At Kenilworth Road, Aston Villa defeated Luton 3-2 thanks to a header by Lucas Digne in the 89th minute, sustaining their campaign for a top-four Premier League finish.
With two goals down in the second half, Unai Emery’s team appeared to have given up two points, but in front of jubilant away supporters, Digne came to the far post and turned Moussa Diaby’s deep ball past Thomas Kaminski and into the net.
Villa appeared to be in control at the half, but the hosts rallied valiantly and levelled the score with goals from Tahith Chong and Carlton Morris.
We're now on WhatsApp. Click here to join.
Rob Edwards’ team suffered their fourth straight loss, and Villa held a five-point advantage over Tottenham in the Champions League standings.
In the first quarter, Kaminski had been the home team’s hero. He had first ducked fully to save a right-footed effort from Jacob Ramsey, and then he had performed even more acrobatically when Watkins entered down the right and struck a shot towards the near post, only to be magnificently stopped by the goalie.
However, a minute later, Watkins headed Villa ahead from the ensuing corner, making all of his efforts in futile. The Villa striker took advantage of some lax Luton marking to create space, and Leon Bailey’s ball arched invitingly into the six-yard box where he was able to get free. He exploited that space to rise up and coolly send the ball beyond Kaminski into the top corner for his 20th goal of the year.
At the halfway point, Villa suffered the significant loss of injury to Ramsey, but it had little effect on their unwavering momentum. Ten minutes before the half, Watkins set up Teden Mengi on the right, rounded the defender, and fired a low shot off Kaminski’s far post to almost double the lead.
But all of his attempts were in vain as Watkins headed Villa ahead from the subsequent corner a minute later. Taking advantage of some careless marking by Luton, the Villa striker opened up space for Leon Bailey’s ball, which arched invitingly into the six-yard box and allowed him to break free. He took advantage of that space to climb up and score his 20th goal of the year with a beautiful shot that went past Kaminski and into the top corner.
Although Villa lost Ramsey to injury at the halfway stage, it didn’t seem to affect their unstoppable momentum. Ten minutes before the half, Watkins nearly doubled the lead by setting up Teden Mengi on the right, rounding the defender, and putting a low shot off Kaminski’s far post.
Watkins’ fast pace ahead had been warning to Luton, but their high line kept giving him room, and soon he had delivered on his second-minute threat.
When Douglas Luiz lofted a shot over the top for Villa’s leading scorer to run onto, the defence had pushed up into the centre circle. He easily finished off Villa’s second goal by clipping it in off the post when there was nobody in orange close by. Although Watkins had timed his run perfectly, VAR looked for offside.
