Callum McManaman admitted he was ‘buzzing’ to score against former side Wigan after the way his second spell with the Latics ended last term.
The winger came off the bench on 71 minutes with Town staring down the barrel of a defeat to fellow Championship basement strugglers. And with three minutes remaining it got even better for Luton as George Moncur snatched a winner in the third minute of injury time.
Pace ace McManaman made his name at Wigan and was man of the match as the Latics shocked Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup Final.
Permanent moves away to West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland didn’t go as hoped and he returned to Wigan last term, but barely featured before moving to Luton on a free in the summer.
“It was a great result and I’m buzzing to come on and make an impact like that,” McManaman said, adding: “I wouldn’t say I had a point to prove, because the Wigan fans know what I can do, but it’s just the way it happened last season.
“I didn’t really get a chance at Wigan last season and I came back thinking I was going to be a big part of playing. I was gutted about it, so I was up for the game, but I was disappointed I wasn’t starting, to be honest.
“I thought I was going to be playing so I knew I had to do something off the bench.
“I’d say there was an extra bit of edge. Obviously, Wigan are right near us in the league, so we knew it was a six-pointer.”
Before McManaman’s intervention, it looked like Luton were edging towards a disastrous defeat, but once he found the net, the midfielder thought there was only going to be one winner.
He said: “I was saying to the lads that, once I scored, I fancied us to go on a win it. The whole ground just picked up and the place was rocking.
“That’s what I love about this ground. I think the fans are brilliant when you score. They were getting on us a little bit and getting frustrated when it was 1-0 and it’s tough, but as you can understand, especially after last week, but when we scored the whole place just lifted and we just knew something was going to fall for us.
“Fair play to George, it was a great finish. He’s deserved that.”
McManaman admitted the goal went by in a blur, saying: “I can’t even remember it, to be honest, I just remember spinning and it came back to me so I’ll have to watch it back, but it was some buzz when it went in. I’m happy to get the goal and it’s a great win.
“It was unbelievable. That’s definitely up there. Wigan fans know how much I love the club, but I’m at Luton now and that’s what it’s about.
