Luton survive Bolton scare to reach fourth round

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

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.

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.

It was an emotional night for Bolton, with the match coming days after their League One fixture against Cheltenham was abandoned following the death of supporter Iain Purslow, who had a suspected cardiac arrest in the stands at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

A minute’s silence before the game was impeccably observed, after both teams stood together with a black football shirt bearing Purslow and the number 71 – his age – on the back. Both sets of supporters also applauded in the 71st minute.

Brave Bolton push Luton all the way

While Rob Edwards’ primary target this season is keeping Luton in the Premier League, he clearly had an eye on an FA Cup run with his team selection here.

Although Edwards made five changes, his XI featured Ross Barkley in midfield and Carlton Morris captaining the side up front.

But they were also opened up regularly at the back by a quick and confident Bolton side, for whom Adeboyejo almost scored one of the finest FA Cup goals ever from the halfway line late in the first half. Krul – caught off his line – only just managed to scramble back to tip the ball on to his crossbar.

Edwards, clearly unhappy with the first half display, made a triple change at half time to try and rouse a Luton performance which had been sloppy in attack and defence.

Ultimately, Premier League quality told as Barkley and Morris were heavily involved in the build-up to Ogbene’s goal.

But they were given a stern test in the snowy north-west, as Bolton – currently fourth in the third tier – went toe to toe and come away from these two games with great credit.

They thought they had found an equaliser with 15 minutes left when Charles finished cleverly with a back heel, but he was denied his second goal by the offside flag.