FA Cup
26 January, 2013
Norwich City
Declan Rudd
13
Russell Martin
2
Leon Barnett
20
Ryan Bennett
24
Javier Garrido
18
Elliott Bennett
17
Bradley Johnson
4
Jonathan Howson
8
Andrew Surman
11
Simeon Jackson
10
Harry Kane
37
Substitutes
Grant Holt
9
Anthony Pilkington
12
Wesley Hoolahan
14
Steven Whittaker
3
Michael Turner
6
Alexander Tettey
27
Mark Bunn
28
Luton Town
1
Mark Tyler
25
Ron Henry
6
Janos Kovacs
2
Lathanial Rowe-Turner
3
Greg Taylor
7
Alex Lawless
14
Arnaud Mendy
24
Jonathan Smith
11
Jake Howells
9
Jon Shaw
27
Andre Gray
Substitutes
13
Stuart Fleetwood
17
Jonathan O'Donnell
33
Dean Brill
10
Scott Rendell
15
Adam Watkins
19
James Dance
23
Matt Robinson
Referee: Andre Marriner
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Substitute Scott Rendell hit a late winner to secure a historic victory for Blue Square Bet Premier side Luton Town over Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round. The Hatters put in a top-notch performance throughout, matching the hosts for endeavour and weathering the moments of pressure that were always sure to come. The Canaries were simply not at the races but still managed to create a couple of first half chances as Simeon Jackson was denied by Mark Tyler and Leon Barnett hit the post with a header. After the break both sides had their share of opportunities, with Alex Lawless and the excellent Andre Gray shooting wide for Luton and Norwich's Grant Holt drawing a top class save from Tyler. Rendell struck on 85 minutes, sidefooting home Jake Howells' low cross, and from then on the hosts launched the Alamo. It was to no avail as Luton held on to secure a famous and well-deserved win and smear egg over Premier League faces.
The full time whistle rings out, sending Luton fans and players alike into raptures as the Norwich players stand with hands on hips staring at the ground. Non-league Luton Town are through to the FA Cup fifth round and deserve massive congratulations.
Norwich have everyone forward and are bombarding the Luton box, but the visitors are standing firm as full time rapidly approaches. What a performance they've put in.
The ball is scrambled narrowly wide of the Luton goal by Hoolahan, who looked offside but saw no flag as the ball broke to him. The Norwich fans are seething at their team's efforts here today.
The ball is rocketing back and forth end to end now, with players from both teams looking dog tired. This is what the FA Cup is all about.
Norwich try desperately to salvage the situation as Holt crosses from the left and Martin heads it back across goal. Jackson stretches to touch it in from six yards but can't quite make the connection.
It's been coming, but it's still hard to believe that Luton have scored! Norwich are sluggish in getting back as Howells breaks away down the wing and delivers a perfect ball to the near post where SCOTT RENDELL adjusts his feet to sidefoot the ball into the top corner. The visiting fans go crazy, and rightly so.
Ryan Bennett drops his side in it as he tries to control the ball on the 18-yard line and loses out to Alex Lawless. Lawless strides through and shoots agonisingly wide as his teammates hold their heads in their hands.
Wes Hoolahan has looked different class since coming on and picks out fellow sub Anthony Pilkington with a sumptuous ball into the area, the latter turning his header over the bar.
The impressive Gray is surprisingly withdrawn, with Stuart Fleetwood replacing him. At the same time Scott Rendell comes on for Shaw.
Chris Hughton has seen enough and sends Wes Hoolahan and Anthony Pilkington on for Elliott Bennett and Andrew Surman in an effort to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Rudd launches another tirade at his own defenders as both centre backs go for the same ball and it breaks free to Gray, who snatches at the chance to send his shot over the bar from inside the area.
Paul Buckle makes his first change of the game, withdrawing Mendy in favour of Jonathan O'Donnell.
Howells comes close to sending Gray clean through with an angled pass, but the midfielder's plan is spotted by Javier Garrido, who steps in to intercept.
The Norwich defence strangely stand off as the ball drops out of the air to Jon Shaw, who almost takes full advantage with a drive that narrowly clears the angle of post and bar. Declan Rudd can't believe what his teammates are doing and wastes no time in letting them know.
Andrew Surman makes a yard of space for himself and goes to bend the ball into the top corner from 18 yards. In the end the shot is too close to Tyler, who gathers.
Grant Holt has his heckles up and is smashing through challenges like an enraged behemoth. The captain is trying his best to drag his teammates up by their shirt collars.
Russell Martin reaches the byline with a feint and dribble to whip in a dangerous low ball. Kovacs has to adjust his body shape at the last moment to put the ball out for a corner rather than into his own net.
Holt looks set to score as the substitute meets Jackson's cross with a diving header, only to see Mark Tyler stop the shot with a superb diving save.
Janos Kovacs had an easy first half, winning everything in the air, but now Grant Holt is on the Hungarian faces a very different proposition. One forceful but fair leap from the striker leaves the stunned Kovacs on his backside.
Barnett's raking diagonal ball finds Grant Holt, who heads the ball back inside where Simeon Jackson is waiting. The Norwich man lets fly with a spectacular overhead kick that fails to trouble the goalkeeper.
Andre Gray gets a sight of goal on the edge of the box and goes for glory, but the striker's driven effort is directed straight at Declan Rudd.
Luton get forward early in the half as Alex Lawless crosses into the area, where Jake Howells glances a header over the bar.
The teams are back out and the second half is underway. Chris Hughton has taken steps to stop the rot already, sending Grant Holt on for Kane.
Luton can be very proud; for 45 minutes they've matched, and at times surpassed, Premier League Norwich City, who need to take a long, hard look at themselves. Andre Gray has been impressive for the visitors, who have worked hard to pile on the pressure but have struggled to penetrate with a final ball. When Norwich have broken out class has threatened to tell; first Simeon Jackson shot straight at Mark Tyler when one-on-one, before Leon Barnett hit the bar with a header. The second half may prove to be a different story as Norwich bring on the first-teamers and Luton legs gets heavy, but if they keep this up we could have an upset on our hands.
It's half time here at Carrow Road with the game locked in a stalemate.
Russell Martin gets a boot to the ball as Kane's flick spins up in the air, turning it inches past the post. That was a close one.
Chris Hughton must be composing quite the half time team talk in his head. His side have been deeply disappointing.
Barnett leaps high to head a corner against the inside of the post. The ball bounces back off the defender before it's hacked away off the line, and the Norwich supporters protest that the ball went in. While that's going on, Gray speeds up the other end and appeals for a penalty after being felled by Howson in what looked a fair challenge. The ref gives short shrift to both.
Jonathan Howson, as if to remind everyone that Norwich are a top flight side, shows a bit of class to play a smart one-two with Elliott Bennett and then pick out Surman with a crossfield pass.
Russell Martin has picked up a knock but opts to soldier on rather than receive treatment. The Canaries captain will hobble around the pitch for now.
Taylor throws himself in the way of Harry Kane's drive from ten yards out to make a superb block after Javier Garrido and Andrew Surman had combined well to set up the young striker.
The first opportunity of the game finally arrives as Jackson sprints onto a long ball to go one-on-one with Tyler. The keeper stands up well to block the shot and then gets straight back up to deny Andrew Surman on the rebound.
Harry Kane is fouled by Greg Taylor to win a free kick 35 yards from goal. David Fox is the man to deliver, curling a ball into the box where Ryan Bennett knocks down and Kane is unable to apply the finish.
While the game couldn't exactly be called boring, we still haven't seen any kind of opportunity created by either team. A goal would be heaven sent.
The crowd are starting to get a bit restless as the Premier League outfit fail to impose themselves. One awful pass from Leon Barnett, placed exactly in between Russell Martin and Elliott Bennett, draws groans.
Harry Kane shows some terrific skill to flick the ball over the heads of two defenders, but the ball doesn't drop quickly enough and the on-loan striker is forced to turn back.
Luton are really taking the game to their opponents now, peppering the home box with a spell of aerial pressure typical of a team from the lower leagues. Andre Gray is looking particularly lively.
With ten minutes on the clock, things have been very even here at Carrow Road. Norwich have enjoyed slightly more possession but Luton are matching them for grit and endeavour.
Jonathan Howson plays a ball around the corner for Simeon Jackson to chase down the left. The forward gets in a low cross that fails to make it past the sure-handed Mark Tyler.
The first corner of the match goes to Luton after Ryan Bennett tackles Andre Gray inside the box, but it comes to nothing.
We're underway here at Carrow Road as Luton Town kick off. Almost 4,000 of the Hatters' fans have made the trip today and will be thoroughly enjoying the occasion.
The Norwich side is packed with players who don't get too many games, which will fill Luton hearts with glee. Simeon Jackson, Harry Kane, Andrew Surman and Declan Rudd are among the starters.
Jon Shaw is the only injury doubt for Luton.
Steven Whittaker is available after recovering from injury, but Steve Morison misses out with a thigh problem. A largely second-string Norwich side is likely to include Declan Rudd in goal and midfielder Andrew Surman.
Luton manager Paul Buckle has revealed that the club tried to sign Bury's Marcus Marshall. The Hatters had a bid accepted but were unable to agree personal terms, with the winger instead electing to join Grimsby Town on loan until the end of the season.
Chris Hughton has confirmed that Norwich are considering a transfer window swoop for Sporting Kansas City striker Kei Kamara. The 28-year-old Sierra Leone forward scored 11 goals in 33 games last year and could be brought in to bolster the Canaries' goalshy strikeforce.
Carrow Road today plays host to a real David and Goliath style encounter as plucky Blue Square Bet Premier outfit Luton Town take on the might of Premier League Norwich City in the FA Cup fourth round. Canaries boss Chris Hughton has stated his intention to play a weakened side, a fact that will give Luton great encouragement. Their recent impressive league form should also provide a bit of momentum to take into this match, although a high-energy, physical approach will surely be required if they're to have any chance of hurting their top-flight hosts. Could the Hatters really pull off what would be a terrific upset? In the FA Cup anything is always possible.