Lucas Digne’s 89th-minute header clinched a dramatic 3-2 victory for Aston Villa over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on a breath-taking Saturday Night Football.
Rod Edwards’ side thought they had earned a point from a two-goal deficit when Carlton Morris’ controlled volley (72) added to Tahith Chong’s strike (66), but substitute Digne ran onto Moussa Diaby’s cross with a minute of normal time remaining to restore Villa’s lead.
Villa surged into a commanding position at half time as two goals from Ollie Watkins (24, 38) had sent them on their way to victory. Luton refused to fold in the same way Sheffield United did last month but Villa dug deep and found an answer to the hosts’ battling second-half comeback.
Unai Emery’s side cement their position in fourth, moving onto 55 points, nine ahead of Manchester United in sixth ahead of their trip to the Etihad Stadium to face neighbours Manchester City on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
The result leaves 18th-placed Luton still in the relegation zone on 20 points, four adrift of Nottingham Forest above them in a position of safety.
More to follow…
What’s next?
Aston Villa visit Ajax in the Europa Conference League on Thursday (kick-off 5.45pm) before hosting Tottenham next Sunday for a top-four place showdown, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 1pm).
Luton travel to Crystal Palace next Saturday (kick-off 3pm).