Sheffield United 0-1 Luton Town: Carlton Morris strikes as Hatters boost automatic promotion hopes
- Published
Carlton Morris is now up to 15 goals for the season for Luton, his best return in a single season.
Carlton Morris grabbed his 15th goal of the season as Luton Town boosted their promotion push with a vital victory over faltering second-placed Sheffield United.
Morris found the net from close range to earn a third win in four games when he turned the ball in at the near post after some great work by Elijah Adebayo.
Luton are now up to fourth and within seven points of the second automatic Championship promotion place filled by the Blades, who lacked conviction and rarely threatened until a frantic finale.
Their display was typical of an inconsistent run that has now brought three defeats in their past five league matches, and has seen their lead over third-placed Middlesbrough whittled down to four points following Boro's win over Swansea City.
Sheffield United did up the tempo in the latter stages, with Oli McBurnie going close on three occasions and Hatters keeper Ethan Horvath making a great save from John Egan.
But the hosts ended an uninspiring match with just five attempts on target and rarely looked like claiming a seventh win in eight home league games.
A dull first half with little quality produced just one attempt on target, a tame Jayden Bogle header that was comfortably held by Horvath.
Thankfully, the second 45 minutes was a little more entertaining, although chances remained rare.
Luton, despite seeing Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu limp off injured early on, showed the solidity and unity that has seen them stay in the promotion picture thanks to a fine away unbeaten run which now stretches to seven games.
And they used all that defensive nous to protect their lead after Morris put them ahead, but were still left hanging on as the Blades piled forward in the closing stages.
Joint top scorer McBurnie wasted three decent opportunities with headers and American keeper Horvath made a fabulous point-blank save to keep out Egan's strike, while at the other end substitute Cauley Woodrow should have wrapped up the points when he went through on goal only to shoot wide.
The Hatters, who were unbeaten in their previous six away league matches, have now won 10 times away from home this season, a feat they had not previously managed before in either of the top two divisions.
Sheffield United Paul Heckingbottom:
"I am disappointed with the result, but more the first-half performance. We competed and tried to match their energy, but didn't take as many risks as we normally do - with and without the ball. That's cost us.
"In the first half, if you are limiting the opposition to not having a shot on target then you are doing something right, but that can't be at the expense of creating.
"We started the second half on the front foot and looked more like ourselves, but then conceded. It was Luton's only shot on target we have to look at ourselves. We didn't create enough quality chances.
"I would rather risk the ball and risk giving the ball away and have an intent to create. Maybe it's the first sign of tension."
Luton Town boss Rob Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio:
"It's a really big win. The lads were brilliant and you have to be be to win here. There were a lot of really good performances.
"In the first half we were the better team and really quietened them down. We could have been sharper in the final third and could have maybe caused them a few more problems. We had lots of periods of control and looked fairly comfortable, but could have been a bit better when we won the ball back in transition.
"To get the goal when we did in the second half was great and then they are are going to start throwing everything at us but we defended really well.
"It's a great result and we have to celebrate and enjoy it, but I feel a little bit for Pelly today. We'll haver to see [about his injury]."