Two weeks on from the disappointment at Middlesbrough the Hatters showed spirit and togetherness to record a fourth home win in their last seven at Kenilworth Road as Mark McGuinness’ first goal in Town colours earned victory over Hull.
As Rob Edwards alluded to post-match, it was a response that gave him heart as the Town dug deep as they were made to work for their three points as Hull spurned a series of good chances to take a point.
Hull started the brighter and almost took an early lead inside three minutes only for Teden Mengi to clear inside the six yard box with the goal gaping – but soon the Town found their feet.
A succession of corners from Shandon Baptiste got the visitors on the back foot but in truth, in difficult conditions as the rain poured on a grey day, it was a scrappy affair.
However, those set-piece from Baptiste were causing the Tigers a problem and on 33 minutes they proved particularly problematic as the Town led from one. To end a week in which he celebrated making his international debut against England at Wembley, McGuinness got on the end of the corner brilliantly, volleying a low finish home for his first goal in Luton colours.
Ahead, the Town breathed a sigh of relief shortly before the break when the visitors’ Joao Pedro’s glancing header missed the target when well-placed from close range.
The second half was only seconds old when Tom Holmes’ superb cross from the right picked out Elijah Adebayo but the striker couldn’t make a clean connection with a header inside the penalty area.
Back came Hull and on 52 minutes the Town survived after Regan Slater’s low cross was poked onto the post by Pedro from close range.
Mengi was then in the right place and right time once more just after the hour mark to thwart Pedro after a pacey counter attack.
Hull continued to look a threat on the break, with the dangerous Abu Kamara denied by a wonderful sliding block from Holmes with 20 minutes to play.
With 14 minutes to go Thomas Kaminski was called into action for the first time to paw away a low fizzing effort from Kasey Palmer and as the game entered closing stages the Town put everything on the line to keep their lead intact.
With 60 seconds left of the 90 Hull spurned another glorious chance to level with substitute Chris Bedia flicked wide at the near post with the goal at his mercy when it seemed harder to miss.
Six minutes were added by the officials and a minute into the additional time Kaminski came to the Town’s rescue to keep it 1-0. Palmer’s shot from the edge of the box cannoned off McGuinness but with the ball diverting goalwards, Kaminski’s knee thankfully saved the day.
As time ticked deeper into the added minutes, the Town defence held firm to secure back-to-back 1-0 home wins at Kenilworth Road.
“This is a performance that shows nobody is giving up,” Edwards said post-match. The smiles and thank yous from the manager and the players at the end told their own story.
The Town continue to grind out the wins at home and now the challenge is to come on the road, where they head for the next two matches – at Leeds and Norwich on the horizon.
First up it’s Elland Road on Wednesday. We’ll see you there.
Town: Kaminski, Holmes, McGuinness, Burke (sub Burke 66), Mengi, Nakamba, Krauß (sub Mpanzu 85), Baptiste (sub Walsh 56), Chong, Morris, Adebayo (sub Brown 66).
Subs not used: Krul, Andersen, Moses, Woodrow, Taylor.
Attendance: 11,386, including 1,049 supporting the visitors.
