Pearson happy to take advantage of Foxes midfielder's 'on the button' set-pieces

Hatters centre half Matty Pearson was grateful to be the recipient of another excellent set-piece from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall during his side’s 3-1 win over Championship leaders Norwich City on Wednesday night.

With Town having just been pegged back by the Canaries at Kenilworth Road, Jordan Clark won a free kick on the right hand side that was delivered on to Pearson’s head by Luton’s increasingly impressive on-loan Leicester City midfielder.

The centre half did the rest, thumping his header beyond Michael McGovern to make it 2-1, for a second goal in successive home games, after previously having gone over a year without scoring.

Pearson said: “Kiernan puts it on the button, his delivery is fantastic and that’s exactly what I need.

“Bezza’s (Luke Berry) been doing it for Collo (James Collins) against Rotherham, but when it’s on the button, we’ve got a chance and thankfully I got across my man and put it in.

“I think they come all at once, I usually don’t score for a while and next minute you get a couple of goals, but I don't get too carried away, I keep focused.”

Boss Nathan Jones was quick to hail Town’s delivery, as they have now scored seven of their last eight goals from set-pieces, including penalties.

He said: “Kiernan’s put it on the money pretty much all night and he’s been wonderful.

“It was a good goal, I’m delighted for Matty, he would have been very disappointed after the weekend (4-0 defeat at Cardiff), but he just reacts that way.”

Pearson had plenty of work to do at the other end on the night, with City constantly probing the Town back-line, but he did it excellently, the Canaries’ unable to create a host of clear-cut opportunities.

The 27-year-old continued: “As a team back to front we contained them and especially as they’re top of the league, it was a really strong performance.

“To score three goals and win, it’s a great boost and what we needed after the weekend.

“A 3-1 win, against top of the league, ex-Premier League, I think it just shows how far we’ve come.

“We’ve got depth and quality everywhere, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t be beating them.

“Our midfielders, front men, wide men, worked their socks off, with the amount of running they did.

“It’s hard work against a top, top team like them, they keep the ball, they move it and it’s always tough being in centre midfield.

"Thankfully I’m a centre back so I don’t have to run around as much.”

Pearson was back in the heart of Town’s back-line following another foray at right back in Wales on the weekend, a position he has occupied at times in recent weeks.

The former Accrington and Barnsley player isn't bothered what role boss Nathan Jones asks him to do, as long as he is in the side, adding: “Wherever you tell me to play, I don’t mind where I play as long as I’m helping the team.

“Right back, it’s not like I’ve never played there before, before I was at Luton, I played there plenty of times.

"So it’s just one of those things where we're short of bodies and whatever selection the manager picks, I’m happy to play there.”