Buckle: Our tactics were spot on

Town took an early lead through Andre Gray and despite Stuart Fleetwood missing a penalty soon afterwards, doubled their advantage in the second period with Jon Shaw’s strike.

Although the visitors had to weather some concerted pressure in the second half, with Mark Tyler making some fine stops and the woodwork coming to their rescue twice, Buckle felt it was a deserved triumph.

He said: “They set up 4-3-3 and they hit long balls forward which left gaps down the sides and Stuart (Fleetwood) and Andre (Gray), as long as they’re disciplined and get back in on that side, when we turn the ball over we can break.

“It worked a treat, our tactics worked great and I thought they might play 4-3-3, they did, we knew what was coming and we soaked it up really well.

“We broke well too. The first goal was something we could see happening and the disappointment for the players at half time was that it wasn’t more than one.

“We were desperate to get through in the FA Cup, we love the FA Cup.

“We had a good following, the second half we soaked a bit of pressure up but we always looked like we were very, very dangerous.”

Former Town chief Richard Money, now head coach at United, once again refused to answer any questions from the Luton press, but conceded Hatters’ counter-attacking threat was too great.

He said: “I thought we started off really brightly for 10 minutes but a misplaced pass in the middle of the pitch and Gray punishes us.

“Then it becomes a little shall we, shan’t we and we had a lot of near misses, we hit the post twice, but they always looked dangerous on the break.

“That’s what they have, that little bit more quality that the budget brings and at the right times they punished us.”

Midfielder Alex Lawless was stretchered off in a leg brace during the first half after receiving a heavy challenge, but Buckle hoped the injury wasn’t as serious as first feared.”

He added: “He’s got a sore ankle, he took a bad knock, but we’re hopeful he’ll be okay.”

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