The Jack Wilshere era is off and running as Lamine Fanne’s goal earned the new Town boss his first win in charge at Northampton.

The midfielder slid home Izzy Jones’ cross with 13 minutes left to spark scenes of wild celebration in the away end and on the touchline.

And although the Hatters restricted the hosts to limited chances, the Cobblers almost snatched a late, late point but Hakeem Odoffin, making his first appearance of the season since joining from Rotherham, cleared Ethan Wheatley’s shot off the line in the sixth minute of added time to help secure victory.

It started with the Wilshere making three changes to the side that lost against Mansfield last weekend with Nigel Lonwijk, Cohen Bramall and Jake Richards coming in. Millenic Alli missed out through illness.

The Town started brightly and the first big chance of the afternoon came in 11th minute when Jordan Clark’s low cross from the left was poked over the bar by Nahki Wells from close range.

Both sides struggled to carve out many clear-cut chances in the first half with Gideon Kodua’s shot saved on 38 minutes and Lonwijk’s back-post header a moment later stopped by home goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons.

After the break the Town continued to press, dominating possession, and they came close to breaking the deadlock eight minutes into the second period when Clark’s super curling effort was headed to safety by Cobblers defender Jordan Thorniley.

Whenever the hosts threatened, it was on the counter, and the Hatters needed to be alert on 55 minutes when Tyrese Fornah saw a shot turned behind by Josh Keeley.

But it was all the Town and shortly before the hour mark they came even closer to taking the lead when the lively Kodua stormed forward and saw his effort rattle the crossbar.

Clark hobbled off with an injury and his replacement Jerry Yates was the next to come close for the Town – this time the striker delaying his shot and forced behind by Fitzsimons.

Yates was denied again by Fitzsimons on 65 minutes before the Town then survived a goalmouth scramble at the other end as the hosts pushed for a goal themselves.

And the Cobblers spurned their best chance of the game on 74 minutes when a ball swung to the back-post found Wheatley but, unmarked in the six-yard box, the striker could only shoot straight at Keeley.

It was a massive let-off for the Hatters and they made the hosts pay three minutes later. George Saville pinged a wonderful pass out to Jones, himself just on for his first appearance of the season. The winger darted goalwards down the left and squared for Fanne to slide home from close range for his first in Luton colours with 13 minutes left on the clock.

Ahead, the Town then needed Keeley once more to stop a low free-kick from ex-Hatter Cameron McGeehan from finding the bottom corner on 81 minutes.

As time ticked down the Hatters needed to see out six added minutes to secure victory.

But in the final moments there was one final chance for the hosts. Kal Naismith made a hash of a defensive clearance to allow Wheatley the chance to slot past Keeley. However, as the ball rolled agonisingly towards goal, Odoffin sprinted back to clear off the line with millimetres to spare.

It was a crucial contribution on his first appearance in a Luton shirt and was celebrated like a goal given its significance and the Hatters held out the final moments to give Wilshere his first win in charge.

The result closes the gap on the teams above the Town in the table but it’s cup action next up for the Hatters with a Vertu Trophy fixture on Tuesday followed by Forest Green on Friday in the FA Cup. We’ll see you then.

Up the Town.

Town: Keeley, Lonwijk (sub Odoffin 87), Bramall, Mengi, Naismith, Saville, Richards (sub Andersen 87), Fanne, Kodua (sub Jones 73), Clark (sub Yates 60), Wells.

Subs not used: Shea, Nordås, Nelson.

Attendance: 8,029, the biggest crowd ever at Sixfields, including 1,551 backing the Hatters.