JONES LAUDS HIS DERBY DAY STARS
NATHAN Jones believes his Luton side fully deserved their first home win over arch-rivals Watford since 1993.
Top scorer James Collins came off the bench to score with his first touch from the penalty spot with 12 minutes left to dent the Hornets’ bid for promotion back to the Premier League.
A jubilant Jones said: “That was a big, significant win, but what a thoroughly deserved win, a wonderful performance from start to finish.
“We were totally dominant, 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.”
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 keeper Daniel Bachmann to save.
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.
Dewsbury-Hall had a go from 20 yards, but was unable to test Bachmann, who was scrambling across his line.
Will Hughes had Watford’s only attempt of the opening half hour, rifling over the bar, while Luke Berry couldn’t beat Bachmann at his near post after meeting James Bree’s cross.
After the break Dewsbury-Hall went for the top corner of the net from range, narrowly missing.
Adebyao couldn’t find the target from Dewsbury-Hall’s freekick, as Tom Cleverley came on to send a shot wide for the visitors, before Adebyao got his spectacular volley all wrong, only able to handball it.
However, the forward then latched on to an underhit backpass and was bundled over just inside the box by Bachmann.
Adebayo was injured in the challenge, though, and Collins came off the bench to step up with his first touch and coolly roll the ball into the net on 78 minutes.
Hughes sliced wide for the Hornets, who were then reduced to ten men with two minutes remaining, full-back Kiko Femenia sent off for his second booking, pushing Kazenga LuaLua over as he chased a ball forward.
In stoppage time, Watford thought they had an equaliser, 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.
Hornets head coach Xisco Munoz said: “It was not our best performance and we know about this.
“Now is the moment we need to stay together, and it’s important everyone puts more passion into our club.”