Bolton Wanderers secure replay after Luton Town stalemate

Though Ian Evatt won’t thank anyone for an extra game in a crowded schedule, he will surely know his players deserve another shot to claim the Hatters’ scalp after an absorbing contest. 

They rode their luck at times – Alfie Doughty striking the inside of the post, then Will Forrester seeing a challenge on the same player go to VAR for a potential penalty. 

But Wanderers were by no means outclassed, nor outfought by the team 27 places above them in the football pyramid.  

If they got some good fortune, then it only goes to prove one of Ian Evatt’s regular go-to quotes, that hard work puts you where good luck finds you. 

Wanderers made two changes from the side that beat Burton New Year’s Day, bringing Josh Sheehan and Kyle Dempsey into midfield for Aaron Morley and George Thomason. 

The exclusion of Thomason may have raised a few eyebrows, being that he has so often provided the physical edge for Bolton in the middle of the park, but Sheehan, Dempsey and Paris Maghoma more than matched their hosts for energy and desire. 

The first 45 minutes ended goalless but the Whites could argue they had created the better chances.  

Luton came on strong from the start. The hustle and bustle has caused problems for Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool on this ground, and for a moment it seemed that Wanderers were paying their hosts just a little too much respect. 

Ricardo Santos got caught a couple of times very early on against the powerful Eliajah Adebayo but the covering defending was solid and Bolton were able to ride out the early pressure to get a foothold of their own. 

It all started with a rasping drive from Sheehan, following a mazy run from Maghoma. The ball may have cleared Tim Krul’s bar by a couple of yards but it gave the Whites some belief. 

Victor Adeboyejo and Dion Charles worked tirelessly up front, unsettling Gabe Osho and Teden Menghi at every turn. It was an afternoon of marginal gains – a nicked ball here, a throw in won there, but the more moments that went the way of the Wanderers, the stronger they became. 

Luton always looked dangerous when they got the ball in the box, and Lokonga flicked one header wide in front of Santos which dropped just wide of the post. Another effort from Carlton Morris was blocked superbly by the Bolton skipper. 

Wanderers were finding some rhythm and were all of a sudden quicker to the loose balls in midfield. Dempsey set Charles down the middle with one typical pinch, a chance eventually falling for Maghoma, which was curled just wide of goal. 

Another opportunistic moment from Sheehan sent Charles through just before half time, and after Mengi’s sprawling challenge left the striker grounded, the away fans called instantly for VAR. Sadly, it did not intervene. 

Referee Andy Madley was taking a liberal approach to the physicality but Bolton gave as good as they got, Sheehan even squaring up to the towering Morris at one stage on halfway. 

Luton gave a sign of what was to come immediately before the break as Lokonga drove a shot inches wide with their best effort of the half.  

If Bolton had edged the judge’s scores to that point, the home side came out for the second half swinging some big punches. 

Osho headed over the bar from close range and Morris got on the end of two Alfie Doughty free kicks – but on each occasion Nathan Baxter was there to diffuse the danger. 

The former Chelsea keeper then produced the moment of the match with a brilliant save at close range to push Chiedozie Ogbene’s header over the crossbar. 

Wanderers had to withstand some heavy pressure – a succession of corners and free kicks which played very much to the home side’s strengths. But with Toal and Forrester in particularly belligerent mood, they protected the clean sheet manfully. 

Baxter hardly put a foot wrong all afternoon, making another vital save from sub Jordan Clark moments after he came on to the pitch.  

The same could not be said of the match announcer, whose grasp of some of the Bolton pronunciations left a lot to be desired. 

Luton continued to pressure the Whites’ goal – Andros Townsend coming off the bench to add a whole new level of threat.  

Wanderers got a huge let off with 10 minutes to go, Doughty crashing a shot off the inside of the post. From the resulting scramble Forrester stepped across the Luton man and those men in the VAR wagon had their moment. 

For the first time in Bolton’s history, the video referee was being called into action. And it would have been harsh in the extreme for it to have decided this cup tie. 

Thirty nervous seconds later, referee Madley signalled that the check had been complete. Forrester and Wanderers could breathe a sigh of relief. 

That gave Bolton some renewed belief and all of a sudden they looked the more likely to snatch a goal. 

Thomason had a goalbound shot blocked, and it opened up briefly for Williams. Krul punched over his own bar under pressure and then, in the dying throes, Bolton were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Aaron Morley stepped up but could only hit the wall. 

Luton nearly broke to grab a winner – Baxter sent flying by one challenge waved away by the referee but Santos seized on the loose ball and the danger was gone. 

Wanderers will be in the hat for Monday’s draw. And they thoroughly deserved to be there too.