Jacob Brown said his goal-grabbing part in the 3-0 drubbing of arch-rivals Watford made for a “perfect day”, and one that repaid Hatters fans for a kindness that gave him a boost during his “heartbreaking” seven-month injury hell.
The forward bagged Luton’s late third on Saturday to seal Town’s biggest derby day victory in 43 years. But on a personal note, Brown’s run from the halfway line to score his first goal in ten months, in front of a delirious Kenilworth Road end, closed the book on a knee injury that sidelined him from February until last month.
“When it went in, it was one of the best feelings,” the 26-year-old said of his strike, adding: “I’ve been out for so long, it really meant a lot to me, and obviously for my first goal of the season to be in this game, it was really good.
“From from the minute the fixtures came out, I wanted to make sure I scored in this game,” he said adding, “When the chance came and it went in like, honestly, I was so buzzing. I’m probably going to watch it back a lot.”
Few could blame Brown for savouring the net-bulging moment he’s had to wait ten months and he said: “It can be a lonely place when you’re not playing, seeing the boys going out, training, having fun, coming back in and laughing and joking about the session, and you’ve been inside all day.
“A massive thank you to everyone that’s supported me. I remember when we had a open training session at the Kenny, and I was on crutches. I remember walking off the pitch like all the fans stood up and gave me a standing ovation.
“I remember that moment and it really meant a lot, the support from the fans, and to be able to come on and score in front of them, it was a great feeling.”
Last term, Brown had just broken into the Scotland squad and had his eyes on the European Championships in the summer, but all of that was scuppered when he got crocked, while he also had to watch his Luton team-mates suffer relegation from the top flight.
“(It was) really tough,” he said, adding: “I think the timing of the injury, with it being in the Premier League and the Euros coming up at the end of the season, it was, it was heartbreaking for me.
“It was a longer injury than I was expecting, so to have to wait so long to play again, it was difficult, but these (scoring against Watford) are the moments, this is why you’re working hard to get back on the pitch and have experiences like that. So it’s all paid off.
“It was very frustrating. It’s been a long process getting back fit. I still know I’ve got a long way to go to get that full match fitness, but that goal will give me a lot of confidence and help me, going forward.”
The c-word had been in very short supply when the former Stoke striker returned to action last month at Plymouth. Town returned from Devon on the back of a dismal 3-1 defeat and until Watford drove the short distance up the M1 on Saturday, the forward hadn’t been part of a league victory since Boxing Day at Sheffield United.
But, in the Championship, the Blades gave Luton a taste of their own medicine, which stacked nerves on top of nerves for the visit of Watford.
But after the dominant manner in which Town despatched their neighbours, the hope is that will be the catalyst for a change in Luton’s fortunes, having found their first nine games back in the Championship tough going.
Brown said of his first taste of what was a febrile derby: “(It was) probably one of the best atmospheres I’ve been involved in my career so far. And, yeah, it was just the perfect day, to finish it off with a goal for myself as well. It was perfect. For the fans, for us as a team, it was just what we needed at this point in the season.
“I literally got goosebumps in the first few minutes. Like when we put the pressure on, winning the corners, the way the fans were, it was electric. And you could just tell from that first minute we were at it, the fans were up for it and they just couldn’t handle us.”
Jordan Clark and Carlton Morris scored early in either half to give Luton a deserved and commanding lead before Brown’s moment, though there were colossal displays throughout the team, despite four key injuries during the game.
The Scotland international said: “We spoke about it before the game, (and said) ‘it’s time for heroes to be made’. I know it’s just one game, but that was a massive game for us, so we’re really going to enjoy this moment.”
While it was the biggest derby day victory since 1981, Saturday was as much about the manner of the triumph, as Town finally put together a nearly complete performance, just when fans demanded it most.
Brown said: “When I was sat on the bench watching it, it looked like the Luton that I played against the season they got promoted.
“The atmosphere was amazing. I know for the Watford players it will have been difficult for them to play in that. That’s just where we’re at now. We need to build on that and keep pushing.”
