Nathan Jones says Luton fans have earned their FA Cup clash with European champions Chelsea for their efforts during the pandemic.
Town beat Cambridge United 3-0 on Saturday and were then first out of the hat for the fifth round draw, which set up a mouthwatering tie at home to the Premier League superstars.
Last term, the Hatters drew Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup, but fans were shutout for the whole season due to Covid restrictions. Luton also drew Manchester United at home in the Carabao Cup, but supporters couldn’t savour that either.
But, despite being shut out of stadia, an impressive majority of the Hatters faithful still paid for season tickets, to help their club through the difficult season.
This season, crowds have returned and Jones said: “The fans have earned that. For all they did over lockdown and during the pandemic, they needed this game and we’ve given them some real special games and afternoons and evenings but this will be right up there because of the calibre of opposition.
“It’s fantastic for everyone involved. Especially for the fans and I’m delighted for them as well. they missed out on two wonderful cup ties last year, Man United and Chelsea away, and now at least they get to sample a bit that.
“It’s thoroughly deserved, we had to really play well at Cambridge, a real tricky tie as you would have seen with West Ham, Man United and Boreham Wood. There are no easy games in the FA Cup so to come through like we did, I was very pleased with that.
“First and foremost you want a home tie, which is really good, and then we didn’t really want a Championship side. At the time, Championship teams were probably the lowest placed so you either like to have the lowest placed side at home or a big team and we managed that.
“It’s a wonderful tie, came out nice and early so didn’t have to get the nerves jangling.”
Unusually, all the fifth round games are scheduled for a midweek, with the Blues coming to Luton in the evening of March 2.
Jones said: “The Kenny is a great place with the atmosphere but on a midweek, no idea if the cameras will be there but it will be a wonderful occasion to test ourselves against a Premier League side and we will relish that opportunity.
“It’s a long way off, we have five Championship games to contend with before that but we will address it now because it’s fresh but we have big games coming up now.”
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