FA Cup: Luton Town v Millwall match preview

A look ahead to this weekend’s FA Cup fixture at Kenilworth Road

Scott Rendell celebrates his goal at Norwich that gave Luton a historic win (Reuters)

Non-league Luton Town will be looking to upset the odds when Championship side Millwall visit Kenilworth Road on Saturday in the FA Cup fifth round. The two sides haven’t met since March 2008, back when they were both in League One. Since then Luton have had to deal with relegation from the Football League, while Millwall now fight their battles in the second tier of English football.

Luton chief executive Gary Sweet told BBC Three Counties Radio “nobody should have any fears” in reference to the violence that marred the same fixture in March 1985, when The Kenilworth Riot’s took place before, during and after the FA Cup sixth round tie. Luton banned away supporters from the ground for four years following the incident, where 31 arrests were made after 47 people were injured.

The Hatters go into the match on the back of a four-game losing streak, with their fourth round victory over Norwich the last time they tasted victory. Millwall are in just as bad a run of form, having not won since they progressed past Aston Villa 2-1, with losses in the league coming against Barnsley, Hull and Blackpool.

KICK-OFF: 12.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS...

Millwall 0 Luton 0, League One, March 2008

Luton 1 (Furlong) Millwall 1 (Grabban), League One, February 2008

Millwall 2 (May, Williams) Luton 1 (Coyne), Championship, March 2006.

STATS...

Millwall reached the final in 2004 after beating Walsall, Telford, Burnley, Tranmere and Sunderland, before losing 3-0 at Wembley to Manchester United.

Luton Town reached the Final back in 1958-59, but lost to Nottingham Forest in the final. Neither side has ever won the trophy.

Luton are currently seventh in the Blue Square Premier, while Millwall sit 12th in the Championship.

Luton have three players who have scored 10 or more goals this season – Scott Rendall has scored 11, Stuart Fleetwood and Andre Gray both have 10.

ODDS...

Luton Town to win: 4

Millwall to win: 2.04

Draw: 3.5

TV: Live on ESPN at 12.45pm. Highlights on ITV at 10.35pm.