Luton Town bounced back from a heavy defeat at the weekend with a 2-1 win at home to Huddersfield Town.
After losing their previous match 5-0 at Barnsley, goals from Jake Richards and Jerry Yates saw the Hatters pull off victory, with the three points helping Luton climb above their opponents in the League One table.
Leo Casledine had scored an equaliser for the Terriers, but Yates’ winner was enough for Luton to take the points. The result was Luton’s first home win in a League One game under the charge of recently appointed boss Jack Wilshere, and it was enough to elevate the Hatters up to 7th in the table, with the side a point off the play-offs.
Seeking a reaction after their weekend misfire in South Yorkshire, Luton began brightly. Yates was denied by a fine stop from away keeper Owen Goodman, before Kal Naismith had a shot blocked and Cohen Bramall had an effort deflected wide.
An opening goal would duly come the Hatters’ way after 33 minutes. A clearance fell the way of Richards, who drilled in a crisp strike via a deflection that beat Goodman and opened the scoring for the home side.
Huddersfield’s Ben Wiles would come close for an equaliser just before half-time, with his strike being blocked by home defender Nigel Lonwijk. Huddersfield claimed his block came from a hand, but the referee declined to give a penalty.
The visitors would duly equalise just over 20 minutes into the second-half. Casledine placed a fine free-kick into the back of the net from 20-25 yards.
But seven minutes after being pegged back, Luton would duly make it 2-1. Goodman saved Lamine Fanne’s original strike, but the ball fell back for Fanne to cycle the ball back for Yates to bundle the ball over the line and put Luton in front.
Luton were duly able to keep Huddersfield at arms’ length for the remainder of the contest, as the hosts picked up the three points.
The Hatters are in action again at Kenilworth Road once more on Saturday, when they welcome a Bolton side currently sat one place above them in the table to Bedfordshire.