FA Cup: Luton Town 4-0 Harrogate Town - Hatters progress on Mick Harford's return

Luton Town welcomed club legend Mick Harford back to the dug-out for the first time after cancer treatment with victory over League Two side Harrogate Town to reach the FA Cup fourth round.

Elijah Adebayo's low drive on the turn from Cameron Jerome's flick-on, gave the Hatters the edge at the break.

Jerome doubled the lead with a second-half tap-in, before Kal Naismith cutely dinked in a third over Mark Oxley.

Luke Berry emphatically hammered a late fourth to finally quell Harrogate.

This was a tie which typified the spirit which Harford displayed during his impressive career: combative, competitive and full of endeavour.

Despite the scoreline, Simon Weaver's Harrogate belied the 43-place gap between the teams in the English Football League in their first appearance at this stage of the competition, in front of a passionate and vocal travelling support.

The Sulphurites, who could only name four substitutes, were sharp in possession and aggressive in defence - and it took full-stretch diving saves from James Shea in the Luton goal to deny 11-goal top scorer Luke Armstrong and Brahima Diarra.

In the end, the Hatters' more clinical finishing and Championship experience proved the difference, as they continued onto the fourth round in consecutive seasons for the first time in 27 years.

Luton boss Nathan Jones told BBC Radio Three Counties:

"All I asked them to do was win the game, we've been a month without playing and it showed at times. We've given them a big week, we needed a big week and put more work into them than we would normally, so we've taken a gamble in a few things.

"We got away with it slightly, in terms of winning, keeping a clean sheet and scoring four goals. They were good today, they had a bit more rhythm than we did.

"Their approach play was very good but we defended our box well. We were glad it was an FA Cup game today as we would have been punished if it were a Championship game."

Harrogate boss Simon Weaver told BBC Radio York:

"A big part of the game is being ruthless when you create chances, we had plenty of chances and didn't put them in the net, and defensively we contributed to all the goals we conceded.

"We have to keep being better. There was lots of nice passing, good on the eye, enough to cut a Championship side open, but the result was 4-0 so we're disappointed.

"We'll get some kind of plaudits, but the outcome is 4-0 and it should have been better. We have to not hide behind the facts we created an incredible amount of chances but we didn't stick them away. That is on the day, the FA Cup."

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