Luton's players posed for a celebration picture after Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu's first goal in almost 18 months
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu fired a long-range winner as Luton Town beat Stoke City to go fourth in the Championship with their sixth victory in seven league games.
The long-serving midfielder latched on to a lay-off from Elijah Adebayo to find the bottom-left corner with a right-foot shot from 25 yards.
Ruddock's first goal in 52 appearances since August 2021 proved enough to hand struggling Stoke a second successive away league defeat.
On his 345th career appearance for the Hatters, it was also his first goal at Kenilworth Road since October 2020.
After hitting seven goals in their past two games, against Reading and then Stevenage in the FA Cup, it took the visitors 67 minutes to get their first shot on target against Rob Edwards' well-marshalled Hatters.
Skipper Lewis Baker's left-foot effort, saved by on-loan Nottingham Forest keeper Ethan Horvath, proved to be their only one.
Defeat came at a further cost as Josh Tymon was stretchered off following a challenge from Cody Drameh, just five minutes after the on-loan Leeds United midfielder had been booked for a challenge on him.
But, in a game of few chances, Luton hung on to maintain their current run of form - and leave Alex Neil's Stoke now just six points above the drop zone.
Who's next?
Luton's next Championship test is at Coventry next Saturday, when Stoke entertain improving Hull City.
But, before then, the Hatters face an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Tuesday night at League Two Grimsby Town.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsLuton
Formation 3-4-1-2
34Horvath16Burke4Lockyer29Bell2Drameh18Clark17Mpanzu45Doughty22Campbell9Morris11Adebayo
- 34Horvath16Burke4Lockyer29Bell2DramehBooked at 43minsSubstituted forOnyedinmaat 62'minutes18Clark17Mpanzu45Doughty22CampbellSubstituted forNakambaat 62'minutes9MorrisSubstituted forWoodrowat 70'minutesBooked at 90mins11Adebayo
Substitutes
- 1Shea8Berry10Woodrow13Nakamba23Onyedinma25Taylor32Osho
Stoke
Formation 3-4-3
1Sarkic16Wilmot6Jagielka3Fox20Sterling8Baker28Laurent14Tymon9Brown11Gayle23Celina
- 1Sarkic16Wilmot6Jagielka3Fox20Sterling8BakerSubstituted forSmallboneat 70'minutesBooked at 90mins28Laurent14TymonBooked at 38minsSubstituted forHoeverat 45+2'minutes9Brown11GayleSubstituted forCampbellat 70'minutes23CelinaSubstituted forThompsonat 83'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 10Campbell13Bonham15Thompson17Hoever18Smallbone33Macari37Tezgel
Referee:Dean WhitestoneAttendance:10,031Match StatsHome TeamLutonAway TeamStokePossessionHome46%Away54%ShotsHome11Away7Shots on TargetHome4Away1CornersHome7Away5FoulsHome11Away7Live Text Post update
Match ends, Luton Town 1, Stoke City 0.
90'+5'Full Time
Second Half ends, Luton Town 1, Stoke City 0.
90'+4'Booking
William Smallbone (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by William Smallbone (Stoke City).
90'+4'Post update
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+4'Booking
Jordan Thompson (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'Booking
Cauley Woodrow (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card.
90'+1'Post update
Offside, Luton Town. Fred Onyedinma tries a through ball, but Elijah Adebayo is caught offside.
87'Post update
Attempt missed. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Reece Burke following a set piece situation.
87'Post update
Attempt missed. Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jordan Clark with a cross following a set piece situation.
86'Post update
Foul by Dujon Sterling (Stoke City).
86'Post update
Reece Burke (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
83'Post update
Josh Laurent (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
83'Post update
Foul by Reece Burke (Luton Town).
83'Substitution
Substitution, Stoke City. Jordan Thompson replaces Bersant Celina.
81'Post update
Attempt missed. Cauley Woodrow (Luton Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Alfie Doughty with a cross following a set piece situation.
80'Post update
Foul by William Smallbone (Stoke City).
80'Post update
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
80'Post update
Attempt saved. Jordan Clark (Luton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cauley Woodrow.
78'Post update
Corner, Luton Town. Conceded by Phil Jagielka.
Page 1 of 5rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
- Do more expensive AA batteries last longer? Sliced Bread is charged up to find outWhy has Bad Education made a comeback? Jack Whitehall tells all about the cult sitcom
Source: bbc.com