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The Luton players. Chris Radburn/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Magic of the Cup

Upset ahoy! Luton cause biggest FA Cup shock in 24 years

A Scott Rendell goal earned the Hatters an historic win over a team 85 places higher than them.

SUBSTITUTE SCOTT RENDELL caused one of the biggest FA Cup shocks ever when he netted an 80th-minute winner to give non-league Luton Town a 1-0 victory at Norwich City on Saturday.

The win represented the first time a non-league side have knocked out a team from the top division since Sutton United beat Coventry City in 1989.

The way was paved by Hatters goalkeeper Mark Tyler, who was a Norwich fan as a boy and played in their youth academy but who thwarted his heroes at Carrow Road with a string of top saves.

Fifth-tier Luton, 85 places below Norwich in the footballing ladder, rocked City back on their heels from the off but failed to really test home goalkeeper Declan Rudd.

The Canaries looked dangerous breaking quickly on the wings, as demonstrated by the opportunity that saw Russell Martin send Simeon Jackson through on goal.

Tyler made a fine stop, however, and Hatters skipper Ronnie Henry followed it up with an outstanding block to deny Andrew Surman’s follow-up effort.

Right-back Henry has FA Cup pedigree of his own as his grandfather, also called Ron, was part of Tottenham Hotspur’s famous league and FA Cup double-winning side of 1961.

The gritty Luton defence stayed strong when Harry Kane hit a low right-foot shot and Greg Taylor flung his body in the way to deflect it for a corner.

Norwich centre-back Leon Barnett hit a post with a header from a Surman cross and Alex Lawless made a brilliant goal-line clearance amid claims from the home side’s players that the ball had crossed the line.

Meanwhile, Luton broke and had a shout for a penalty turned down when Andre Gray went down under a Johnnie Howson challenge, as the Norwich midfielder got a touch on the ball in the tackle.

The Canaries sent on the experienced Grant Holt at half-time but even their talismanic striker was thwarted by a terrific save from Tyler, who also held on to a Surman curler.

The last time Luton beat Norwich in the FA Cup was in 1959 — and the Hatters went on to reach the final.

- © AFP, 2012

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