Luton Town 1-3 Sheffield United: Blades beat relegation rivals Luton in important away win
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Sheffield United secured a vital Premier League win at relegation rivals Luton.
Cameron Archer beat Gabriel Osho for pace on the right flank and slotted into the bottom corner before James McAtee converted from the penalty spot as the Blades led by two league goals for the first time this season.
Carlton Morris got one back for Luton, scoring a spot-kick shortly after the break.
Vini Souza restored United's two-goal cushion with a well-struck finish 18 minutes from time.
Chris Wilder's side remain bottom of the league, seven points from safety, while Luton are just above the drop zone in 17th position.
The Blades showed their intent very early on as they looked to put recent poor performances behind them.
McAtee came close to opening the scoring in the first minute when he got space inside the box but his low drive bent wide of the far post.
Luton were below par for periods of the match and missed a good opportunity to score when Osho headed wide from a corner.
Lacklustre Luton fall to defeat
Luton had been in fine form coming into this match, scoring eight goals in their last two matches and collecting four points.
However, they were undone by a determined United side and lost a league match for the first time in 2024.
Osho was caught out for United's first goal with Archer easing past him to slot home and he failed to clear in the build-up to the away side's third goal as Luton paid the price for sloppy mistakes.
"A tough day. Disappointing to lose the game of course. They defended the box very well, we made a couple of errors and got punished," Luton boss Rob Edwards told BBC Match of the Day after the match.
"We were not our usual selves in terms of being snappy and creating chances. At the end it came down to two mistakes.
"Today we have had a bad day but we have had some good days. The players will pick themselves up ready to attack the week."
The Hatters have not won a Premier League game when trailing at half-time this season. They got one back through Morris seven minutes into the second half but were unable to build on it as their six-game unbeaten run came to a disappointing end.
Rob Edwards' side will be nervously looking over their shoulders after failing to open up a gap to Everton, who are a point behind them in the relegation zone.
Huge win away win for Blades
Vini Souza scored his first goal of the season for Sheffield United
United suffered an early blow when a distraught Rhys Norrington-Davies went off with what seemed like a freak injury after just four minutes.
However, Wilder's men showed some much-needed resilience against an in-form Luton side to get their first away win of the season.
"The reaction of the players this week has been great," Wilder told BBC Match of the Day.
"Our attitude was only going to be answered when it is questioned on the pitch and I thought they were outstanding and deserved the result.
"We need to engage our supporters, we let them down last week [in the 5-0 loss to Aston Villa], and now we have to engage them again in the next game."
The Blades scored two first-half goals in six minutes through Archer and McAtee, the first time they have been two goals ahead this season.
Archer missed a big chance just a minute before with a poor strike from close range but he showed composure soon after to put United in front.
Reece Burke was punished for a handball in the box and McAtee swept home from the spot for his third league goal of the campaign.
Luton had reduced the deficit and were putting pressure on the Blades before Souza shot into the bottom corner and re-established United's two goal lead.
Despite sealing an important victory, United set an unwanted record as they conceded 60 goals in just 24 league games. Solidity at the back will be crucial if they are to fight their way out of relegation trouble.