Rob Edwards blissful to tackle top-flight opponents after edging previous Bolton

Luton boss Rob Edwards believes his facet will profit from going through Premier League opponents within the subsequent spherical of the FA Cup after making life troublesome for themselves earlier than overcoming League One Bolton 2-1 in Tuesday evening’s third spherical replay. Having been held to a goalless draw at Kenilworth Road 9 days in the past, Luton fell behind to Dion Charles’ eleventh minute strike on the Toughsheet Community Stadium. But Tahith Chong swiftly equalised earlier than Chiedozie Ogbene’s second-half purpose arrange a tie in opposition to the winners of Wednesday’s replay between Everton and Crystal Palace.

Luton prevented the upset however Edwards admitted his facet had let their requirements drop when going through decrease league opposition. “Tonight was all about winning,” Edwards mentioned. “We weren’t at our best.

We were a little bit sloppy in too many moments and probably allowed them to build and grow in the game a little bit. “Credit to them, there was a little bit of sloppiness but overall I’m very, very pleased that we’re through. ” “I think in a way it’s better for us to play a Premier League team in the next round, we know we’re going to have to be full tilt.

We dropped in the last two games and we can’t do that, we’ll get punished. “Bolton are a big, big football club. But when we’re favourites I think we’ve taken our foot off the gas in certain moments and we can’t do that.

We’re not good enough to do that. ” Bolton, two factors off the highest of League One with three video games in hand, performed with confidence and had probabilities to retake the lead earlier than Ogbene struck, whereas additionally having a second-half strike from Charles dominated out for offside. “It was a difficult night,” Edwards added.

“It’s cup football and it was never going to be easy. They’re playing very well, they’re used to winning. “It’s a cold night, snowing, the recipe is there for an upset, or for us to go out.

I’m really pleased we found a way to equalise quickly. ” Before kick-off there was a minute’s silence in reminiscence of Iain Purslow, the 71-year-old Bolton supporter who died after being taken sick throughout Saturday’s League One match in opposition to Cheltenham, which was deserted halfway by way of the primary half. “I’m proud of the club and I’m proud of my team,” Bolton supervisor Ian Evatt mentioned.

“We wanted to pay him respect and to pay the family respect. “It’s not about how we feel. It’s all about the family and their feelings.

Hopefully now they get the time to mourn. We’ve paid our respects and I think they just need peace and quiet to come to terms with a really sad loss. “I thought we started the game very fast and very well and got ourselves in front.

Against Premier League opposition if you make mistakes you get punished and we made a couple tonight and they were punished. We would have liked to be in the lead a little bit longer and to stabilise it. “In the second half I thought the team were outstanding for large spells and dominated against a very good team.

I’ve watched a lot of Luton, they cause teams problems and tonight we caused them problems. “It’s about trying to replicate that for the rest of the season and if we do that we’ll achieve our ambitions. ” Eastleigh’s run ends as Newport safe Manchester United glamour tie.