HYLTON CAPS FAB FEB FOR THE HATTERS
NATHAN Jones saluted his Luton players for securing 15 points from possible 18 in February by beating struggling Derby County at Kenilworth Road.
Danny Hylton came off the substitutes’ bench to score the only goal as the Hatters climbed into the play-off spots.
“It’s been a great February for us to be fair, apart from a debacle at Birmingham City,” said boss Jones.
“Unless you’re Fulham, or Manchester City or Liverpool, you don’t get many better months like that, so a wonderful, wonderful month and that’s a credit to the players, a credit to everyone here.
“It doesn’t feel any different to being in eighth, it doesn’t feel groundbreaking as there’s a long way to go.
“If it was game 46 and we’d just finished sixth it would feel special, but it’s wonderful to be in the position we are.”
The visitors should have led after four minutes when Jason Knight broke away and sent over a cross that a stretching Colin Kazim-Richards fired over.
Ex-Manchester United youngster Ravel Morrison did not miss by much from his 25-yard free-kick, while Rams skipper Curtis Davies put a volley well wide after a corner dropped invitingly to him in the area.
Luton had their first real chance after 31 minutes when a short corner routine saw Kal Naismith’s cross headed into the stands by top scorer Elijah Adebayo.
Luton tried to get on the front foot in the second period, midfielder Henri Lansbury taking aim from outside the box, but could only scuff his effort through to Ryan Allsop.
They were thankful to goalkeeper Jed Steer for a magnificent save after 52 minutes, as he arched his back to tip Max Bird’s curling effort against the crossbar and away.
A fine break on the right by Reece Burke led to his hanging cross being turned over by visiting goalkeeper Allsop, as the Hatters began to enjoy some kind of ascendancy.
After the hour mark, Burke stooped to head wide, while Bird tried his luck again from distance, but Luton led after 67 minutes.
A long ball from the back was met by substitute Cameron Jerome, who nodded down to fellow replacement Hylton. He took a touch and then picked out the bottom corner from the edge of the box to score his second in as many games and a first home league goal since March 2019.
Luton might have had another as Fred Onyedinma sent James Bree clear, but the full-back failed to beat the legs of Allsop.
The Rams dropped to second bottom in the table, leapfrogged by Barnsley, and are now eight points adrift of safety.
County boss Wayne Rooney remained defiant, though, saying: “I’m frustrated, we changed our shape, we gave Luton the respect they deserved. They’re not a team blessed with great individuals, but they’re a good, honest, hard-working team.
“I felt the changes we made really kept them at arm’s length. They didn’t have the impact they normally have, but we conceded a bad goal from, our point of view, didn’t take our chances.”