Potts nets the winner as Hatters end their long wait for a victory at Birmingham

Luton picked up their first win at St Andrew's since 1986 as they started a crucial period of their season with an equally crucial victory, beating struggling Birmingham this afternoon.

Going into the game, there was the feeling this was a big encounter for Nathan Jones' men, having lost three of their last five games, unfortunately so in two of them it must be said.

But starting a run of 11 matches in 36 days, then it was imperative they began in a positive fashion, as with a number of sides in the bottom half of the table starting to put results together, plus Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United having their matches called off, it represented a big chance for Town to alleviate any nerves that might be forming.

In front of them was a Blues side who have struggled hideously at home this season, without a win since October and taking just two points from their last 10 matches, slipping into the drop zone themselves.

Jones made just one change for the clash, Glen Rea in for Luke Berry, as Ryan Tunnicliffe and Kazenga LuaLua returned to the bench.

A scrappy opening to the exchanges set the tone for the game, with chances few and far between until a long ball forward on 15 minutes saw James Collins get the better of defender George Friend.

Although his angled chip beat keeper Neil Etheridge, it dropped frustratingly into the side-netting.

A good break by Harry Cornick then saw Town win their first corner on 20 minutes when Jordan Clark's cross was deflected behind, as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall swung the set-piece in and Matty Pearson headed straight at Etheridge.

Birmingham's first opening arrived midway through the half, as a deep cross from Kristian Pedersen was cleared only as far as the dangerous Jeremie Bela, who dragged well wide.

Town then had the lead on 31 minutes when a long throw was hurled into the box by Cornick, flicked on by Sonny Bradley and although Etheridge, who had performed heroics at Kenilworth Road in the 1-1 draw earlier in the season, denied Collins, an unmarked Dan Potts headed home for his first goal since October 23, 2019.

It was only the Hatters' seventh goal of the campaign away from Kenilworth Road, and just their second in the first half of a match on the road, giving them an advantage they very rarely looked like giving away.

Luton almost had a second moments later, Clark spinning well to fire goalwards on his left foot, Etheridge making a sharp save.

Potts then rose highest once more with five minutes to go until the break, his header falling wide of the target on this occasion.

After the break, Blues looked to find a way back into the game, Gary Gardner meeting Bela's cross, heading into the arms of Simon Sluga.

The stop-start contest, not helped by the whistle-happy official Gavin Ward, was played out in midfield for large parts, but Luton were easily keeping their hosts at arm's length.

With 20 minutes left, City brought on Town's nemesis Lukas Jutkiewicz, the forward scoring in his last three appearances against the Hatters, but it was Luton who looked to make it 2-0, Dewsbury-Hall's thunderous drive cannoning into a defender.

Hatters continued to remain solid in defence, while offering a threat upfront as another long throw by Cornick caused panic, Bradley hooking an audacious overhead volley narrowly wide.

Jutkiewicz showed his aerial talents to win a hopeful punt forward from Tom Lockyer and force Bradley into conceding a corner, from which the visiting skipper repelled Kristian Pedersen's header, Mikel San Jose hammering his ambitious attempt well wide.

Potts continued to remain one of Luton' biggest threats as from Dewsbury-Hall's curling free kick, his flicked was deflected over the bar by a covering Blues defender.

Although City pushed men forward, they never ever seriously tested Sluga in the final stages, the Croatian picking up one of the most comfortable clean sheets he will manage on the road this season, as Luton climbed two places to 13th, and most importantly, now nine points clear of the bottom three.

Terriers: Neil Etheridge, Kristian Pedersen, George Friend, Yan Valery, Scott Hogan (Lukas Jutkiewicz 69), Jeremie Bela (Ivan Sunjic 69), Harlee Dean, Ivan Sanchez (Jonathan Leko 55), Mikel San Jose, Gary Gardner (Sam Cosgrove 69), Alen Halilovic (Rekeem Harper 55).

Subs not used: Andres Prieto, Maxime Colin, Jake Clarke-Salter, Riley McGree.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson, Dan Potts, Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley ©, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jordan Clark (Kal Naismith 69), Harry Cornick, James Collins.

Subs not used: James Shea, Danny Hylton, Elijah Adebayo, Martin Cranie, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Luke Berry, Tom Ince, Kazenga LuaLua.

Bookings: Potts 49, Gardner 56, Harper 60.

Referee: Gavin Ward.