Matty Pearson’s winning header at Blackburn on Saturday was his rewarded for his strength of character, according to Luton boss Graeme Jones.
The defender scored on his first return to Ewood Park since Blackburn released him as a teenager, without ever having played a first-team game.
His 57th minute header, from Izzy Brown’s second assist of the game after James Collins’ opener, was Pearson’s second of the season.
It put Luton in pole position for victory at the weekend, while he also helped orchestrate a determined rearguard action kept the Rovers onslaught out for a third win of the league campaign.
“He’s another wonderful character at the club,” Jones said of the centre half, adding: “He’s another one we need to be proud of because I’ve thrown different challenges at Matty and Sonny (Bradley) all season and they’ve risen to them. They’ve responded.
“Matty has such a character about him. Nothing is too big for him. He has a go. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t but the next day he’s ready to have a go again.
“That’s all you want for your players and I’m really satisfied for him. I’m sure it’s a wonderful feeling, scoring the winning goal at Blackburn Rovers. He deserves it, you get rewarded in the end.”
The game also saw the return of Jacob Butterfield in the defensive midfield role, after the former Derby County ace was omitted from the starting 11 for the defeats against Queens Park Rangers and Hull City.
Jones said: “Butts has previously been picked for what he does on the ball, but I pulled him out a couple of weeks ago and we went to work individually.
“We were working on some defensive aspects and being more explosive in his first ten yards and Bradley Dack didn’t get a kick. That was Jacob Butterfield’s job, so I’m happier with what he did off the ball. I expect what he gives you on it.”
