Sky Bet Championship

Luton Town 1 (Collins 54)

Leeds United 2 (Bamford 51, Pearson O.G. 90)

Luton: Shea, Potts, Bradley, Pearson, Bree, Tunnicliffe, Collins, Mpanzu, Shinnie (Bolton 90), Brown (LuaLua 75), Cornick (McManaman 75).  Subs not used: Sluga, Galloway, Jones, Butterfield.

Leeds: Casilla, Ayling, Berardi (Cooper 59), White, Dallas, Phillips, Klich, Roberts (Clarke 71), Harrison (Costa 65), Hernandez, Bamford.  Subs not used: Meslier, Douglas, Alioski, Costa, Gotts, Clarke. 

Booked: Ayling (Leeds)

Referee: J. Brooks

Venue: Kenilworth Road

Attendance: 10,068 (1,035 Leeds)

Leeds United left it late to secure a third win in a row in the Sky Bet Championship against Luton Town.

The first opportunity came inside nine minutes when Tyler Roberts tried to play in Bamford, but James Shea came out of his area to make a vital interception.

Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu had Luton’s opening chance when he struck from 25 yards, but couldn’t keep his effort down.

James Collins saw a penalty appeal turned down for the hosts, before Stuart Dallas laid the ball off to Bamford to strike, but he couldn’t get the better of James Shea in the Luton net.

At the other end James Collins met a Harry Cornick cross, but he saw his attempt deflect just wide and from the resulting corner Sonny Bradley fired just wide of the Leeds goal.

Leeds had a great chance to go in front in the 32^nd minute, Gaetano Berardi’s forward pass was met by an instinctive Bamford volley which came out off the post, Kalvin Phillips then struck on goal and Shea could only parry giving Jack Harrison an opportunity, but Shea made a super stop to deny him from a narrow angle.

Captain for the day Luke Ayling struck just wide when he was found just inside the Luton box, before Luton made a mess of a clearance and Bamford set up Mateusz Klich to shoot, but his effort deflected off target.

Leeds continued to dominate and a good cross from Ayling was met by the head of Bamford, but once more Shea made another stop to keep the scores level.

Three minutes before the break, Leeds again came very close to breaking the deadlock when some lovely build up play led to Dallas teeing up Tyler Roberts and his deflected shot was kept out by another brilliant stop from Shea.

Half time: Luton Town 0-0 Leeds United

Five minutes into the second half a decent ball from Klich found the feet of Roberts in the Luton area, but again Shea kept him out.

A minute later, Leeds got the breakthrough.  After the referee ruled play on following a challenge by Phillips on former Leeds man Izzy Brown, defender Ben White stormed up the pitch and played Bamford into the Luton box with a fine pass and his early strike found the back of the net.

Straight from the kick-off, Leeds had a three-on-one situation, but couldn’t take advantage and in the 54^th minute, Luton levelled the scores, when Collins headed home a cross from Brown.

The goal lifted the atmosphere at Kenilworth Road and the home side went close again three minutes later, with Kiko Casilla making a good stop to deny Cornick.

From the resulting corner the Hatters thought they had gone ahead when Matty Pearson bundled home from close range, but Leeds were saved by the offside flag.

Sonny Bradley fired over from 25 yards for the Hatters, before Pablo Hernandez whipped in a lovely cross, but Bamford could only volley over.

Leeds regained the momentum and Shea twice denied Hernandez as the Whites looked for a winner.

Dallas saw a 30 yard effort sail over the bar, before Klich was found in the Luton box, but again Shea saved.

Leeds did get a second breakthrough in the 90^th minute, when Klich put a low ball into the box and Bamford used his strikers instinct to turn the ball into the back of the net, to send the away section wild.

Klich had another chance in stoppage time but couldn’t beat Shea, before the Hatters won a corner right at the death, with Dan Potts’ header into the ground which bounced over, ensuring Leeds headed back up the M1 with the points.

Full time: Luton Town 1-2 Leeds United