Luton Town 1-0 Watford: James Collins scores penalty with first touch in derby victory
- Published
James Collins' 78th-minute penalty was his 12th goal of the season
James Collins came off the bench to score a penalty with his first touch as mid-table Luton Town earned a deserved derby victory over promotion-chasing Watford.
Substitute Collins was brought on by boss Nathan Jones and instantly stroked the ball past keeper Daniel Bachmann, who had brought down Elijah Adebayo.
Second-placed Watford were outplayed before the break, but an improved second-half display looked like earning them a point which would have maintained their seven-point advantage over Swansea City, who fought back to draw with Wycombe Wanderers.
But with 12 minutes left Collins calmly struck the winner and, despite a frantic finish in which the Hornets had Kiko Femenia sent off and Andre Gray saw an equalising goal disallowed, the hosts held on.
The Hornets were furious with the assistant's decision to flag for offside when Gray nodded the ball in from close range after a corner was headed back in to the box.
But Swansea's failure to beat lowly Wycombe means, with just four games remaining, Watford still have a six-point advantage over the Welsh side.
With Norwich already promoted, the race for the second automatic promotion place could go down to the final day, when the Swans visit the Hornets.
The visitors can have few complaints about the outcome as, discounting the disallowed goal, they failed to have a shot on target.
Luton's threat was far greater, but their finishing was also wayward.
Bachmann did have to save a Luke Berry strike, the only other attempt to trouble the keeper in the match.
But Sonny Bradley sent a header over and Leicester City loanee Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall twice went close with powerful strikes from distance.
A more even second half followed, before Collins settled a fiery game at Kenilworth Road.
Hatters 'totally dominant' - reaction
Luton Town manager Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"Today was about us. We didn't just win, we were totally dominant from start to finish.
"It was one of the most complete performances since I've been a manager.
"If we had a clinical edge about us today, and probably the raw quality they do, we would have won that by three or four."
Watford manager Xisco Munoz told BBC Radio London:
"Today was not a good game for us. It wasn't our best level.
"We know it is difficult to play here. We know the high intensity we need to play here.
"Right now is the moment for everyone to stay together more and give the same passion and the same power for our team."