Kolo 'very proud' as Latics show their mettle with fighting draw

On the back of four defeats on the spin - the last three all 4-1 - Latics drew 1-1 at Kenilworth Road to ensure they were in the hat for the fourth-round draw.

They deservedly took the lead through Tom Naylor, only for Harry Cornick to level in first-half stoppage-time.

After soaking up some determined Luton pressure, Latics thought they'd won it in the dying seconds, only for another Naylor effort to be disallowed for what looked to

be minimal contact from Callum Lang on home goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.

The most important thing, though, is the rot has been stopped - which will hopefully breathe fresh life into Latics' survival hopes in the Championship.

"I felt like we dominated the game in the first half, we scored a good goal, and then conceded one from a mistake in stoppage-time," assessed Toure.

"You can't play the ball in certain areas, we did, and we were punished.

"It felt like Luton came back in the second half, they created problems for us, especially down the sides, and we had to change in the last 15 minutes.

"For the last 15 minutes, we were on top, we had fresh legs, we created several chances and we were unlucky not to win the game.

"Will Keane up top made a big difference, but I have to give credit to all of the players.

"The team spirit was unbelievable, and they gave me everything they got, they put their bodies on the line in both boxes."

While pleased with what he saw, Toure was left to reflect on what might have been after the officials chalked off Latics' late 'winner'.

"It's difficult, because the referee and the assistants can make mistakes," he added.

"It was going to be my first win, and it would have been also massive for the team in terms of confidence.

"Unfortunately it was disallowed, but we have to move on, and take all the positives we had from the game.

"It was a positive performance and a positive result, and I'm very proud of the effort."

Having fielded a virtual full-strength line-up, Latics took the lead inside 17 minutes.

Lang's header off James McClean's cross was initially kept out Horvath, but Curtis Tilt played the ball back in and Naylor was quickest to react.

Luton's response was solid, with Cornick sidefooting the ball just wide of the far post and Carlton Morris heading over.

However, with seconds left of the three minutes of added time, Jack Whatmough gave the ball away and Cornick nodded home via the far post.

The second half was increasingly attack against defence, with Luton pushing hard but Latics forming a strong wall in front of Amos.

Latics had the ball in the net again after Lang picked the pockets of Horvath, but the referee had already whistled for a foul.

And there was almost a repeat of Thelo Aasgaard's winner here back in September, only this time his shot was directed straight at the goalkeeper.

There was still time for added-time drama, with a Naylor header being touched away for a corner, before the same player saw a last-gasp ‘winner’ chalked off.