Taking a look at Luton Town's last 5 FA Cup 3rd round clashes

On Saturday 7th January 2023, Luton Town will take their first steps of the season in the Football Association Cup, the oldest national football competition on the planet, which was first contested in the 1871/72 season. Luton Towns’ best attempt in the competition resulted in a run to the final in the 1959, where Nottingham Forest ran out 2-1 winners - fantastic video I suggest watching. Since this loss in the FA Cup final, we have since been in the semi finals three times; losing 2-1 to Everton in 1984-85, losing 2-1 to Wimbledon in 1987/88 (incidentally the season we won the League Cup, and Wimbledon won the FA Cup) and losing 2-0 to Chelsea in 1993/94.

Another season, another potential cup run! Let’s look at how Luton Town have faired in the previous five 3rd round match ups...

2021/22 season

9th January 2022 – Harrogate Town at Home

In front of 4,834 fans, Luton Town galloped into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 4-0 victory over League 2 Harrogate Town. Goals were scored Elijah Adebayo, Cameron Jerome, Kal Naismith and Luke Berry. However, the game wasn’t as comfortable as the result suggested with Harrogate playing some lovely stuff, and our first goal perhaps against the run of play. Although Luton had just had an enforced winter break due to covid rampaging through the squad.

Luton Town line up – James Shea, Reece Burke, Kal Naismith, Sonny Bradley, Amari’i Bell, James Bree, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Henri Lansbury, Jordan Clark, Elijah Adebayo, Cameron Jerome

2020/2021 season

9th January 2021 – Reading FC at Home

In front of 0 fans, because of lockdown, remember that, we played Reading FC for what felt like the 17th time in the 2020/21 season (actually only the 3rd time, having played them in the EFL Cup too), running out 1-0 winners, thanks to a sumptuous George Moncur half volley from a trademark James Bree cross. Luton Town line up – Simon Sluga, Brendan Galloway, Dan Potts, Gabe Osho, James Bree, George Moncur, Joe Morrell, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Sam Nombe, Danny Hylton, Elliot Lee

2019/2020 season

4th January 2020 – AFC Bournemouth at Dean Court

Graeme Jones led Luton Town to the south coast and watched on mildly with 10,064 spectators as we were dismantled 4-0 by a then Premier League Bournemouth team. We did experience VAR for the first time, and had a great chance to level the game at 1-1 before half time, but Alan Sheehan missed a penalty. Bournemouth were rampant in the second half, with Phillip Billing adding a second to his first half goal, Callum Wilson and Dom Solanke got in on the action too.

Luton Town line up – Simon Sluga, Alan Sheehan, Lloyd Jones, Donervon Daniels, Matty Pearson, Glen Rea, Andy Shinnie, Jacob Butterfield, George Moncur, Elliot Lee, Harry Cornick

2018/2019 season

5th January 2019 – Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough – replay 15th January 2019 at home

In Nathan Jones’ final game as Luton Town boss we battled to a 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday in front of 16,974 at Hillsborough. Nathan Jones was clearly agitated in his post match interview, throwing fuel on the fire of rumours that he had been tapped up for the Stoke top job. Big Mick Harford stepped up to the hot seat, where we gave a good account of ourselves, unfortunately losing 1-0, but showing that if we were to get promoted, we would be able to mix it in the Championship. This was a solid attempt from Luton Town, as we had gone through the first round(beating Wycombe) and second round (beating Bury) as we were a League 1 side.

Luton Town line up (both games) – James Shea, James Justin, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Jack Stacey, Luke Berry, Elliot Lee, Andy Shinnie, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, James Collins, Kazenga Lua Lua

2017/2018 season

6th January 2018 – Newcastle United at St. James Park

We went up north and mixed it with Premier League Newcastle United in front of 47,069 (over 7,000 Luton) spectators, ultimately the game ended in a 3-1 loss. We saw a Danny Hylton goal disallowed that could have changed the complexion of the game early on, but in the end we saw three rapid goals from the Toon, with Ayoze Perez bagging twice in 6 minutes before Jonjo Shelvey added a third goal 3 minutes later. Danny Hylton grabbed a consolation goal just after half time, but we just couldn’t get back into the game. We got to the third round by beating Portsmouth in the first round, and thumping Gateshead in the second round.

Luton Town line up – Marek Stech, Dan Potts, Glen Rea, Johnny Mullins, James Justin, Luke Berry, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Olly Lee, Andy Shinnie, James Collins, Danny Hylton