Luton's hopes of staying up are alive and kicking after sinking Terriers

Goals from Sonny Bradley and Elliot Lee saw Luton pick up an absolutely magnificent and crucial victory live on Sky at fellow relegation strugglers Huddersfield Town this evening, doing the double over the Terriers in the process.

The Hatters went into the game knowing nothing less than a victory was required if they were to have a realistic chance of avoiding relegation back to League One this term, and they did just that, courtesy of two excellent second half strikes.

After only picking up a point from two home matches, boss Nathan Jones had spoken of a need to win three out of the final four fixtures to ensure Championship survival and they chalked up the first one in style, with a polished away display, restricting their hosts, who were playing Premier League football this time last term, to very little.

The result saw Luton gain a real advantage on their rivals, who are all playing over the weekend, as they climbed off the bottom of the table, moving above Barnsley, and within two points of safety.

Jones made two changes to the side who drew 1-1 with Barnsley on Tuesday night, Andrew Shinnie rewarded for his impressive second half display with a first start since mid-January.

Harry Cornick also came back in, with Danny Hylton and Martin Cranie dropping to the bench, where they were joined for the first time since the Championship resumed by Kazenga LuaLua.

It looked like the Hatters were setting up to try and contain for the opening 45 minutes, with the intention of raiding the bench during the second period and pushing for the victory they needed as they set up in a solid and compact shape.

The tactics worked to a tee as well, although Huddersfield did have the odd moment early on, Bradley dispossessed by Frazier Campbell, as Cameron Carter-Vickers covered round to block Emile Smith Rowe's drive, defender Jon Gorenc Stankovic heading the resulting corner straight at Simon Sluga.

Luton continued to blunt any attacks the hosts tried to create, cutting the supply-line to dangerous front man Karlan Grant, although offered little themselves at the other end, home stopper Jonas Lossl, who went into the game on the back of three consecutive clean sheets, barely involved.

Sluga's handling was secure when Lewis O'Brien tried his luck from range on 35 minutes, in what was a nervy first period, the importance of the result clearly and understandably inhibiting both sets of players.

However, that all changed just two minutes after the interval as Luton broke the deadlock with their first effort on target, following a Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu shot that deflected behind for a corner.

James Bree swung in a delicious delivery from the left and there was Bradley to power home a cracking header beyond Lossl for his third goal of the season, all of them coming in front of the cameras, and potentially his most important, as the hosts defence was finally pierced.

The Terriers looked to find an instant reply, Grant putting a decent free kick opportunity well over the bar, as with the game opening up, Luke Berry curled one narrowly off target from range too.

Luton almost had a pressure-relieving second goal midway through the half as Collins was sent clear on the right and did excellently to wriggle away from two challenges, before unleashing a right-footed blast that flew inches wide.

He was almost made to pay for that miss, Smith Rowe dummying a couple of Hatters defenders, but like Collins, after doing all the hard work, just couldn't find the bottom corner.

Hatters were then in dreamland on 71 minutes when a pass forward was pounced on by Collins, who had held his run to perfection to beat the offside trap according to the linesman.

Town's leading marksman advanced on goal, seeing his drive smack against the post, only for Elliot Lee following up to win the loose ball and then fairly leather into the top corner for a quite brilliant second and his first league goal since May last year.

Terriers sub Steve Mounie put a header wide, as Luton shuffled their pack, LuaLua getting his first action since the season resumed with 10 to play, Hylton on as well, Collins and Lee making way.

Home sub Alex Pritchard fired harmlessly over as the hosts attempts now took on an air of desperation, the game seeing seven minutes of stoppage time added.

There were little moments to raise the heart-rates of Town's supporters watching up and down the country though, Sluga parrying a cross away, with Berry completing the clearance.

Late on, Bacuna leapt and headed wastefully wide as Luton made it seven points from nine on the road, giving themselves every renewed optimism that they can stay in the second tier this season.

Terriers: Jonas Lossl, Harry Toffolo, Jonathan Hogg (Andy King 66), Trevor Chalobah, Chris Willock (Alex Pritchard 75), Karlan Grant, Frazier Campbell (Steve Mounie 55), Christopher Schindler ©, Jon Gorenc Stankovic, Emile Smith Rowe, Lewis O'Brien (Juninho Bacuna 66).

Subs not used: Joel Coleman, Elias Kachunga, Richard Steadman, Jaden Brown, Demeaco Duhaney.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree, Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley (C), Cameron Carter-Vickers, Andrew Shinnie (Martin Cranie 90), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry, Elliot Lee (Kazenga LuaLua 80), Harry Cornick (Callum McManaman 67), James Collins (Danny Hylton 80).

Subs not used: James Shea, George Moncur, Jacob Butterfield, Peter Kioso, Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Booked: Campbell 38, Bacuna 85, Shinnie 90.

Referee: Geoff Eltringham.