Patrick Bamford’s brace broke a spirited Luton rearguard with a heartbreaking 90th minute winner to stretch Town’s losing streak to five games in the Championship.
The Whites had been threatening for 25 minutes, but it was no less harsh on Town who were the polar opposite of their previous defeat, exhibiting heart and fight. Ultimately, quality told.
For a while, passion played its part as the Hatters were furious with conceding the opener. Talisman Izzy Brown – one of five changes – was up-ended on the edge of the visitors’ area by Calvin Phillips. The Whites stormed immediately down the other end and had plenty of space and time to halt Patrick Bamford only for the striker to sizzle a shot into the bottom corner.
The near post is never where a goalkeeper wants to get beaten so it was a bitter pill to take for James Shea, who was otherwise outstanding throughout, pulling off a string of fine saves, including a double stop in the first half.
Kenilworth Road turned on referee John Brooks, with Brown leading the players’ remonstrations.
But the Chelsea loan ace quickly made amends with his sixth assist of the campaign three minutes later. The attacker picked out James Collins who broke a seven-game duck with a controlled header, back across keeper Kiko Casilla. That was his sixth of the season.
This time Kenilworth Road erupted with joy and a siege mentality ensued. That ferocious momentum arguably played its part in helping to suck the ball into the Leeds net for a second time, but the flag was raised while Matty Pearson wheeled away in celebration, oblivious.
That letdown didn’t so much as have a deflating effect, but spurred United into action.
They dominated possession and forced Luton back and, while Town repelled the lion’s share it was the fact that Leeds players, and in particular Pablo Hernandez and Helder Costa, found space with frequent ease, even in a crowded home penalty area.
Eventually, that pressure told as Bamford pounced on a low cross, though there was more than a hint that the ball came off Pearson. The defender had been magnificent. Again, harsh, but the fine margins are not falling for Luton.
Though they had been strangers to United goal for almost a third of the match, they had one last throw of the dice and Dan Potts should have scored from a corner, but he headed the chance into the ground and wide. Referee Brooks immediately blew the final whistle.
