For Luton, the miracle is still on. This was a frayed, scrappy but thoroughly engrossing tie that ended with Wembley in sight, although Huddersfield will have their own perspective when they host Monday’s second leg. A draw was the correct outcome, meaning Nathan Jones’ players are two games from confounding every expectation and taking the Hatters, buffeted from pillar to post for long periods in their 30 years out of the top flight, back to heights few thought they could scale again.
Few except Jones, perhaps. The Welshman’s infectious optimism and bullishness are duly mirrored by his team, who could have crumbled on their big night after Danel Sinani’s well-taken opener but recovered to equalise through the captain Sonny Bradley. Luton could have been ahead by the interval; by the same token they might have finished the game in arrears and Jones, chipper as usual, saw enough to scent yet another chapter in their fairytale.
