Nathan Jones has said the FA Cup draw with League Two Harrogate Town inject some romance back into the competition for Luton after recent early round knockout matches saw them pitted against Championship Reading.
Monday night’s draw saw the Hatters paired at home with the Yorkshire side, who got into the Football League this term through the National League play-offs. And their remarkable year continued at the weekend with a last-gasp giant-killing of League One Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Though Town were knocked out of last term’s FA Cup at Champions League winners Chelsea, they had to get past Reading, having already beaten them in the Carabao Cup.
Speaking of facing Harrogate, Jones said: “It’s a wonderful draw on every level. With the utmost respect, I would prefer Harrogate at home to Reading away or home, like we had last year, because it’s just another Championship game.
“I was actually pleased that a few Championship sides drew each other because if, in god’s will, we were to progress then it would mean we would either have someone from the National, League League Two, League One or the Premier League, which is what we want.
“I don’t want another Championship test. Harrogate have had a wonderful recent history, they really have. Simon’s (Weaver) done a wonderful job there, so it will be a consummately difficult test, we know that.
“It’s not an easier draw than a Reading, it’s just something different to prepare for. I would rather go and have a day in Harrogate than go to Reading and have to watch them again because we’ve drawn them on the 8th of December and the 6th, 7th or 8th of January. It’s just a better draw.
“It’s a bit of romance and a home draw, which is wonderful, and a new team, because I’ve never come up against Harrogate before.”
The tie will be played over the weekend of Friday January 7 to Monday January 10, with exact kick-off times and dates to be confirmed once TV selections have been made.
