Yesterday’s goal hero Scott Rendell believes the Town’s 1-0 victory at Premier League Norwich was reward for the hard work by everyone at the club.
The 26-year-old striker ensured his and the Hatters’ were the talk of the national media after his goal 10 minutes from time sealed an historic victory at Carrow Road.
“This is what the FA Cup is all about,” said Rendell, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes following his introduction as a substitute. “Everyone at the club deserves the credit. We came with the right gameplan and this win is for the fans, the staff, everybody behind the scenes at the club and the players. We all work our socks off – it’s a great feeling.”
Rendell’s 75th-minute arrival along with strike partner Stuart Fleetwood, who set fellow substitute JJ O’Donnell racing away down the left in the lead-up to the goal, was the turning point.
“The manager picked the right team and made the right subs and right time,” said the forward. “Obviously you want to be out there but when you’re called to come on you need to be fit and ready.
“You don’t want to let anybody down when you come on as a sub. You need to have the right attitude and you need to be switched on. I haven’t score too many goals in my career when I’ve come, but there’s none more important than this one.
“I remember Fleets slid in JJ and I looked up and thought I could get between the two Norwich defenders. I knew I had to get in front of one of them and knew if I did I’d have a chance. We’ve been working on that in training and luckily enough I did and it ended up in the back of the net.
“The final few minutes were agony. I looked up at the clock and it read 88 minutes. A couple of phases of play later and it was only 89!”
A place in the fifth round awaits and the match-winner was bullish about the Town’s chances of reaching the quarter-finals.
He said: “I’d like a top Premier League team but we’ll wait and see, home or away. I’m sure a lot of teams will look at this result and take us seriously.
“Not many sides will want to come to Kenilworth Road, but the same goes for playing away because we’ve come to a Premier League club won, and kept a clean sheet.”