Collins heads the winner as Luton stun Swansea

Luton gave their chances of avoiding relegation an absolutely massive boost by stunning play-off hopefuls Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon.

James Collins' goal on 72 minutes, his 12th of the season, proved to be enough to decide the contest as manager Nathan Jones picked up his first win since returning the club last month.

It was no more than the visitors deserved either as they restricted a Swans side containing multi-million pound forward Andre Ayew, plus Liverpool loanee and England youth star Rhian Brewster, to very little in terms of genuine goalscoring chances, with a compact and solid display.

They were always a threat at the other end too, tidy with the ball at feel, playing some impressive one-touch passing moves, as you could never once tell the side pushing for the play-offs and the team who started the game at the bottom of the pile.

Hatters made three changes for the clash, Elliot Lee in for his first start since the opening day of the season against Middlesbrough, while Jacob Butterfield began for the first time since the reverse meeting with the Swans at Kenilworth Road in December.

Captain Sonny Bradley was also back too, as Martin Cranie, Izzy Brown and Ryan Tunnicliffe dropped to the bench, with Glen Rea making his 150th appearance for the club as well, with Town moving away from the diamond formation, pushing Lee and Harry Cornick on to the flanks.

Town made an impressive start to proceedings, looking more than a match for their opponents, who were attempting to get back into a top six spot with victory.

They forced some early corners, Butterfield swinging a deep one to the back post where Dan Potts rose highest to head into the side-netting.

City finally put some sustained build-up play together, with Jake Bidwell finding Ayew in the box, his close range attempt batted away by Simon Sluga.

Luton fashioned the best chance on 15 minutes with a quick break as Collins released Cornick, who did excellently to hurdle one challenge.

Breaking into the area, he cut back on to his left foot, but then from just outside the six yard box, hammered wastefully and disappointingly over the top.

The Swans eventually began to enjoy more of the ball, Town picking up bookings to Butterfield and Rea, but out of possession Luton kept their shape with real confidence and class, keeping their hosts at arm's length.

After the break, it was the Welsh side who began strongly, as some intricate approach play in the box saw Jay Fulton's clever backheel pounced upon by Ayew, but Sluga slid out well to bravely block with his legs, getting a whack in the process.

Ayew, who had commanded fees totalling almost £40m in his career when being bought by West Ham and Swansea, was becoming more and more of a threat, one low shot cannoning into Bradley and fortunately rebounding straight to keeper Sluga.

Town looked threatening at times though, particularly when Lee got hold of the ball in advanced areas, linking up well with Collins for Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu to drill goalwards, Freddie Woodman hanging on.

Luton were then indebted to a marvellous save from Sluga to ensure it remained goalless as he leapt to his left to paw away Ben Cabango's header, with Rhian Brewster, who had been kept otherwise quiet, nodding over.

Boss Nathan Jones opted to bring on Brown and then James Bree for Lee with 20 to go, giving the Aston Villa loanee a more advanced role on the right and he was almost an instant hero, collecting Cornick's cross and seeing his shot blocked by Bidwell.

Town, who had just started to impose themselves on proceedings, then broke the deadlock on 70 minutes, when a good move on the right saw Brown deliver a pinpoint cross from out wide.

There was still plenty to do though, and Collins did it superbly, rising above his marker to power a downhard header that Woodman couldn't keep out.

City looked for a leveller, giving Luton a few nervy moments, Carter-Vickers slicing a cross narrowly over his own bar and then Sluga backpedalling to tip a cross behind.

What had been a good natured game changed in a mad few seconds as a number of sliding challenges went in, before a flashpoint saw Swans' half time substitute Jordon Garrick throw a punch and receive his marching orders as both sets of players clashed.

Mpanzu was also booked as both Luton's bench, along with Jones, tried to calm down proceedings, with Danny Hylton pulling Collins away from any further involvement.

The incident saw nine minutes of stoppage time added, Hatters having to make two changes, cramp finally getting the better of Potts, Cranie on and Hylton replacing Cornick.

Luton's game-management was absolutely spot on though, Swansea unable to create anything meaningful, Conor Gallagher curling narrowly wide from the edge of the box, as Hatters made it four points from six since the Championship resumed, and stretch their unbeaten run to five games.

Swans: Freddie Woodman, Jay Fulton (George Byers 57), Matt Grimes ©, Aldo Kalulu (Jordon Garrick 46), Rhian Brewster, Ben Wilmot, Andre Ayew, Connor Roberts, Jake Bidwell, Conor Gallagher, Ben Cabango (Wayne Routledge 87).

Subs not used: Erwin Mulder, Marc Guehi, Joe Rodon, Nathan Dyer, Yan Dhanda, Kyle Naughton.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson, Dan Potts (Martin Cranie 90), Sonny Bradley (C), Cameron Carter-Vickers, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jacob Butterfield (Izzy Brown 59), Elliot Lee (James Bree 69), Harry Cornick (Danny Hylton 90), James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Callum McManaman, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur.

Booked: Butterfield 30, Rea 33, Wilmot 45.

Sent off: Garrick 86.

Referee: Andy Woolmer.