Luton v Sunderland

Luton gained revenge for last season’s 5-0 home defeat to Sunderland on the final day of the season with an unlikely victory, but a victory well deserved nonetheless. Goals from David Bell and Paul Furlong (2)sealed a place in the next round in an all round professional performance.

Luton looked up for it from the start and the strike force of Paul Furlong and Drew Talbot looked sharp with both going close in the esrly stages.

The ‘interested’ Dean Morgan had turned up and made his case for at least a place on the bench with a skilful display.

n 16 minutes, Matthew Spring put Morgan through to be unceremoniously felled by Greg Halford with a tackle which would have brought a minimum of a yellow card in 99% of matches but it was clear that Trevor Kettle did not want to upset the Premiership new boys. In a Premiership match he would probably have got a straight red card but was delighted to receive a talking to and no further punishment – well other than the cracking goal that resulted from the free kick by Bell, who slotted the ball through the ineffective wall and beyond the depairing keeper.

The referee followed this up with and even more unbelievable piece of leniency when Etuhu was rightly cautioned on the half hour 29 minutes for hacking down Morgan, and then failing to show a second when he dragged Spring back by his shirt which is a mandatory yellow card offence, but once again gave him a stern lecture instead.

Richard Jackson was replaced by Keith Keane after taking a knock but it looked a precautionary measure rather than a serious injury, and Keane slotted in seamlessly.

Just as The Hatters seemed to be trying to ensure they went in at the break with the goal advantage and were defending stoutly, Alan Goodall made an excellent pass to Furlong in space and as the hapless keeper, Darren Ward, came out, Furlong lobbed it high over him and into the empty net. It was finishing of a very high standard and took the Town in 2-0 for their half time break.

In the second half, the lucky Halford, blocked Talbot’s run to earn a yellow card at last, and then threw the ball away at a free kick less than two minutes later, another mandatory yellow card offence, but again was only spoken to be the referee. Nine minutes later Halford deliberately handled the ball to prevent Spring from embarrassing him with a chip and run and the referee was finally embarrassed enough himself to show the second yellow and automatic red cards for the offence.

Luton’s on loan Keeper, Forde, had another game with little to do but made a classy save with 20 minutes left, tipping a shot from Leadbitter round the post.

Paul McVeigh came on for the tiring Morgan and little changed.

Luton deservedly went three up five minutes later when a Coyne free kick from around the halfway line was nodded across the goal to Furlong who gleefully netted at the far post and then Calvin Andrew jojned the fun for the workaholic Talbot.

Luton had caused all sorts of problems for the Black Cats and further yellow cards for Connolly and Wallace followed as the away team resorted to all methods to stop the rampaging Hatters.

Just how Paul Furlong put in the amount of work he did at his age was difficult to fathom, but he looked a class act tonight and was the man of the match in a team who were outstanding to a man.

The draw is due to take place live on Sky Sports on Saturday.



If they play like they did tonight the Town could get a result!


Next fixture:
Next up for the Town is the visit to Elland Road on Saturday to take on Leeds United, undefeated in the league but out of this competition at the hands of Portsmouth, 3-0 at Fratton Park tonight.