Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Luton Town in FA Cup third round

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.

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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
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Sheff Wed

Formation 4-1-4-1

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

Formation 4-1-2-1-2

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

Post update
Match ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Luton Town 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield Wednesday 0, Luton Town 0.

90'+3'
Post update
Foul by Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday).
90'+3'
Post update
Danny Hylton (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
89'
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Aaron Jarvis replaces Elliot Lee.
88'
Post update
Foul by George Boyd (Sheffield Wednesday).
88'
Post update
Kazenga LuaLua (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
87'
Post update
Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'
Post update
Foul by Danny Hylton (Luton Town).
87'
Post update
Attempt missed. Elliot Lee (Luton Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
85'
Post update
George Boyd (Sheffield Wednesday) wins a free kick on the left wing.
85'
Post update
Foul by Danny Hylton (Luton Town).
84'
Post update
Attempt missed. Joey Pelupessy (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
84'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
83'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
82'
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Kazenga LuaLua replaces Luke Berry.
77'
Post update
Attempt saved. Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
76'
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
76'
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield Wednesday. Atdhe Nuhiu replaces Steven Fletcher.
75'
Post update
Delay in match Matty Pearson (Luton Town) because of an injury.

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32 comments

Fabulous support from Luton today at Wednesday.
I wish them all the best in their push for promotion.
Wednesday were poor for the most part but Steve Bruce will soon sort the mess out.
Regards the possibility of the BBC televising the replay, the BBC love all things Arsenal and Tottenham despite their claims of ‘impartiality’.
Nothing looks like changing either I’m afraid!
@13 what a load of tosh! Bitter blade or Weed?

No Westwood, Lee, Forestieri, Joao orHooper and Hutchinson off injured after 15 mins.

Agreed Wednesday need new players - too many bang average lower Championship players.

Let’s see what around the corner. Written this season off already looking ahead to next.
Not entirely sure Luton will "be delighted" with the replay as we are just about to head into a very tricky run of fixtures and a Cup replay would not be high on the agenda when chasing automatic promotion. But a TV fee might change that! Come on BBC come to Kenilworth Road!
# 4 Robert

Good luck with that one.

Prizing the BBC away from their 4 or 5 favourites or outside a 30 mile radius of Manchester now that a large part of the organisation is based there would be as unlikely as Luton actually winning the FA Cup.

I'd like to see that though.
It was a tired performance from Wednesday and without their recent new found energy. Dreadful game to watch, made worse by the Middlesborough fans (I assume students) prattling on throughout the game about absolute tripe. Good grief - 2 hours I'll never get back.
A championship team playing a League One side.

Good luck Luton in the Championship next year
Notwithstanding these are not good times, that's 5 games unbeaten on the bounce for the Owls. Goals are not being leaked away like they were earlier in the season. OK today was disappointing but Luton were never going to be pushovers.

Even so, I'm feeling a whole lot better. Oh wait, Steve Bruce is coming ....
Attendance today 16,974 (4,219 were Luton fans)
all these games following on from the Christmas schedule is going to have an impact on our challenge for automatic promotion from League One... nice to know that we can go toe-to-toe with a championship side and come away even, but I would rather forget the cup. I will also be glad when the transfer window closes... how may clubs will come calling I wonder
Great support from the Luton fans today! Given Luton is only really known for it's hovel of an airport, the fans are bringing pride back to the town! Although by Monday, I'm sure that sense of pride will have long gone.

That's not the truth.

That's R-Truth.
Good luck to Wednesday fans having Agnew for a month and then good old Brucey.

You are not going down thanks to the caretaker manager doing a great job-they should have stuck with him until the season's end-and then reviewed it

Brucey will not take you up in a month of Sundays.

What a treat for Wednesday fans after another defeat and SB saying-

"we have to dust 'wor selves down"
Sheffield Wednesday now look to be on their way back (genuinely). For a team who attract more than 20,000 in the championship, with Chansiri and Bruce - expect only positive things.
@27 yes Hillsborough is starting to show its age but yes like your Grandad has been around for a long time when football was enjoyed by all and not just the pawn sarnie mob in their exec boxes.

Give me proper football stadiums like Hillsborough any day of the week rather than the soulless IKEA flat pack ones you get these days.

Well done Barnet and unlucky Rotherham!
Interesting that the highlights mainly show Wednesday’s attacking play - certainly not how the game played out - fancy our chances heavily back at the Kenny.
Steve Bruce is a daftie with zero tactical skills. Ony got first management post because he was ex Man Utd. Owls are doomed with Dim Daft Stevie.
@8 Watch the BBC highlights Buddy - it’s quite obvious. Oh for a striker who can score......
I was there as a neutral. Which one was the championship team?
re: 1 "Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are in a mess and the sooner the powers of be understand, the better - and appointing Mr. Steve Bruce is no
t the way forward i'm afraid!!! Another cock-up managerial experiance!!!"

He's not even there, he doesn't start until February
Nice to see Owls picking the team from the full squad under Bullen. Maybe a top ten finish is now possible that proper football decisions decide who plays, and who is frozen out
Sheff utd 0 Barnet 1
Just see an upset there....

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Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Luton Town in FA Cup third round