Millennic Alli scored a last-minute equaliser as Luton Town rescued a vital point away at relegation rivals Stoke City.
The former Exeter City front man was forced to play wing back when Alfie Doughty picked up an injury early in the game. From here the 25-year-old did his best to control Stokes attackers and press forward to create opportunities.
It was from this position that Alli popped up to get his first goal for the Hatters in injury time. The result leaves the team two points from safety with five games left to play.
Despite not getting the win, Alli said the group feels positive about their chances of survival.
“Every game is always big, especially in the position we are now, and we have to be even better and push the performances to the next level.”
Luton host Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, a team spiralling down the table, win this game and there’s a chance they could be outside of the relegation zone by full-time.
Whilst a win against Blackburn would be huge for the Hatters, the big games don’t stop.
After Rovers, the team travel to Derby County in possibly their biggest game of the season before playing three straight play-off chasing teams in Bristol City, Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion.
Luton have seen things turn around after a difficult start to life under new boss Matt Bloomfield, who took over from the outgoing Rob Edwards.
Bloomfield left League One promotion hopefuls Wycombe Wanderers in order to keep the Hatters in the Championship, but life had looked bleak until now.
Luton Town has lost just one game in their last seven, winning two and holding off the likes of Leeds United in the process.
Whilst run ins don’t get much harder, the teams form and Alli’s assessment of the squad around him suggests reasons to be optimistic for Hatters fans as they head into five games of do or die to stay in England’s second tier.
