Rob Edwards says Luton are looking up the Championship table after they narrowed the gap on automatic promotion to seven points with their first win at second-placed Sheffield United since 1994.
Top scorer Carlton Morris’ 15th of the season and a vital late save from Ethan Horvath – to bag his 15th clean sheet – was enough to secure all three points and set a new second-tier record of 10 away wins for the Hatters.
Town moved up to fourth and while cementing a play-off place is the first priority – they’re now five points clear of the chasing pack – the victory has boosted hopes of hunting down the Blades and finishing in the top two.
And manager Edwards didn’t shy away from those lofty ambitions, saying: “We’re all looking up. I keep saying, we want to look up rather than behind us, but we’re well aware that we just have to keep trying to win. That’s all we can do. We can’t do anything about anyone else. When we play teams that are in and around us then we’ve got to mix it with them and try to take points off them, like we’ve done today.
“All we can do is work really hard every single day in training and when the match-day comes, deliver. And the lads are delivering at the moment.”
Luton had not even registered a goal in their previous three visits to the red half of the Steel City, while Bramall Lane has been something of a fortress this term, with United only losing there three times this term.
“It’s a difficult place and the lads deserve all the credit. They were brilliant,” said Edwards.
The decisive moment came in the 53rd minute when Town’s front pair combined with Morris notching for the second match running.
“He’s just some boy,” said Edwards of his red-hot hitman, adding: “He keeps popping up and he’s in the right place at the right time. I can’t speak highly enough of him. He puts a right shift in. It’s hard because, it was a couple of weeks ago now, but he gets knocked about. He has to handle a lot and he comes up with the goods again after some really good play by Eli.
“To get the goal at the time we did was great. Brilliant play from Eli. And then they’re going to start throwing everything at us. They’re second in the league, big stadium, big crowd and all of that, then they started really putting it on us. But we defended really, really well.”
However, the victory came at a cost as midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu was forced off with a nasty injury after just 26 minutes, while his influential partner Jordan Clark and in-form wing-back Alfie Doughty were missing from the squad, though they’re not expected to be serious problems. But for Mpanzu, who missed the end of last term through injury there are fears that history could repeat itself.
Edwards told the BBC: “I’m a little bit gutted as well because I feel for Pelly. We’ll have to see. I’ve said to the lads, we’ve got to look after each other. We’re a family and he gives everything for this club.
“Bez (Luke Berry), when he came on gave absolutely everything, as all of the lads always do, and helped us get over the line.
“It’s a great result, of course it is and we’ve got to celebrate it and enjoy it. The supporters, of course, have got to. They’ve travelled in great numbers and made a long journey so thank you to them, but I just feel a little bit for him (Mpanzu) today. We lost a couple of lads over the last two days, important players.”
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