Jordan Clark revelled in the unmatched emotion of proving Luton’s match-winner on a pitch that hosted Wayne Rooney and promised a cup of tea as a reward for housemate Rhys Norrington-Davies’ part for setting up his late winner against Derby.
The England and Manchester United legend – now the Rams’ captain – had last-gasp chance to cancel out Clark’s second header in a week, but he squandered his chance, whereas the Hatters winger was clinical in the 87th minute.
His first ever Championship goal earned Town a 2-1 victory and sent them second in the division thanks to a perfect start to the campaign in league and cup.
“Coming on against Wayne Rooney and scoring the winner, there’s no better feeling,” the super sub said.
“We were saying on the bench, we were in awe of him really. I think some of the lads, kind of played like that in a way because you don’t want to go near him. But it’s a game of football and you’ve got to get tight to him and kick him a few times.
“You can see he’s got the quality and he sort of controlled the game in the second half with his passing range.”
But in just four minutes on the pitch, Clark outshone the man who’s scored an all-time record 53 goals for his country.
And just as in the Carabao Cup triumph over Reading on Tuesday, Norrington-Davies picked him out to nod home. It was a peach of a cross and the winger could not miss.
“I’ll be cooking for him or making him a nice cup of tea, I think,” the former Accrington ace said when asked how he’d thank the Welsh Under-21 left back for the gift.
“We’re staying together in a house, so it must be down to that, combination play and linking up well.
“He’s alright, to be fair. He does the washing and we share it a little bit, but he’s a good lad. We’ve formed a little partnership off the field, and it looks like we’re forming one on the field. Happy days.”
The pair signed for Luton in the summer – Clark permanently and Norrington-Davies on loan for the season from Sheffield Untied – but the former had not played a competitive match since the Coronavirus shutdown of football in March, which saw the regular League One season curtailed.
He’s previously admitted there were some dark times as he spent lockdown training on his own, but said of scoring: “It was worthwhile, (having been) a long time out of the game.”
Despite a shorter campaign, Clark still ranked fourth in all top four English divisions for chances created and, after a remarkable week, he said: “I’m not know for my heading. It’s nice to get goals. Creating chances is what the gaffer’s fetched me here for, along with a couple of other things, but long may it continue.
“I just wormed my way into the box, big target man as I am, and Rhys put another good ball in, which put it on a plate for me, really. I just made sure I hit the target and I wasn’t really far out, so if I hit the target, I think it was going to go in anyway.”
Luton had hoped fans could’ve been inside Kenilworth Road to witness their second straight league triumph – the first time they’ve won their opening two Football League games for 14 years – but they had to pull out of an EFL pilot programme to get supporters back in stadia, due to the lack of preparation time afforded them.
Clark, who scored at what would’ve been a rapturous Kenilworth Road end, said: “It would’ve been nice to have the fans behind the goal, celebrating with us, but three points is three points at the end of the day. We’re second in the league now, which is so important.”
