Bolton vs Luton Prediction (16.01.2024)

While the fourth round draw of the FA Cup has already been made, there’s a whole bunch of third round replays we need to get through over the course of the next few days. This is the last chance for many clubs to make their way through to the next round as the magic of the cup continues to sweep the nation. Today, we’ll be taking a look at what should be a fun clash between Bolton Wanderers and Luton Town.

Bolton Wanderers have been through some incredibly tough times over the course of the last decade or so, and the memories of them being an established top flight side feel a long way away. They have, though, been able to dust themselves off and get back to a point of real importance in the third tier, with many believing a return to the Championship could be imminent.

Bolton knew they’d have to surrender a lot of possession if they wanted to get anything going against Luton, and that’s what happened. They only had a handful of opportunities on goal and they largely just rode their luck, but it was enough to earn a 0-0 draw and a replay.

Luton Town are in the Premier League and that still feels somewhat strange to say. The Hatters have scratched and clawed to get back to the top after being in the National League not so long ago. As we know, though, the overwhelming expectation is that they’ll head straight back down, but either way, they’ve got a free shot - and we think that extends to the FA Cup.

The Hatters had 18 shots on goal, six on target and 63% possession - but they still couldn’t overcome Bolton in what proved to be a drab 0-0 draw. Now, when they head on the road, they need to focus on being more ruthless in front of goal.

The smart money is on Luton being just about able to edge past Bolton following another hard-fought game, but we don’t think it’s going to be quite so simple. Our prediction is going to be under 2.5 goals scored, based on Bolton’s ability to keep things tight.