Luton Town

Luton Town manager Rob Edwards speaking to BBC Sport after the FA Cup win: "We believe we can go anywhere and win. We were confident coming in to the game. We were a little bit sloppy at times, but there is total belief there."

On Luton's set-piece quality: "The lads really value them and we do really work on them. Twice we have scored from set-pieces here and won the game. We created more chances from open play and probably should've scored others."

On Cauley Woodrow scoring the winner with a broken hand: "I'm really pleased for Cauley. He hasn't been able to get too much game time and get a rhythm. He is a real gem of a lad and he will be a happy man tonight, although he will be in a bit of pain."

On reaching the FA Cup fifth round: "I didn't enjoy many cup runs as a player. We will enjoy this, it does mean a lot and it is important that we enjoy these moments. Hopefully it can give us a feel-good factor going into next week.

"I'm excited to see who we get in fifth round. We have been picking up results and we want that to continue. We are really pleased."

Did you know?

• Luton have won twice at Goodison Park this season, beating Everton 2-1 in both the Premier League and FA Cup. It’s the first time they have won twice on the road against a top-flight opponent in a season since 1984-85 (v Stoke City).

Luton's match-winner Cauley Woodrow speaking to BBC Sport following his side's dramatic late victory over Everton: "To be fair I don't really remember much. It just fell to me and I managed to tap it in.

"It was a tough game and at the end it was like a basketball match.

"I'm really pleased with myself because I have been waiting a long time for a goal, and also for the travelling fans - they were unbelievable today."

He revealed that he believes he scored with a broken hand, after Everton defender James Tarkowski fell on him earlier in the match: "James Tarkowski fell on me accidentally but I felt it crack, so I was in a bit of shock for a while!"

Image source, Getty Images

Former Everton and England midfielder Izzy Christiansen on BBC Radio 5 Live: "What a hard fought game. It was really transitional, end to end, some really high quality bits, and some scrappy bits too. A brawl, chances, it had everything.

"There was the winning goal in the last few seconds, and Luton probably deserved that.

"Everton had three clean sheets coming into this match and to concede two, you can see the massive disappointment on their faces. It's a huge win for Luton."

Substitute Cauley Woodrow scored in additional time to seal a dramatic victory for Luton at Everton in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko put through his own net late in the opening 45 minutes, unable to get out of the way as Alfie Doughty's delivery from a corner arrived at the near post, to round off a turgid first half of football in which both sides struggled to create openings.

Despite getting back in the tie, Everton were unable to shift the momentum in their favour as Luton carved out the better opportunities, with Elijah Adebayo forcing a fine save out of goalkeeper Joao Virginia and Carlton Morris seeing a shot cleared off the line by Nathan Patterson.

With the minutes ticking on, and Premier League relegation rivals Everton and Luton both keen to avoid a replay, spaces started to appear with greater regularity but, as was the story of the first half, both sides were wasteful.

That was until the 96th minute, when Woodrow volleyed in from close range after a goalmouth scramble when Everton failed to clear their lines from a corner.

It's just the second time Luton have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup since 2012-13, when they were in the Conference Premier - now known as the National League.

Were you at the match or did you follow it from home?

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Everton are hosting Luton Town at Goodison Park in the FA Cup fourth-round, with kick-off less than an hour away.

Get all the build-up followed by live text updates here

Tune into full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live

This week, BBC Football expert Chris Sutton is taking on Justin and Arni from indie band The Vaccines to predict the fourth round of the FA Cup.

On Saturday, Everton host fellow Premier League side Luton Town (15:00 GMT).

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Everton's form has fallen away, although they got over the line against Crystal Palace in their third-round replay.

We know Luton never stop fighting and they got their reward with their late equaliser against Burnley last time out.

Both of these teams are in the bottom four, so it is going to be very interesting to see how they approach this tie.

I suspect both managers will be looking to their games next Tuesday, when Everton go to Fulham and Luton host Brighton.

Justin's prediction: 1-0

I am going to back Everton. Sean Dyche is doing a good job, even if their 10-point deduction means they are still in relegation trouble.

Arni's prediction: 2-0

I am a big Dyche fan too, so I am going to stick with Everton as well.

Read the full predictions.

Josh Lobley, BBC Sport

Rob Edwards has spoken to the media ahead of Luton's FA Cup match with Everton on Saturday.

Here are the main lines from his news conference:

• Edwards recognised the balance between the league and the FA Cup: “The league is of course the most important but this game is next and we will prepare right because we want to win and go as far as we can."

• Despite accepting the Premier League takes priority, Edwards did not play down the prestige of the FA Cup: "[It] is an amazing competition so we’re taking it very, very seriously. For us, we want to continue building our performances and the feelgood factor because we’ve been in good form. We’re really looking forward to it. Everton are a brilliant football club, it’s a great stadium so the motivation is there for us.”

• He said returning to the ground where they got their first Premier League win gives the Hatters more confidence: "It gives you belief knowing you’ve done it [winning] there before. This will be a different occasion. Everton have won a lot of football matches since that game. But like we did at Sheffield United the other week – we knew we had done it before. Maybe there’s something in that but we’ll see.”

• Edwards spoke about Marvellous Nakamba, who will be sidelined for several months: "I love his smile around the place and, while he’s still smiling, you can tell he’s desperate to be out on the pitch."

• The club have received an "interesting offer" for Ryan Giles, but the "ball is in the player's court". The Luton boss says there may be one or two more departures if he wants it to happen.

• On why Ross Barkley has played in a deeper role than usual Luton: "It works for us. He's able to take the ball a little bit deeper and allows us to build and control the game. It felt natural and he's making it his own. We aren't holding him back and stopping him from getting forward because that's a big part of his game and we don't want to rein him in."

Tune into BBC Radio 5 Live for full match commentary from 15:00 GMT

Luton Town are back from Dubai and gearing up for a return to Everton, where they secured their first Premier League win back in September.

The latest episode of BBC Three Counties' Radio's Luton in the Prem podcast looks ahead to the Goodison Park trip and previews the transfer business the Hatters could conduct before deadline day.

Listen now on BBC Sounds

We've seen fewer deals at this stage of a January window than normal.

Simply put, clubs are having to work with what they’ve got. The financial regularities mean nobody wants to get any points deducted, so everybody must be sailing very close, unless there’s a bit of trading to do.

Generally you see one go and then things move around, but it’s heavily looking like just loan deals.

If you ask the bulk of managers if they would bring reinforcements in then they would. I don’t think there’s many who would say they wouldn’t take at least another player. It’s in everyone’s nature to do so. They may say they are not bothered out loud, but do you really believe it?

What can be done? Teams have players missing across the board and it’s a high number of injuries for this time of the season. But it all comes down to the Financial Fair Play regulations.

Would Nottingham Forest go and try and do a bit? Probably. We know Gary O’Neil at Wolves would love to do stuff, but he’s governed by what he can move around in order to bring in.

Then you have the bottom three. They have to strengthen wherever possible but their hands are also tied. It’s tough what they can get over the line.

Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Luton Town are interested in Coventry City's 25-year-old midfielder Ben Sheaf. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

Luton will have returned from their winter warm-weather training in Dubai fresh and relaxed before their trip to Everton on Saturday in the FA Cup fourth round.

The Hatters will take just short of 3,000 supporters up to Goodison Park and will hope to repeat what they did to the Toffees in the Premier League in September. That was Luton's first win in the Premier League - those who were there will not forget the experience.

With a bigger away following given it is the cup, it is a great opportunity for supporters to get to watch Luton on their travels and so that is likely to generate a cracking atmosphere in Merseyside.

The rest since the third-round replay win at Bolton will have done Rob Edwards’ side plenty of good. The squad is in fine nick and only Marvellous Nakamba is on the long-term injury list.

Meanwhile, speculation continues to link Ryan Giles away from the club with Hull City the latest reportedly interested in a loan move for the left wing-back.

With all the success stories of the summer signings Luton made last year, Giles is one that has not quite worked out.

He has been unlucky in the sense that Alfie Doughty's form has been simply sensational, but even when it has appeared he would likely to get his chance due to suspension or injury, Edwards has tended to favour an alternative option, suggesting Giles does not quite fit into his system.

As you can imagine, it has not helped Giles’ confidence and a loan move away might be best for both parties. The full-back's best asset is his attacking prowess, and perhaps defensively Edwards has his reservations.

If he does go, Luton will be lacking a bit in that area of the pitch on both sides so might have to make a late January transfer move.

Everton v Luton on BBC Three Counties Radio and Online (UK-only) on Saturday.

• Everton have progressed from all three of their FA Cup ties against Luton Town, most recently winning a quarter-final replay in 1985-86.

• Luton have already beaten Everton at Goodison Park this season, taking home a 2-1 win in the Premier League. The only top-flight side they have beaten twice on the road in the same campaign is Stoke City in 1984-85.

• Everton have won seven of their past eight FA Cup fourth-round ties, with the exception being a 3-2 loss against Millwall in 2018-19. However, they have not progressed from successive ties against fellow Premier League opponents since 2015-16 (fifth round against Bournemouth and quarter-final against Chelsea).

• The Hatters have alternated between being eliminated (three times) and progressing (twice) from their past five FA Cup fourth-round ties, going out to Grimsby Town at this stage last season.

Image source, Luton Town FC

Simon Oxley from BBC Three Counties Radio on the latest Luton In The Prem podcast discussing the club's first signing of the transfer window: "They've been linked with him before Tom Holmes, they have had a good look at him before, so it isn't really a surprise.

"I know he is playing League One at the moment, but the vast majority of his football has been in the Championship. He's very experienced but still relatively young. He is one of those that comes into the promising but experienced [category], in the Championship but with potential to play at a higher level.

"He's an [Gabriel] Osho, [Teden] Mengi, [Tom] Lockyer, who have risen to the occasion and in the Premier League they have risen to the occasion. Yes they have found it difficult – of course they have, it's the top league in the world – but Holmes would be another one of those.

"The fact that they have loaned him back as well I think is good thing, it is going to be wrench for him to leave, particularly with what is going on there [at Reading]. It probably makes more sense for him to move in the summer rather than now with all the hullabaloo that is going on with them at the minute.

"It smacks of forward planning which is what Luton are all about."

Image source, Getty Images

On the latest episode of BBC Three Counties' Luton in the Prem podcast, commentators Geoff Doyle and Simon Oxley discuss the Hatters' break in Dubai and new signing Tom Holmes.

Rob Edwards' team have made the most of their mini winter break from the Premier League by setting off for some warm weather training.

"It's a funny sort of break isn't it because some had it last week, some have it this week," Oxley said.

"They've headed off - managed to fit it in between FA Cup commitments. They had to change their travel arrangements, staying in Manchester after the Bolton replay and flying to Dubai from there.

"Obviously they were determined to go. Look at it now, it's freezing old outside, training pitches won't be in the best condition - go out, get some rest, get some warm weather for what is to come.

"There's everything to play for so they need to be in the best shape to do that. If that means jetting off to sunnier climes then so be it."

Listen in full on BBC Sounds

Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio

Luton Town just needed to get the job done at Bolton Wanderers in their FA Cup replay and that is pretty much what they did.

Manager Rob Edwards went for a bold, attacking, aggressive stance (when else may they get the chance?) and it ultimately paid off. The approach did leave them open a bit and Luton were helped with a Bolton disallowed goal incident near the end that VAR may have looked at in the Premier League.

When I spoke to Edwards afterwards, he told me he wants his side to make that next progression of becoming a team who, when expected to win, do have a favourites' attitude and go and perform really strongly. They are getting closer to that, but that still may come with a bit of time.

Luton have now travelled to Dubai (can any Hatters fans have imagined this 10 years ago?!) for some warm weather training as they have a break from Premier League duty.

That has not stopped them making their first January signing. Reading defender Tom Holmes fits the usual Hatters criteria of being talented, in his early 20s and with three full Championship seasons under his belt.

The Dubai experience is more likely to be a chance to rest and recover and as Edwards told me to let their hair down a tad and have "a bit of a laugh".

Luton are currently on a run of one defeat in six in all competitions. When they return, it’s back to FA Cup action before the midweek game against Brighton and then another long trip to Newcastle United.

The players deserve their rest and have earned the right to have some sunshine on their backs.

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town have confirmed the signing of defender Tom Holmes from Reading for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old has also been loaned back to the League One side until the end of the season.

Holmes is a product of the Royals' academy and has made nine league appearances this season.

Reading are struggling both on and off the pith, with owner Dai Yongge told to either fund or sell the club by the EFL after fan protests led to Saturday's match against Port Vale being abandoned, and reportedly need to sell a number of their promising young players.

"He's a proper defender, but is someone who can take the ball as well and we think he's got a high ceiling for someone who is still young and developing," said Luton boss Rob Edwards.

"We are really looking forward to working with him and we welcome him to the club, but we feel the right thing for him is to stay at Reading on loan for the rest of the season and continue to help there."

Image source, Getty Images

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson says Luton Town boss Rob Edwards will want to take momentum from Tuesday's FA Cup third-round replay win over Bolton Wanderers into their Premier League survival bid.

"On the list of priorities at the start of the season, the FA Cup would not have been anywhere near the top," Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Staying in the Premier League is the objective and a tie against Everton or Crystal Palace in the next round probably isn't too appealing.

"What is appealing though is a six-game run with only one defeat, which is of huge importance to them. He [Edwards] wants to take that performance - what they've shown in the FA Cup - into league points to keep the run going because a winning run is just as difficult to get out of as a losing one.

"Momentum-wise, absolutely he wanted to come here and get a result. He made five changes from the team that drew at Burnley, but it was still a very strong team.

"Ross Barkley was the anchor of everything, he was brilliant again - a class above everyone else on the pitch. He really is showing his credentials and why he was bought to the club."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town boss Rob Edwards says he is "pleased" his side edged past League One side Bolton Wanderers in their FA Cup third-round replay, despite being "sloppy in too many moments".

The Hatters came from 1-0 down to win 2-1 and will now face either Everton or Crystal Palace in the fourth round.

Speaking in the post-match news conference, Edwards said: "Tonight was about winning. We were not at our best.

"We had to manage a few tonight - but we try to win every match we go into. We found a way to win tonight.

"We just dropped a bit, and you can't do that. Bolton are a big club, but when we are favourites, we took our foot off the gas and Bolton could have punished us. But lots of good play by us, just a little sloppy in final third."

Luton will not play now until their fourth-round tie on 27 January and Edwards is relishing the chance to spend time with his squad.

"We're going away for some warm weather - getting training in and time together," he added.

"It has been a tough season so far."

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Smith, BBC Sport

Job done for Luton - but not without being pushed hard over three hours of football by a third division side.

Rob Edwards' side huffed and puffed for long periods over both games, despite dominating possession and chances.

Although they responded quickly to Bolton's opener, Luton never felt in control of a very open game in which both sides struck the woodwork.

Eventually Premier League quality told, with league regulars Ross Barkley and Carlton Morris heavily involved in the build-up for Chiedozie Ogbene's winner.

Luton's fight against relegation has been thrown into uncertainty this week by potential point deductions for Everton and Nottingham Forest.

In comparison, the certainty of an FA Cup run - and the potential morale boost it could bring - is clearly being welcomed by Edwards.