Luton Town 2-1 Brentford: Martin Cranie scores as Hatters earn vital win

Luton Town moved off the bottom of the Championship as they got a third win in four games and dented Brentford's automatic promotion hopes after an exciting yet nervy 2-1 win at Kenilworth Road.

After weathering a barrage of Brentford chances Town got a second in first-half stoppage time as Martin Cranie smashed a shot into the top corner after Berry's free-kick was not properly cleared.

Both sides had more chances to score after the break, but it was Brentford's top scorer Ollie Watkins who pulled a goal back with nine minutes left when he slotted in from close range following Mads Roerslev's cut-back.

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Luton moved two points above Barnsley into 23rd place and four points from safety, although they have played a game more than all their relegation rivals.

Brentford dropped to fifth in the table, six points off second-placed Leeds United, who have a game in hand.

After Luton's opener Brentford failed to convert a series of excellent chances - Watkins, Said Benrahma and Josh Dasilva all had efforts saved by Simon Sluga.

Berry's free-kicks were the danger point for Luton. The Hatters almost went two goals ahead before they eventually did get a second - although Bees goalkeeper David Raya felt he was fouled in the build-up to Cranie's goal, his first since the opening day of the season.

Both sides desperately tried to score as an entertaining the second half unfolded - Sluga made saves from Bryan Mbeumo and Benrahma, while Watkins also went close twice, and Luton's Harry Cornick had a number of good efforts and forced Raya into an excellent save with 25 minutes left.

Watkins' goal ensured Luton fans, who had seen their side win just one of the 12 games they had played prior to their current good run, had a nerve-wracking end to the evening as Benrahma curled an effort inches wide in the last minute and an Ethan Pinnock attempt was hacked off the line after a stoppage-time scramble in the Town area.

Luton manager Graeme Jones told BBC Three Counties:

"Our level of performance has been there for a long time but tonight we had to win in a different way because we couldn't take Brentford on, we had too many injuries.

"The character of the players, their energy, to a man they were exceptional.

"Brentford are an outstanding football team and that was a high level from us and we won the game with our character, intelligence and off the ball press."

Brentford boss Thomas Frank told BBC Radio London:

"We definitely didn't play at our normal high level. We started well and then the goal changed the momentum of the game.

"We needed to do better. After the goal we struggled and it was back and forth for 20 minutes but by the final 10 minutes [of the second half] we were back on top.

"In the second half we started badly and we built pressure at the end of the game. We scored one goal and came close to a comeback but this is the Championship and we knew it would be difficult against Luton."