WHEN YOUR Digne spoils the mad Hatters LUC’S IN
SUPERSUB Lucas Digne gave Aston Villa’s Champions League bid a huge boost with a dramatic late winner.
A first-half Ollie Watkins double had put Villa two ahead.
But then Unai Emery’s men were given a massive scare as a Luton fightback saw the Hatters draw level with goals from Tahith Chong and Carlton Morris.
But then Digne, part of a quadruple substitution after 78 minutes, ghosted in at the back post to score from a cross put in by fellow sub Moussa Diaby.
Watkins earlier took his season’s goal tally to 21 in all competitions with a brace to maintain the top-four charge for Unai Emery’s men.
Villa answered the challenge laid down earlier in the day by Tottenham and restored their five-point advantage in fourth.
And, of course, the former European champions can help themselves in the quest to once again take part in the continent’s major club competition.
Winning the Europa Conference League, with Ajax awaiting on Thursday in the last 16, could help England secure one of two extra spots for the elite event.
But yesterday, even without being at their best, Villa came away with a first victory at Kenilworth Road since 1989.
It was also a fourth successive Premier League loss in a row for injury-hit hosts, the first time that has happened since the start of the campaign.
Former Luton and Villa defender Chris Nicholl passed away this week and that was marked before kick-off.
Once the whistle blew, Jacob Ramsey raced clear but Teden Mengi crowded him out.
Amari’i Bell had been a major doubt for this game and the gamble to play him appeared to backfire as he broke down within the first five minutes.
That required an early sub for Luton with Chiedozie Ogbene coming on.
Ramsey went close after 14 minutes, forcing a diving save from Thomas Kaminski and shortly after Leon Bailey was denied by the Luton goalkeeper.
But the respite was short-lived as from the resulting corner Watkins headed in his 15th league goal of the season.
Clement Lenglet flashed a header just over and Watkins hit the outside of a post with an
angled drive. However the striker grabbed a second after 38 minutes – but only after a wait.
Watkins beat both the defence and the assistant referee from a quick Douglas Luiz free-kick.
And though offside was given initially, a VAR check saw Watkins awarded yet another goal.
Chong scored after a goalmouth scramble to start Villa alarm bells on 55 minutes.
And it became a crisis after 72 minutes. Alfie Doughty swung in a free-kick and Morris was free at the back to ram the ball home.
Then came Villa’s subs, and one of them, Digne, put his team back in front in the 89th minute.