Aji Alese is coming on for Sunderland and that tells you where they're at in this semi-final.

He's only just starting kicking a ball on the training paddock, Tony Mowbray was saying in recovery from a thigh problem.

But needs must. They need some defensive strength and ballast. Alex Pritchard makes way.

Marco Gabbiadini
Ex-Sunderland striker on BBC Radio Newcastle

Luton are all over the Sunderland goalkeeper Patterson at every opportunity at corners. He doesn't have any room to move at all.

We often see goalkeepers protected by referees but he doesn't seem interested tonight.

Image source, PA Media

Alife Doughty swings in a corner which almost has the trajectory of a shot, helped on its way by Jordan Clark.

Pierre Ekwah's head unwittingly flicks it over.

The second delivery is equally dangerous, more central, Elijah Adebayo connects but cannot get his head over it and it bullets over.

Just as I praised Sunderland, their high-risk, pass-out policy backfires as Luton squeeze and win it back.

Corner to come from Alfie Doughty. The noise level grows again. And they have Sunderland's number on set-pieces.

Luke O'Nien strides forward like Alan Hansen from the back, coasting into the Luton half.

He tries to release Dan Neil, but as he and Alex Pritchard try to work an intricate one-two, Luton hook it away.

Plenty of possession for the side in blue though.

Marco Gabbiadini
Ex-Sunderland striker on BBC Radio Newcastle

What Luton have done really well is they have made Sunderland kick it out from the keeper rather than play it out from the back and have possession in the deep.

Sunderland have started better in the second half.

Open last few minutes, as the ball pings from one end of the field to the other.

No shutting up shop from Luton, no letting up on the fightback from Sunderland.

Image source, PA Media

Chances at both ends.

Elijah Adebayo can't connect cleanly with a looping cross which Sunderland don't initially clear.

Then, the visitors break, and Jack Clarke cuts in off the left and sends a skiddy low shot which Ethan Horvath easily absorbs into his palms.

Sunderland win a corner, and play it short.

Amad Diallo wriggles into the box, skimming the chalk on the byline before he's blocked for another set-piece.

It's banged in, but the header is well over from Diallo as it comes in.

Leon Barnett
Former Luton defender on BBC Three Counties Radio

I could see Tony Mowbray, he'll be spitting absolute feathers, he won't want his defence conceding possession like that, especially so early in the second half.

Sunderland are a bag of nerves.

Luke O'Nien swipes thin air, but Luton can't capitalise as there's just enough on it to get back to goalkeeper Anthony Patterson.

Inexplicably, he plays a square pass straight to Jordan Clark, but almost spooked by the ridiculousness of it all, he skies it.

Missed opportunity with Sunderland all at sea.

No fist-pumping or histrionics from Rob Edwards as he heads back to his place on the bench. Still a big 45 to go for Luton.

Tony Mowbray is deep in dialogue with his coaching staff as he comes out too.

Sunderland to kick off in the second period. Their season is on the line.

Image source, Reuters

Middlesbrough and Coventry will soon be sick of the sight of one another as they meet for the third time in nine days on Wednesday.

After a 1-1 draw on the final day of the season and then a goalless stalemate in the first leg, something has to give in tomorrow's second leg - with a place at Wembley at stake.

Read all about it here.

Image source, Rex Features

It's almost been a case of 'no more Mr Nice Guy' from Luton, who having failed to boss Sunderland in the first leg, have come out snarling for this one.

Tom Lockyer, before his goal heroics, was pitched into an on-running battle with Sunderland striker Joe Gelhardt. It was a tussle, like so many on the pitch tonight, which summed up Luton's mood.

This is their patch, they want to win, and they'll make sure you have to graft hard to stop them.

Game plan wise, they've been relentless. Backing up their aggression with quality from the likes of Alfie Doughty and Jordan Clark.

Carlton Morris is looking the player who scored 20 goals this season, while Elijah Adebayo is winning the knock-downs and putting himself about.

Sunderland, without their natural centre-backs, are giving away a few kilograms and inches in that battle.

Marco Gabbiadini
Ex-Sunderland striker on BBC Radio Newcastle

There are no surprises in what's happened in the first half. It's direct, they have been on the front foot, stopped us playing out from the back, tackled higher up the pitch. It's sometimes left Sunderland isolated up front and when they have got the ball they have not got enough bodies forward in support.

There will be chances for Sunderland, I'm sure of that. I wouldn't say Luton dominated the whole half but they had good spells and there is danger as soon as it goes wide.

Image source, Reuters

Having taken the lead as they did at the Stadium of Light, Luton this time have not taken their foot off the pedal, and as such have dominated this first half of the second leg.

After Gabriel Osho's prod home gave them the advantage on the night and levelled it up overall, up popped captain Tom Lockyer, steaming onto a cross to double the lead and put Luton in front in the tie.

Sunderland are still in this, they have the quality. But whether they can change tack and style to counter the Hatters will be interesting. Do they need to? They certainly need to turn the tide.

Sunderland fashion a chance with one of the last chances of the half, but Amad Diallo's spectacular attempt thuds into the ground and bounces wide.

Good cross from Lynden Gooch too.

Image source, Rex Features

Tony Mowbray has rolled his sleeves up on the touchline, and the Sunderland boss will need his players to do so metaphorically.

Luton have just come out with so much energy, intensity, might and power. Sunderland have been in the washing machine in the last 10 minutes and it's starting to tell.

Leon Barnett
Former Luton defender on BBC Three Counties Radio

You could sense something coming... it was a good corner from Doughty first off, it got headed away, but when it came back in there was Tom Lockyer to head it home, a great header too.

They need to keep doing what they are doing - I don't want them thinking 'we're a goal ahead so we can relax a bit.'