On Sunday afternoon, Premier League side Luton Town welcome League One outfit Bolton Wanderers to Kenilworth Road in the third round of the FA Cup.
Bolton have already come through two rounds to reach this stage, dispatching Solihull Moors 4-0 before thrashing Harrogate Town 5-1.
The first of many goals for the Town from @andros_townsend! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/tAPMrhNvmk— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) January 3, 2024
The first of many goals for the Town from @andros_townsend! 🎯 pic.twitter.com/tAPMrhNvmk
Thanks to their top-flight status, Luton enter this year’s FA Cup in the third round, although they lost five consecutive third-round ties between 2014-15 and 2019-20.
Last weekend, the Hatters found themselves 3-0 down against Chelsea before scoring two late goals, eventually losing 3-2 after a battling rally.
That defeat ended a two-game winning streak for Luton, who defeated Newcastle United 1-0 before coming from behind to beat Sheffield United 3-2.
Rob Edwards’ side have made a decent start to life in the Premier League, winning four of their 19 matches, although they remain one point inside the relegation zone.
Having pushed powerhouses like Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool all the way at Kenilworth Road, Luton will be confident of overcoming Bolton on home soil.
As for the visitors, they sit second in League One – two points clear of third-placed Peterborough United and two points behind table-topping Portsmouth.
The Wanderers have lost just five of their 24 league games this season, recording three draws and five losses along the way.
Not only have Bolton won each of their last four matches, but they have also kept three consecutive clean sheets, highlighting their defensive solidity.
It is also worth noting that Bolton have lost only two of their 12 away outings across all competitions this term, underlining their strength on the road.
Head-to-head: The last meeting between Luton and Bolton came in the FA Cup back in 1997, with the Wanderers crushing the Hatters 6-2 on that occasion.
Across five FA Cup ties, Luton have failed to get the better of Bolton, recording one draw and four defeats since 1898.
Team news: Luton are currently without captain Tom Lockyer, while Marvelous Nakamba, Reece Burke, Dan Potts and Issa Kabore find themselves on the injury list.
On the flip side, Bolton have reported no fresh injury problems ahead of Sunday’s showdown. Their danger man is Dion Charles, who has scored 13 goals in 23 league games this term.
Although Luton sit two divisions above Bolton in the English football pyramid, the Wanderers boast a successful FA Cup history against the Hatters.
With that in mind, Forebet predicts that Bolton will push Luton all the way at Kenilworth Road, holding the Premier League side to a draw.