Luton Town vs Sheffield Wednesday: Atdhe Nuhiu sends Owls through to the FA Cup fourth round

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Atdhe Nuhiu’s goal early in the second half proved to be just enough to shade this replay and book the Owls a fourth round trip to holders Chelsea.

The big forward took advantage of some poor defending by hosts who are hoping to put this disappointment behind them by learning on Wednesday that permission is to be given for a new 23,000-seater stadium on the site of an old power station.

A 0-0 draw at Hillsborough brought about a rematch between two teams who are both without a permanent manager.

Mick Harford, who had two spells at Luton as a player plus another as manager, is in temporary charge as the Hatters seek a long-term replacement for Nathan Jones, who was himself in FA Cup action elsewhere with new club Stoke City.

Harford has made it clear he does not want the job himself but Steve Agnew won’t be going anywhere once Steve Bruce takes up the reins at Wednesday as he is part of the former Aston Villa manager’s coaching team and keeping the away dugout warm for his February 1 arrival.

Luton, second in League One, kicked off having last tasted defeat on league action since mid October. The Owls, 16th in the Championship, had managed just three victories in that period.

The first chance belonged to the visitors as Adam Reach burst through on the left of the box but he could not hit the target.

Wednesday were under pressure when Nuhiu was booked in the 11th minute for upending Kazenga LuaLua a foot outside of the Owls box but Elliot Lee’s free-kick struck the wall.

George Boyd then fired a passable Owls chance over after Pelly Ruddock, Luton’s defensive midfielder, was caught in possession.

Wednesday, with right-back Liam Palmer getting into attacking positions, won a flurry of corners with Jordan Thorniley forcing Luton goalkeeper James Shea into the game’s first taxing save with a long-ranger in the 27th minute.

Jack Stacey strode forward to fire Luton’s first on-target reply but Cameron Dawson in the Wednesday goal was behind it.

Dawson appeared to deflect a shot from James Collins away from his far post with a boot but the officials ruled there had been no touch and awarded a goal-kick.

Wednesday came close to a 36th-minute opener when Steven Fletcher diverted Barry Bannon’s shot past Shea with his head only for the ball to cannon back off the keeper’s left-hand post.

Luton were almost gifted the lead themselves seconds later when Dawson misjudged a backpass from Tom Lees and was relieved to see the ball trundle wide of an open goal as he scurried back.

Lee then fired a great Luton chance over and James Justin forced Dawson into a near post save but the tie remained without a single goal going into the break.

Wednesday required just one minute of second-half action to take the lead through Nuhiu. Luton allowed Fletcher to take the ball down in front of goal but the Scot’s shot thumped into the bulky chest of his strike partner, who was the first to react and poke past Shea.

Reach fired wide from outside the box as Wednesday sought to double the advantage but the next chance was Luton’s as Dawson reacted to block Luke Berry’s shot from Justin’s low ball across the box.

Shea dived to deny Reach as Luton threw men forward at the risk of being exposed at the back. The hosts then replaced Berry with Dan Potts, who immediately forced Dawson into a flying save.

Potts saw a header bounce off a post before Dawson denied Andrew Shinnie in a frantic finale that saw the Owls do just enough.

Luton Town (4-1-3-2): Shea; Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Justin; Ruddock; Shinnie, Lee (Jarvis 88), Berry (Potts 68); Collins, LuaLua. Subs (not used): McCormack, L Jones, Isted, Sheehan, Neufville.

Sheffield Wednesday (4-1-3-2): Dawson; Palmer, Lees, Thorniley, Fox; Hector; Reach, Boyd, Bannon; Fletcher (Matias 90), Nuhui. Subs (not used): D Jones, van Aken, Winnell, Matias, Baker, Wildsmith, Pudil.

Referee: Tim Robinson.

Attendance: 9,259.