Luton Town vs Watford. Sky Bet Championship.
Kenilworth Road.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Luton Town and Watford at Kenilworth Road as James Collins' penalty sealed victory for the Hatters over their fierce rivals on Saturday
Saturday 17 April 2021 16:29, UK
Luton striker James Collins came off the bench to score with his first touch as the Hatters beat arch-rivals Watford at Kenilworth Road for the first time since 1993.
The Hatters, who were the better side for long periods, were awarded a penalty with 18 minutes to go, as Collins came off the bench to send 'keeper Daniel Bachmann the wrong way and net the only goal of the game.
The result dealt Watford's automatic promotion hopes a blow, but Swansea and Brentford could only draw in the chase to win promotion behind Norwich.
Luton made a promising start to their first home derby since 2006, Elijah Adebayo's downward header met by Luke Berry whose twisting volley was easy for Bachmann.
Town captain Sonny Bradley also curled over from just outside the box, before Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall saw his shot deflected behind, and then Bradley put a header over the top under pressure from close range following James Bree's excellent corner.
Still Luton pressed, Dewsbury-Hall's free-kick met by Bradley with Kal Naismith just unable to stretch enough to divert the ball over the line.
Will Hughes had Watford's only attempt of the opening half hour, rifling over the bar, while Berry could not beat Bachmann at his near post after meeting Bree's cross.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu blasted a fine chance into the empty stands from eight yards after Watford could not clear their lines.
Dewsbury-Hall then went for the top corner from range, narrowly missing, as after the break the action slowed somewhat, with Watford starting belatedly up the tempo. Hughes missed his kick from a decent position, Matty Pearson making a good block too.
Adebayo could not find the target from Dewsbury-Hall's free-kick, as Tom Cleverley came on to send a shot wide for the visitors.
Adebayo latched on to an underhit backpass after 72 minutes and was bundled over just inside the box by 'keeper Bachmann.
The forward was injured in the challenge, though, and Collins came off the bench to step up with his first touch and roll the ball into the net to make it 1-0.
Hughes sliced wide for the Hornets, who were then reduced to 10 men with two minutes remaining, full-back Kiko Femenia sent off for his second booking after pushing Kazenga LuaLua over as he chased a ball forward.
In stoppage time, Watford thought they had a leveller, ex-Hatter Andre Gray bundling the ball over the line from a corner, only for an offside flag to cut short his celebration as the Hatters held on for a famous win.
Luton's Nathan Jones: "That was a big, significant win, but what a thoroughly deserved win, a wonderful performance from start to finish as it was deserved. We were totally dominant in that game, probably as dominant a performance as we've ever had here, I'm so, so delighted.
"I want to dedicate that to Gary Sweet (chief executive), to the 2020 consortium for the work they've done and also our fans, because I know how much that means to everyone here. A big win, a win against your rivals and we've waited quite a long time, it's 15 years since they've played this game, and we've been at different levels for 15 years. Now we're at the same level, I don't know how long for, but all we can do is play who is in front of us and I think we were absolutely magnificent, I'm so proud of the group, the club, everything."
Watford's Xisco Munoz: "It was not our best performance and we know about this. It's important that we need to stay together. Now is the moment we need to stay together, everyone, and now it's important everyone puts more passion into our club.
"It's my job to try to get everyone one step in front. My team tried to give their best today. We know today is a very difficult game because we have a different situation and it was not our performance. Now we prepare the maximum for the next game because it's important."
