get to the next level.
"We came here with a game plan and tried to be as positive as we could. We didn't come here and park the bus, and I think it could have gone either way.
"We perhaps just lacked a little bit of cutting edge in the final third, but I'm very proud of how we played because we showed that we can compete at this level.
"They had good height with all three strikers that they had but I thought we defended well. It's not ideal having the extra game, but the chance to play at a full house back at our place is a good one."
Line-ups
Sheff Wed
- 25Dawson
- 2Palmer
- 15Lees
- 34Hector
- 6Fox
- 23HutchinsonSubstituted forPelupessyat 26'minutes
- 21Boyd
- 20ReachBooked at 66mins
- 10Bannan
- 19MatiasSubstituted forWinnallat 58'minutes
- 9FletcherSubstituted forNuhiuat 76'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Pelupessy
- 11Winnall
- 12Thorniley
- 17Nuhiu
- 24Baker
- 28Wildsmith
- 43Shaw
Luton
- 36Shea
- 7Stacey
- 6Pearson
- 5Bradley
- 2Justin
- 4McCormack
- 11Shinnie
- 8BerrySubstituted forLuaLuaat 82'minutes
- 10LeeSubstituted forJarvisat 89'minutes
- 9Hylton
- 19CollinsSubstituted forMpanzuat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 17Mpanzu
- 18Grant
- 25LuaLua
- 27Jarvis
- 28Jones
- 40Isted
- 44Sheehan
- Referee:
- Robert Jones
- Attendance:
- 16,974
Match Stats
Home TeamSheff WedAway TeamLuton
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away8
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Luton Town 0.
Foul by Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday).
Danny Hylton (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Aaron Jarvis replaces Elliot Lee.
Foul by George Boyd (Sheffield Wednesday).
Kazenga LuaLua (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Danny Hylton (Luton Town).
Attempt missed. Elliot Lee (Luton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
George Boyd (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Danny Hylton (Luton Town).
Attempt missed. Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt blocked. Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Kazenga LuaLua replaces Luke Berry.
Attempt saved. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Atdhe Nuhiu replaces Steven Fletcher.
Delay in match Matty Pearson (Luton Town) because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Danny Hylton (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Alan McCormack (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sam Winnall (Sheffield Wednesday).
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu replaces James Collins.
Booking
Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday).
James Justin (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Morgan Fox (Sheffield Wednesday).
Danny Hylton (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by James Shea.
Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Andrew Shinnie (Luton Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Sam Winnall replaces Marco Matias.
Foul by Michael Hector (Sheffield Wednesday).
Danny Hylton (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner, Sheffield Wednesday. Conceded by James Shea.
Attempt saved. Marco Matias (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner.
George Boyd (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Luke Berry (Luton Town).
Foul by Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday).
