Two own goals inside five minutes at the end of this relegation crunch earned Luton back-to-back victories and stopped the Chris Wilder bandwagon in its tracks.
After halting Aston Villa’s winning home form before Christmas, Sheffield United fought back from a goal down to lead with 71 minutes played at Bramall Lane.
Second half goals by Oli McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic put the Blades ahead after they trailed at half-time to a goal scored by Alfie Doughty.
But the game swung in bizarre fashion as Jack Robinson and Anis Slimane scored in their own net to lift Luton onto 15 points and leave the Blades rock bottom with only nine points after 19 games, the halfway stage of their season.
It was the fifth game of Wilder’s second coming at Sheffield United and one he came into with an ambitious selection, shelving his usual back three and wingbacks for a back four with his most gifted creative forces James McAtee and Gustavo Hamer wide in midfield and two up front.
Luton secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day
Alfie Doughty had put the visitors ahead when his effort squirmed in at the near post
Oli McBurnie turned the screw for Sheffield United as he equalised early in the second half
Anel Ahmedhodzic then completed an eight-minute turnaround as he put the Blades 2-1 up
Hamer didn’t take naturally to his defensive responsibilities, however, leaving Doughty the space to cause the home side early problems rampaging on Luton’s right flank, and his goal gave the visitors the lead in the 17th minute.
Doughty collected a pass from Sambi Lokonga, eased by Hamer and, as Auston Trusty stood back, keen to cut out cross, went for goal. West Foderingham should have saved at his near post but the shot went between his legs and into the net. It was his first Premier League goal and reward for Luton’s strong start.
The Blades improved. Thomas Kaminiski made his first save of the game after half an hour, springing to his left to push out a free-kick by Hamer. Andre Brooks fired a shot wide from outside the penalty area and McAtee wriggled through a crowd, jinking inside from the right and fizzed another narrowly wide.
Ross Barkley, excellent on the ball for Luton, headed over from a corner but the home side finished the first half on top with another effort by Brooks deflected wide and a header by Trusty clipped the bar from a corner.
Wilder abandoned his 442 experiment and reverted to wingbacks at half time, sending on Max Lowe to replace Brooks and relieving Hamer of his trouble with Doughty. Instantly, Sheffield United found a better rhythm and a quicker tempo.
The Bosnian’s goal sent Bramall Lane into bedlam after he seized on a goalmouth scramble
It looked as it the Hatters had thrown away a promising position after the quick turnaround
But, they equalised when Jack Robinson headed past Wes Foderingham and into his own net
Anis Slimane then deflected Carlton Morris’ cross past Foderingham for another own goal
Teden Mengi almost sliced a cross from George Baldock into his own net and they carved out a good chance for Lowe, blocked by Lokonga, before McBurnie levelled with his third of the season. He now has more goals than red cards.
This one owed much to McAtee, who took a flick from Cameron Archer and drove into the penalty area, a run abruptly ended by a challenge by Lokonga. Most of the capacity crowd at Bramall Lane called for a penalty but McAtee was alert to the opportunity. While on the floor, he made a pass to McBurnie and he beat keeper Kaminiski.
Eight minutes later the Blades were ahead, with a smart finish by Ahmedhodzic to complete an untidy scramble after Doughty failed to clear and Lokonga and Mengi fought on the goal line to keep Archer out. The ball spilled to Ahmedhodzic who guided it into the opposite side of the net.
Luton boss Edwards turned to Carlton Morris, top scorer last season but displaced in recent weeks by Elijah Adebayo’s good form. Morris forced the two own goals. First, it was his cross from the right headed in by Robinson as he tussled with Gabriel Osho.
Then his ball into the box from the left which clipped sub Slimane on a knee and looped inside the far post.
Sam Allison became the first black referee in the Premier League for 15 years – and second ever
It was a big result for Rob Edwards’ side, while Chris Wilder’s outfit are seven points off safety
