Latest Digne winner breaks Luton hearts and boosts Villa's top-four hopes | first division

Rob Edwards promised that Luton intend to “go down swinging” in their bid to avoid relegation, but this was a real blow to his team. Having pulled off a thrilling comeback after conceding two goals to get Ollie Watkins fit thanks to Tahith Chong and Carlton Morris, substitute Lucas Digne's late goal took their breath away but it went away. Aston Villa counting your blessings.

Previous defeats by Everton and Nottingham Forest had given Luton the chance to close the gap between them and safety and they could have snatched all three points had Morris made the most of his opportunity with the scores level.

But under Unai Emery, Villa have developed a knack for winning close games and Digne's late goal ensured they still have a healthy lead over Tottenham in the race for fourth place.

Kenilworth Road hosted its biggest crowd since 1992 after the opening of a railway seating section increased capacity by 800. A disturbance in the away section during a minute's silence for former Luton defender Chris Nicholl sparked the ire of the home fans and certainly raised the temperature before kick-off.

Luton hope to start work on a 17,000-seat stadium in the city center this year, but the intimidating atmosphere of their current home remains one of their most potent weapons. However, the departure of Amari'i Bell just minutes into this match was not exactly what Edwards would have planned, and Villa started like a team that has rediscovered its attacking verve after suffering a run of three defeats in four matches.

It took a full save from Thomas Kaminsky to deflect a curling shot from Jacob Ramsey after a powerful run from John McGinn as the visitors piled up the pressure.

The Luton goalkeeper made an even better save to deny Watkins after another wide move through the quick feet of Leon Bailey. But he could do nothing with Bailey's precise header from the corner after Watkins found space at the near post.

The Jamaican winger now has nine assists this season and was a constant threat down Villa's right in the first half, although Emery was forced to make a change to the other flank when Ramsey limped off to be replaced by new signing Morgan Rogers. Without their injured top scorer, Elijah Adebayo, Luton lacked their usual punch and were relieved when Watkins hit the far post as he once again beat the offside trap.

There was no chance of Watkins making the same mistake when taking advantage of Douglas Luiz's quick free-kick, and VAR confirmed he had timed his run perfectly.

Villa almost went out of sight at the break but Kaminsky kept Luton in by saving a Rogers shot before Andros Townsend headed in at the other end in first-half stoppage time.

Villa picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, but Watkins was unable to finish when his chance to score a hat-trick came. It proved to be the turning point when Luton finally woke up, with Chong ending a period of concerted pressure when he stabbed home following a tussle in goal that had seen Matty Cash clear the ball off the line. Suddenly, Villa looked like the team fighting relegation.

Luton surged forward and were rewarded again when Morris headed in an Alfie Doughty free-kick, although he could only direct another header at Emilio Martinez minutes later which would have completed the comeback. But having made four substitutions as he saw the game slipping away from him, Emery's gamble paid off when Digne headed in a cross from another substitute, Moussa Diaby, to allow the Spaniard to raise his fist in celebration at the final whistle. .