Championship: Luton grab huge win in relegation battle, Watford miss chance to close gap

Luton Town claimed a huge 1-0 win away at fellow Championship strugglers Hull City, continuing their recent upturn in form. 

In a game of very few chances, the only goal came in truly bizarre fashion.

Hull failed to deal with a long punt from Thomas Kaminski, and in an effort to clear, Lewie Coyle could only cannon the ball off defensive partner Alfie Jones and into the net. 

The Tigers struggled to mount a fightback as the Hatters held on for a crucial three points that puts them level with 22nd-placed Derby County, who do not play until Wednesday.

The loss will have Hull looking over their shoulders as they are now just three points ahead of Luton with seven games remaining. 

Plymouth's own hopes of an unlikely great escape received a boost as they grabbed a point in a 0-0 draw with Watford at Vicarage Road. 

Tom Cleverley will be hugely disappointed his side could not take all three points given their dominance in possession and several wasted chances in the second half. 

Watford's fit-again Kwadwo Baah came off the bench just after the hour, and almost immediately made an impact. He flashed the ball across the box, eventually finding Giorgi Chakvetadze, who saw his shot deflected onto the bar. 

That was followed by efforts from Rocco Vata and Vakoun Bayo, but the Pilgrims, and goalkeeper Conor Hazard, held firm for a potentially precious point, though they are four back from Luton and Derby.

Data Debrief: Pilgrims' home from home

Plymouth may be propping up the table, but they have a great recent record at Vicarage Road, where they have now lost just one of their last six league visits.

They rode their luck this time out, with Watford having 16 shots and generating 2.01 expected goals. Crucially, though, the Hornets were limited to just one attempt on target, a tally that was matched by Plymouth.

Hull might consider themselves unfortunate to have gone down against Luton, especially considering the nature of the Hatters' winner, but the Tigers were toothless in attack.

From 14 attempts, they mustered only 0.81 xG, whereas Luton were at 0.65 xG from eight shots, as Hull saw a four-game unbeaten run snapped.