Sheffield United stun Luton 3-1 in relegation contest

Photo by Robbie Stephenson/PA Images via Getty Images

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Bottom side Sheffield United stunned Luton Town 3-1 at Kenilworth Road and denied the high-scoring Hatters a golden opportunity to pull four points clear of the Premier League drop zone on Saturday.

The hugely important first away win of the season left the Blades last but level on 13 points with Burnley.

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Starting as favourites for once after hitting four goals past Newcastle United and Brighton in each of their last two games, Luton dominated possession but were 2-0 down at the break.

Cameron Archer shot the Blades ahead in the 30th, making up for a big miss moments earlier, after outpacing Gabriel Osho down the right side.

James McAtee doubled the tally for Chris Wilder's side from the penalty spot six minutes later after a VAR check on Reece Burke's debatable handball.

Carlton Morris made it 2-1 from another penalty for handball but Sheffield hit back with Vinicius de Souza in the 72nd minute to restore the two-goal advantage.

Sheffield defended impressively to hold on through nine minutes of extra time.

The result made up for a 3-2 loss in the reverse fixture in December and restored morale after a 5-0 home drubbing against Aston Villa last Saturday.

"We let everybody down last Saturday evening," Wilder told the BBC. "We answered it in a great manner...it has taken a long time to get that first away win.

"Losing 5-0 at home really stings. It's been a long week for everybody and a lot of hard work has to be put in.

"They got two fours in their last two games so they're no mugs...for us to get that win gives us a little bit of belief and a little bit of confidence."

Luton boss Rob Edwards said his side, with only one change from the lineup that drew 4-4 at Newcastle last weekend, had made a couple of costly errors.

He also felt neither of the penalties should have been given.

"When we got ourselves back in it at 2-1 we made another costly error and got punished against the run of play. They defended well, took their moments when they came. We dominated the game but didn't do enough with the ball," he added.

"We weren't clinical and we didn't test the goalkeeper enough, so it ended up being a tough day for us. We had over 70% possession...it was just things we could do better."

Luton stay 17th on 20 points, one clear of Everton, who lost 2-0 at Manchester City earlier on Saturday.

Sheffield had to overcome an early setback when Rhys Norrington-Davies was injured after just three minutes and had to be substituted.