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Club News

BOSS ON EPIC CUP VICTORY

26 January 2013

Club News

BOSS ON EPIC CUP VICTORY

26 January 2013

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Town boss Paul Buckle hailed a magnificent day in the club's history after his side became the first non-league club to knock a Premier League team out of the FA Cup.

Scott Rendell's goal 10 minutes from time allied with a superb rearguard action wrote the Hatters into the history books in front of 4,000 delirious supporters in the away end.

"It's an amazing day, magnificent," said Buckle, beaming to the masses of media afterwards." After the Lincoln game was postponed we got straight down to work in preparing for Norwich.

"We came here fully focused, with the plan of playing with two banks of four and one striker dropping in. We needed to stop a Premier League team from scoring and we've done that.

"Sometimes in the dugout you can't see the whole game but I thought it was a great game to watch and we played our part.

"We weren't going to come here and sit back, there's no point. We denied them space and let their centre-halves have the ball.

"But we couldn't have done it today without the supporters. When we came out for the warm-up they were singing and getting behind us.

"Then, mid-way through the second half, I think they could sense that we could do something - and we have. It's a wonderful day for this football club."

Buckle introduced goal hero Rendell with 15 minutes left with fellow striker Stuart Fleetwood and the manager paid tribute to the squad for earning their fifth round place.

"Andre and Jon Shaw were a bit leggy and both Stuart and Scott were desperate to get on. They are experienced players and on a good surface I fancied them to do something.

"I brought JJ on too as Arnaud Mendy has run himself into the ground, and he set the goal up and, as far as changes go, we got it right. 

"The fact the three substitutes combined for the winner shows what unity we have in the squad; and today epitomised our team spirit."

After a result of such magnitude, Buckle was keen to emphasise the bigger picture.

"We need to use today," he said. "There's been so much disappointment for such a long time but we shouldn't dwell on the recent past.

"We've got to keep believing and use this success to push us on. Getting promoted is the aim, that is massive for us.

"We know we can get Luton Town back to the Football League. It will happen, and it won't be long before we're back playing at more places like Carrow Road.

"It's been a great day but we deserve it. The players deserve all the plaudits because it was an unbelievable performance that will go down in history."

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