HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0, LUTON TOWN 2
Luton Town blew the Championship relegation battle wide open following their impressive win at fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town.
Second-half strikes from Sonny Bradley and Elliot Lee lifted the Hatters off bottom spot to give their survival hopes an enormous lift.
Since Nathan Jones’ return to Kenilworth Road, Luton have collected nine post-lockdown points from their six fixtures to boost their bid to beat the drop.
Jones described it as a “massive, massive result and a wonderful performance”.
He described it as a controlled and brave performance.
He said: “And to do it in that manner, I am thoroughly delighted.
“We showed character after Tuesday’s 5-0 defeat at Leeds and I am so proud of them. Some of the group are the same players from when we were in Division Two.”
It was an altogether different story in this six-pointer for Town who would have moved nine clear of Luton with victory.
But the Terriers, who dropped from 17th to 19th, are nervously looking over their shoulder as they are only two points clear of the bottom three.
Manager Danny Cowley described his side’s performance level as nowhere near good enough.
But a defiant Cowley said: “It is not fatal with three games to go.
“I will feel the pain all weekend. We are determined people who have been down before, and we have always found a way to respond in the next game.”
Cowley added it was never going to be a case of three dead rubbers in the final three games.
He continued: “It was always going to be really tough and go to the end.
“We have fought ridiculously hard to get to 47 points to get ourselves within touching distance of safety.”
Well, that was as forgettable a first half of football as anyone will ever witness.
Probably a good thing no fans are allowed in to see it, most would’ve struggled to stay awake for it had they been.
It has to get better in the second half, sure.
That was the first-half analysis on the BBC Sport website after a half that was not pretty on the eye.
The effort and endeavour of both sets of players could not be faulted, but there was a distinct lack of quality.
There was not a clear-cut chance with both Town’s on-target goal attempts comfortably saved by Hatters’ keeper Simon Sluga.
Luton made the breakthrough in the 49th minute with their first goal attempt of the game as centre-back Bradley found the net with a powerful header from James Bree’s corner.
James Collins ought to have made it 2-0 but drilled a low shot agonisingly wide with keeper Jonas Lossl well beaten.
Town were unlucky not to be on level terms when Emile Smith Rowe fashioned a great chance, but his shot flew just wide of the upright.
Luton were celebrating again as they doubled their advantage in the 71st minute through a spectacular strike from Lee.
Collins eluded the offside trap as he burst through on goal only to smash a shot against the upright.
The rebound flew to Lee whose shot from 25 yards found the top corner.