Collins nets a 16-minute hat-trick as Hatters knock Canaries out of the Carabao Cup

A hat-trick in the final 16 minutes by striker James Collins saw Luton reach the second round of the Carabao Cup by beating Norwich City at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

With 79 minutes gone, it had looked like penalties would be needed to resolve this all-Championship tie, until a sudden, and quite unexpected, spree of goals saw Collins notch a fourth treble in Town colours since arriving in the summer of 2017 to send Hatters through.

Luton boss Nathan Jones gave recent signing Rhys Norrington-Davies a debut after he joined from Sheffield United on Thursday, with fellow summer arrivals James Bree and Jordan Clark on the bench.

Norwich, without a host of players due to international duty, injury and suspension, still were able to hand expensive addition Jordan Hugill a start, while Alex Tettey and Kieran Dowell were both involved too.

Norrington-Davies gave an early example of what he could bring to the side, bursting forward from left back to overlap Elliot Lee and send over an excellent cross that required a good clearing header.

With 12 minutes gone, Luton had the best chance of the opening forays when Luke Berry's corner was met by Sonny Bradley at the back post, Martin Cranie diverting his header to Lee who volleyed narrowly wide.

Collins, who was adopting a far more central role under Jones than he had for previous manager Graeme Jones last term, was almost picked out twice, blocked off from Harry Cornick's cross and then just beaten to a fine Lee delivery by Christoph Zimmermann.

City finally started to create some opportunities of their own, Lukas Rupp whistling into the side-netting from 20 yards, while James Shea made a brilliant save to tip Bali Mumba's effort over the bar, not receiving any credit from referee John Busby who awarded a goal kick.

Town almost made the breakthrough moments later, Cranie's header from Berry's corner inches wide.

Shea then continued his impressive start to proceedings, as clearly unsighted, he managed to adjust his body at the vital moment to block Rupp's daisycutter and then grab the rebound ahead of the lurking Hugill.

Just before the break, Town might have been ahead when Cranie played a lovely through ball to unlock the defence for Collins, but Town's frontman got it all wrong, failing to even test Daniel Barden, the shot rolling tamely and rather disappointingly wide.

In the second period, Town were indebted to Shea for keeping them level as he made an excellent stop from Tettey, the Canaries skipper cracking a half-volley goalwards from 20 yards that required tipping behind.

The Luton stopper then kept out Kieran Dowell's angled drive with another excellent stop and claimed Hugill's cross-shot at his near post to further press his credentials ahead of Simon Sluga's return from international duty with Croatia next weekend.

Shea was to continue his one-man resistance when Norwich broke with pace, Josh Martin turning Norrington-Davies inside out before shooting low, the keeper hanging on well.

Town looked to have one foot in the second round on 79 minutes when Clark made an instant impact from the bench, his cross looping up to the back post where Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu took a touch and was brought down by sub Mario Vrancic.

Berry hammered home the loose ball, but referee John Busby had already signalled for a penalty, which Collins calmly slotted down the middle.

That saw the game come to life, as Norwich levelled just two minutes later when Dowell's snapshot from the edge of the box finally broke Shea's resistance, nestling into the bottom corner.

Town were undaunted though, as within 60 seconds they were back in front, Clark the architect once more, his cross cannoning off Mpanzu's chest, for Collins to volley past Barden via a slight deflection.

Luton almost had a clinching third with two to go, Rea slamming into the stands, before Collins made sure in stoppage time.

Mpanzu dinked over the top for Clark who broke into the box and unselfishly squared for his team-mate to sweep beyond Barden and put Town into the second and third round draw that takes place tomorrow evening.

Hatters: James Shea, Martin Cranie, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry, Elliot Lee (Kazenga LuaLua 86), James Collins, Harry Cornick (Jordan Clark 72).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Danny Hylton, George Moncur, Andrew Shinnie, James Bree.

Canaries: Daniel Barden, Christopher Zimmermann, Lukas Rupp, Jordan Hugill, Kieran Dowell, Timm Klose (Mario Vrancic 59), Marco Stiepermann, Josh Martin (Onel Hernandez 73), Bali Mumba, Alex Tettey (C), Sam McCallum (Melvin Sitti 86).

Subs not used: Daniel Sinani, Reece McAlear, Anrew Omobamidele, William Hondermarck, Jon McCracken.

Booked: McCallum 70.

Referee: John Busby.