There was late heartbreak for 10-man Town as a late injury-time winner condemned the Hatters to a ninth successive away defeat in the Championship.

Swansea substitute Myles Peart-Harris’ header in the 91st-minute was cruel on Rob Edwards’ men who had battled at 1-1 having played the final 22 minutes a man light following Joe Johnson’s harsh red card for a second bookable offence.

It had started so brightly for the Hatters in the final game of 2024 with Carlton Morris firing the Town in front after just five minutes. Swans keeper Lawrence Vigouroux’s poor clearance landed at the feet of the Hatters captain and he made no mistake when volleying home from 10 yards for his seventh of the season.

The goal would be the nearest the Town would come to threatening the home side in the first half as the home side dominated.

Jisung Eom toed a shot against the post on 13 minutes while a Liam Cullen header diverted a header wide shortly before the half-hour as the hosts pushed for a leveller.

The pressure continued. Thomas Kaminski produced a fine save to paw away a drive from Ronald on 35 minutes but the Town’s luck ran out on 38 minutes when the hosts levelled. Kaminski somehow kept out an effort from Ronald from point-blank range but Goncalo Franco was on hand to tap-home the rebound.

After a lack of attacking threat after the goal, the Town had the ball in the Swansea box 15 minutes after the break when Marvelous Nakamba won the ball but neither Morris or Elijah Adebayo could make the most of the opportunity.

Kaminski came to the Hatters’ rescue moments later as the game swung from end-to-end, the keeper acrobatically turning away Harry Darling’s header from eight yards.

In truth the Town were looking more of an attacking force in the second period but any hopes of pinching three points were dealt a blow on 68 minutes when Johnson received his marching orders for the second of two soft bookings.

With 20 minutes remaining a man down, it was backs to the wall for the Town. Former Cardiff man Mark McGuinness threw himself in front of everything as the Hatters desperately tried to hold onto a point.

But, in the first of seven added minutes, Swansea’s pressure paid off. A ball lofted into the Town penalty area was headed back across goal by Darling and Peart-Harris was on hand at the back post to guide a header into the top corner to shatter the Hatters.

Edwards’ side couldn’t muster a response to going behind and the hosts almost grabbed a late third when Zan Viptonik’s close range effort was magnificently blocked by Kaminski.

In the dying, final moments, the Town tried in vain to create a last-gasp equaliser but time was up and the Hatters were left to reflect on another defeat away from Kenilworth Road.

Town: Kaminski, Johnson, Bell, McGuinness, Holmes, Nakamba (sub Nelson 65), Chong, Krauß (sub Mpanzu 85), Clark, Adebayo (sub Walters 71), Morris.

Subs not used: Krul, Moses, Woodrow, Pieters, Taylor, Hashioka.

Attendance: 16,414, including 770 in the away end backing the Town.