Goal hero’s injury was HAMER blow as City went for famous win
STARTING FORMATION: 3-4-2-1
BEN WILSON: Played it out confidently to the wide centre-backs with his feet and came out to claim Town’s second corner high in the air. Beaten at his near post from a clear and powerful shot from Jordan Clark in the 23rd minute. Continued to command his box after the break and showed good distribution. Unable to deny six expertly-taken penalties in the shootout. 7
LUKE MCNALLY: Brought the ball out confidently from the back but couldn’t get close enough to Clark to deny him scoring the opener. Made a big block to deny Carlton Morris shortly after the opening goal. Did well in his personal battles and won plenty of headers. Excellent throughout, standing up to Luton’s powerful front two. 7.5
KYLE MCFADZEAN: Brave and dependable at the back, the big centre-back organised Mcnally and Doyle either side of him early on but the elder statesman was turned inside out on the left flank by bustling striker Elijah Adebayo who set up Clark for Luton’s first half goal. Recovered his composure in a solid second half when he led by example, looking confident and organised. 7
CALLUM DOYLE: Got a crucial block in to deny Adebayo in the opening minutes and had his work cut out against Luton’s physical front two. Calm in possession in his own half. Played a lovely ball down the wing for Gyokeres to run onto for the equaliser. Excellent throughout before limping off with a muscle strain/ cramp in extra-time. 7.5
BROOKE NORTON-CUFFY:
Worked hard up and down the right flank, tracking back to defend one minute and attempting to get City up the pitch the next. Showed great determination when dribbling up the pitch. Got forward more after the break but needed to provide more of an end product getting the ball into the box. Tracked back brilliantly to defend late on. 7
BEN SHEAF: Worked tirelessly in the midfield battleground and showed some real quality in possession, linking well with Gyokeres with a lovely one-two in the first half that failed to bear fruit. Excellent after the break when City turned the tables and looked the more likely to go on to win. 7.5
LIAM KELLY: Wasted no time in getting stuck in with his first tackle to break up a Luton attack and worked tirelessly trying to break up the play, while also looking to play defencesplitting passes. Sent an early secondhalf chance high over the bar from outside the box. Used all his experience to good effect as City enjoyed the momentum after the break and into extra-time. Showed incredible fitness throughout. 7.5
JAKE BIDWELL: Provided some much-needed height and physicality to the left flank and sent in a decent cross for City’s first attempt on goal late in the first half. Excellent throughout, defending solidly. 7.5
GUSTAVO HAMER: Took time to get into the game, not least because he was closely marshalled but his influence grew and he popped up with City’s first attempt on goal, albeit in the 43rd minute when he sent his effort over the bar. Scored a brilliant equaliser from the edge of the box to get City back in the game, side-footing into the bottom corner. Limped off injured in the 80th minute. A real blow to the Sky Blues. 8.5
JAMIE ALLEN: Ran himself ragged as usual in a frustrating first half in which City struggled to find their attacking rhythm. Put in a shift but unable to find or create any openings. Made way for Godden at the break when City had to do something to get back into the game. 6.5
VIKTOR GYOKERES: Struggled to make an impact in the first half hour due to Luton’s dominance and found it tough going against a big and physical back line, including towering Town sub Reece Burke and persis
tent shirt-tugger Gabriel Osho. Isolated in the first half when he barely had any service to feet and when he did get it he was bullied off the ball. More of a threat after the break when he beat the off-side trap and pulled the ball back for Hamer to score the equaliser. 8
SUBSTITUTES MATTY GODDEN (HT for Allen):
Got straight into the game and gave Luton’s defenders more to think about as an extra body up front, helping to take the pressure off and support Gyokeres. Received the ball in the box in the 73rd minute and turned and narrowly lifted his shot over the bar. His addition changed the game and it was all City in the second half.
7.5
KASEY PALMER (80 mins, for Hamer):
Added quality and technical ability. Tried his luck with an audacious attempt but it was a wild effort. Had to go off in extra-time, either injured or unable to get through the rest of the game after his dramatic comeback. 6.5 FANKATY DABO (90mins, for Norton-cuffy): Added fresh legs and a new attacking outlet as City pushed for a winner in 30 minutes of over-time. Distraught at the end after lifting his penalty over the bar in sudden death. 6
JOSH ECCLES (102 mins, for Palmer): Worked hard and made good use of the ball as City pushed for a winner. 6 JONATHAN PANZO (114 mins, for Doyle).
Subs not used: Simon Moore, Josh Wilson-esbrand.
LUTON TOWN (3-5-2): Ethan Horvath; Gabriel Osho (Dan Potts, 111 mins), Tom Lockyer (Reece Burke, 12mins), Amari’i Bell; Cody Drameh, Pelly-rudduck Mpanzu (Luke Berry, 98 mins), Marvelous Nkamba, Jordan Clark, Alfie Doughty (Fred Onyedinma, 84 mins); Carlton Morris, Elijah Adebayo (Joe Taylor, 105 mins). Subs not used: James Shea, Allan Campbell.
GOALS: SKY BLUES: Hamer (66). HATTERS: Clark (23). BOOKINGS: SKY BLUES: Mcnally. HATTERS: Clark.
REFEREE: Michael Oliver. ATTENDANCE: 85,711.