As they did last weekend, the 10 men of Huddersfield Town hold firm to win 1-0 and keep Liam Manning’s 100% record alive.
A spirited and gritty home performance was capped off by Ryan Ledson’s strike from inside his own half, the Terriers fend off playoff rivals Luton to stay 6th.
The home side would start brightly with Alfie May heavily involved in the action, drawing the game’s first yellow card.
A smart turn from May sent the forward into space before his positive drive forward was brought to an abrupt end on the edge of the box, Liam Walsh booked after four minutes.
The Terriers best chance of the first half came soon after, Lynden Gooch picked up the second ball following the hosts first corner.
His whipped delivery from the right wing found Joe Low at the back post, but the Welshman failed to add to his two league goals for the season as his header sailed over the bar.
With nearly half-an-hour gone, Huddersfield suffered their first blow of the match when Bojan Radulovic was forced off with an injury.
Three minutes later and the second blow arrived for Liam Manning’s men, Alfie May received a straight red card after he was adjudged by referee Matthew Corlett to have pulled the hair of Kasey Palmer.
The remaining fifteen minutes were predominantly spent with Huddersfield sitting deep while Luton grew in confidence.
Signs of an away goal were growing as their quick, crisp passing around the box caused problems for the backline of Huddersfield, even if Nicholls wasn’t tested.
The halftime whistle was blown and it’s fair to say Matthew Corlett was not a popular man among the home fans, the same could be said for Palmer as every touch was booed angrily after May’s sending off.
Whatever Liam Manning had included in his halftime talk had reacted perfectly with his 10 men, his team came out with a point to prove.
Three minutes after the restart, the Terriers were rewarded for their fast start in extraordinary fashion.
Ryan Ledson spotted Josh Keeley off his line and smashed a powerful effort high past the desperate goalkeeper from 45 yards out, the home support exploded with disbelief and euphoria.
Luton needed a response and they nearly found an equaliser when Jordan Clarke found space inside the box but his effort rippled the side netting of Nicholl’s near post.
Jack Wilshere opted for an attacking change after an hour, striker Nahki Wells replaced the yellow carded defender Mads Andersen.
With Huddersfield a man down, a period of Luton domination seemed inevitable however it was Manning’s side who came the closest to the second goal not once, but twice.
Following a Lyndon Gooch corner, Balker’s headed effort looked destined for the top corner but instead flew agonisingly high over the bar before the same combination came inches from a second five minutes later.
With twenty minutes to go Luton began to turn the screw, finally forcing Lee Nicholls to make a save after Clarke’s effort.
Luton Town substitute Shayden Morris was causing all kinds of issues down the right wing, he broke free and passed across the Huddersfield penalty area.
The home side must’ve felt their luck was in as it pinballed around inside the six-yard box before being cleared.
With ten minutes to go, another chance fell to Jordan Clarke, his half-volleyed effort had Nicholl’s relieved when it spun past his left-hand post.
The clock ticked past ninety and Huddersfield remained strong despite a one-man deficit.
Seven minutes of added time were signalled as the home fans urged their team towards the finish line which was in clear sight.
And after ninety-seven minutes had been played, Matthew Corlett blew his whistle for the final time to the delight of the home players and fans.
Another red card but another determined 1-0 win for Liam Manning, the Terriers travel to Peterborough in a bid to win a third on the bounce and solidify a place in the playoff places.