Luton Town 2-3 Aston Villa

Lucas Digne’s 89^th-minute header secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Luton Town in a pulsating encounter at Kenilworth Road.

The left-back picked the perfect moment to register his first Premier League goal of the season, nodding home a cross from fellow substitute Moussa Diaby.

Ollie Watkins bagged a first-half brace to take his tally for the season to 21 goals, with the in-form striker heading home Leon Bailey’s corner before doubling his tally courtesy of a superb touch and finish from Douglas Luiz’s quick free-kick.

Watkins, who also hit the woodwork, now has seven goals in seven games and is enjoying his most prolific Premier League season to date in a Villa shirt having found the net 16 times – with his 26 goal involvements in 2023/24 the highest of any player in the top flight.

The Villans were good value for their half-time lead but, in a game of two halves, the Hatters responded after the break and reduced the deficit through Tahith Chong’s close-range effort in the 66^th minute.

Carlton Morris then converted a first-time finish from Alfie Doughty’s free-kick shortly afterwards to restore parity, before Digne’s last-gasp headed winner sparked wild scenes among the Villa faithful.

It was a third successive win for Unai Emery’s side and third consecutive triumph on the road, in what was Villa’s first visit to Luton for eight years and first in the Premier League era.

The history books were against Villa having won just one of their previous 12 trips to Luton stretching back to 1973.

Ezri Konsa returned to Villa’s starting line-up having missed the club’s last four matches due to injury sustained in the 5-0 victory over Sheffield United.

Fellow defender Pau Torres, forced off at half-time in last weekend’s 4-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, was fit enough to be included in Villa’s matchday 20 and claimed a place among the substitutes.   

Jacob Ramsey enjoyed the game’s first opening after 14 minutes as he forced a parried save from Hatters goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski, with Luiz heading off target from the subsequent corner.

Villa went close again midway through the first half as Kaminski made an excellent stop to push away Watkins’ strike after he was played through by Bailey.

Yet Villa got the breakthrough they craved from the subsequent corner as Watkins rose to head home Bailey’s corner at the near post.

Ramsey hobbled off just before the half-hour mark, replaced by Morgan Rogers, before Watkins drilled a low strike against the base of the far post as the visitors threatened to extend their advantage.

However, Villa didn’t have to wait long for a second goal as Watkins superbly controlled Luiz’s quick free-kick before sending an inch-perfect finish beyond Kaminski into the far corner.

Kaminski tipped over from Rogers as a dominant Villa threatened another before the break, but it was Town who emerged on the front foot at the start of the second half.

And they secured a route back into the encounter shortly after the hour mark, Chong coverting from close range amid as goalmouth scramble after Matty Cash had initially cleared off the line.

The hosts then duly levelled matters in the 72^nd minute as Morris converted Doughty’s set-piece with a first-time finish.

Head coach Emery turned to Digne, Diaby and Nicolò Zaniolo in response, and they provided the perfect impact.

Diaby picked up the ball on the right and delivered a cross to the back post for Digne to convert a downward header, securing three big points and a league double over Luton.