Luton Town stunned record-breaking Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock with three goals in five sensational minutes to steal all three points.
Taking charge of his 1,602nd game in league management, to beat former Crewe boss Dario Gradi’s mark, Warnock had never suffered defeat in 12 previous meetings against the Hatters with all his previous clubs.
But the 13th proved unlucky despite going in 1-0 up in the 15th minute after youngster Josh Coburn slid in at the far post to connect with Andraz Sporar’s low cross.
Luton levelled on 57 minutes when skipper Sonny Bradley headed in James Bree’s corner.
Striker Elijah Adebayo, recalled after proving his fitness, then pounced on a through-ball to blast home on the hour, before Harry Cornick sprinted clear two minutes later to cash in on a loose backpass. He drilled a finish into the far corner to lift Nathan Jones’ side into the Championship top six.
Boro broke the deadlock with their first shot on target and might have had a penalty too when Dan Potts bundled over Isaiah Jones inside the box.
But the visitors had chances to level before the break. From a long throw, Bree’s far-post header had to be cleared off the line.
But Luton drew level when the Boro defence switched off from a corner, allowing an unmarked Bradley to power home a downward header for his first goal of the season.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu then set up top scorer Adebayo to take a touch and hammer low into the net from another set-piece before the turnaround was complete when Henri Lansbury forced an error, allowing Cornick to run through and find the bottom corner.
Boro pressed late and Marcus Tavernier’s free-kick was blocked by home keeper Simon Sluga and substitute James Lea Siliki had two attempts off target.
Town climb back into the play-off places ahead of Saturday’s home game with Stoke, when Warnock’s 1,603rd game will be at West Bromwich Albion.
From 1-0 down on 57 minutes . . .
. . . to 3-1 up on 62 minutes
Luton Town boss Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:
“We came out second half and were really aggressive. We pride ourselves on our levels of fitness and we knew could go beyond them.
“We’re working class. But class. We scored three goals and it didn’t flatter us. It could have been more. Harry Cornick could have had a hat-trick.
“To a man they were excellent and I was delighted with the levels we attained. We love the night games here. This place rocks.”
Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock told BBC Tees:
“I felt we were let down with the penalty decisions. The linesman overruled the referee on the Isaiah Jones one and we should have had another when he gave the free-kick just outside the box.
“But it’s a game we should still have won. We just don’t have that nastiness they’ve got, that you need in the Championship. We haven’t got enough of that. We’re quite a nice team.
“We just didn’t seem to get the rub of the green all night. But we never get anything off that one linesman whenever we have him. I won’t miss him when I finally retire.”
Line-ups
Luton
Formation 3-5-2
- 12Sluga
- 16Burke
- 5Bradley
- 4Naismith
- 2BreeBooked at 31mins
- 23LansburyBooked at 79mins
- 32Osho
- 17Mpanzu
- 3PottsBooked at 30minsSubstituted forOnyedinmaat 55′minutesBooked at 70mins
- 7CornickSubstituted forHyltonat 81′minutes
- 11AdebayoSubstituted forJeromeat 89′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Shea
- 6Rea
- 9Hylton
- 22Campbell
- 24Onyedinma
- 26Muskwe
- 35Jerome
Middlesbrough
Formation 3-5-2
- 28Daniels
- 2Dijksteel
- 22Bamba
- 17McNair
- 35Jones
- 7Tavernier
- 16Howson
- 25CrooksBooked at 39minsSubstituted forLéa Silikiat 77′minutes
- 8HernándezSubstituted forKokoloat 83′minutes
- 11SporarSubstituted forWatmoreat 68′minutesBooked at 74mins
- 37CoburnBooked at 59mins
Substitutes
- 1Lumley
- 13Olusanya
- 14Peltier
- 18Watmore
- 23Léa Siliki
- 30Kokolo
- 34Sivi
- Referee:
- Tim Robinson
- Attendance:
- 9,790
Live Text
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Match ends, Luton Town 3, Middlesbrough 1.
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Second Half ends, Luton Town 3, Middlesbrough 1.
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Foul by Duncan Watmore (Middlesbrough).
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Reece Burke (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Henri Lansbury (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
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Patrick McNair (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Cameron Jerome (Luton Town).
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Foul by James Léa Siliki (Middlesbrough).
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Danny Hylton (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution, Luton Town. Cameron Jerome replaces Elijah Adebayo.
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Offside, Luton Town. Danny Hylton tries a through ball, but Fred Onyedinma is caught offside.
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Foul by Sol Bamba (Middlesbrough).
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Danny Hylton (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Isaiah Jones (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town).
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Attempt missed. James Léa Siliki (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcus Tavernier.
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Substitution, Middlesbrough. Williams Kokolo replaces Onel Hernández.
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Josh Coburn (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Reece Burke (Luton Town).
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Substitution, Luton Town. Danny Hylton replaces Harry Cornick.