Hayrettin proud of professional Hatters as they hold their discipline in Leighton win

A number of niggly challenges went in on the night, while young Town stopper Elliot Justham was forced off with a dislocated shoulder.

Hayrettin said: “It was very, very important that we did. It’s something that’s been installed in the football club with the manager and the coaching staff that we don’t give silly fouls away, we don’t get involved, we try and keep 11 players on the pitch and tonight potentially it could have gone down in number with a late tackle, a mistimed tackle - you could have got yourself sent off and you could get involved. I think Luton Town were professional tonight.”

A driving wind across the pitch made it difficult for both teams as Jon Shaw’s penalty and David Viana’s fumbled strike saw Luton through to the semi-finals.

And with Town’s first team having had to grind out results in difficult conditions in recent weeks Hayrettin felt it was ideal practice.

“We spoke about the conditions and what could happen and how it could turn out,” he said.

“We had two or three games like that in the first team where we’ve had to play to the conditions and that’s what it’s all about.

“It’s always the case when you come to places like Leighton Town that it’s going to be their cup final and rightly so.

“They ran, they chased, they kicked and did everything they could to try and win the game of football.

“But most important for Luton Town we were professional, we tried to do the right things in the right areas and get the result.

“I think the conditions spoilt the game, but second half we adapted a lot better and were professional and got the job done and, most importantly, we kept a clean sheet and won the game.”

Talented young centre-half Alex Lacey played his first game since recovering from a broken metatarsal and believed Town coped with the conditions superbly.

He said: “It was a professional result tonight, I think everyone just kind of battled and played the elements well.

“It’s windy and rainy and you can’t really pass the ball on a not very good pitch so all in all I think it’s a good result against a team that made it quite tough for us.”

Lacey formed a decent partnership at the back with new signing Fraser Franks and felt they coped well with the uncompromising Reds.

He said: “A clean sheet in difficult conditions against quite a physical team who just put it in behind and make it tough for you.

“I felt we dealt with it very well and I think he’s a very good player.”

Youngsters like Jerome Jibodu, Ian Rees and Zane Banton, plus keeper Craig King, midfielder Charlie Smith and striker Jemale McKenzie-Lowe from the bench, were all given a taste of the action and Lacey believes it could prove invaluable in their development.

He added: “You’re not going to get perfect pitches especially in the Conference, so it’s good to come to a team that’s in a lower league with a bad pitch and it kind of gives you another side of how to play football and deal with the elements and maybe go along with them rather than pass it around your half.

“Especially for the younger lads that haven’t really played against a team like this, they play academy football which is all kind of passing around, for them it’s a big learning experience.”