Luton climbed out of the Championship bottom three for the first time since January thanks to Shandon Baptiste’s 90th-minute goal as they beat play-off chasing Coventry 1-0.
The Hatters looked like they would go to West Brom next weekend with their destiny definitely out of their own hands, only for Baptiste, who had been on the field for just 11 minutes, to find the net and lift the roof off Kenilworth Road.
Coventry had Jay Dasilva sent off in the 13th minute but could not take advantage of when the numbers were evened up by Liam Walsh’s second-half dismissal.
And the defeat leaves the Sky Blues looking over their shoulder in the battle for the top six.
Dasilva was shown a straight red by referee Oliver Langford when he clipped the heels of Mill Alli who was latching on to Thelo Aasgaard’s ball over the top.
Town almost made the visitors pay immediately, when Aasgaard sent Amari’i Bell away this time, and his inviting cross was glanced wide under pressure by Carlton Morris from six yards out.
Aasgaard went close after 26 minutes when his low drive was grabbed by Bradley Collins, before centre-back Mark McGuinness saw a low prod blocked by Matt Grimes.
Aasgaard had another pop on the half hour, with Collins tipping over his fizzing drive.
In the closing stages of the first half, Alli tried his luck from outside the box but dragged wide, as did City’s Jack Rudoni from 12 yards in the final seconds, the visitors’ only attempt of the half.
Aasgaard had another pop from range, but Collins was equal to it once more, as he was in the early stages of the second half when Izzy Jones’ left-footed attempt was straight at him.
When the City goalkeeper was beaten, Aasgaard’s shot deflected narrowly off target.
Luton midfielder Walsh was then denied by a stunning save from Collins, unleashing a 25-yarder that looked in all the way only for the keeper to brilliantly flick on to the bar and over.
Town were now starting to create the chances their dominance needed.
Morris sent Lamine Fanne through but he could not beat an onrushing Collins, who was then thankful to his post for keeping out Alli’s deflected shot.
The numbers were evened up in the 68th minute when Walsh, having just been booked, shoved Luis Binks who went down theatrically and was shown a straight red by Langford.
Haji Wright might have stolen it for City in the closing stages but he nodded wide.
And in the last minute of the 90, Collins needlessly came for a long ball forward only to collide with his own defender Liam Kitching. That allowed Baptiste to sidefoot goalwards, where the covering Binks appeared to have it under control, until he somehow diverted the ball into his own net.
