Unbeaten in 2024, with the chance to move four points ahead of Everton and condemn another of their relegation rivals in the shape of their visitors, Luton badly fluffed their lines. This was unrecognisable from the fantasy of the Hatters’ encounters with Brighton and Newcastle. A one-point gap to Sean Dyche’s team spells trouble. The visitors, meanwhile, claimed a redemptive first away win of the season, with Vinícius Souza and Cameron Archer the leading protagonists.

While Luton have embodied the positivity of their manager, Rob Edwards, Sheffield United had previously personified Chris Wilder 2.0: thin-skinned to the point of being offended by a sandwich. Worst of all, there has been little improvement on what he inherited from Paul Heckingbottom. They are still seven points from safety, but perhaps this thud-and-blunder victory, including no little gamesmanship, points to them making a better fist of the rest of the season.

“We let everybody down last Saturday evening,” said Wilder, referring to the 5-0 hammering from Aston Villa. “We can’t get away from that and we have to own it. There is no hiding place, you are in the Premier League.”

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That defeat to Villa set the Blades on a path to conceding the most goals in a 38-game season, and potentially being relegated by March. The same fate befell the Sheffield United team of 1975-76, precipitating the sale of the great Tony Currie. Their afternoon began badly enough here, with an early hamstring injury to Rhys Norrington-Davies, who has only recently returned from a long-term absence. “A huge setback,” said Wilder. Thankfully the Wales international had not damaged the same hamstring that had kept him out of action for 14 months.

Sheffield United’s five-man defence did not suggest an attacking outlook, more a means of plugging holes, with the lone striker, Archer, asked to fend for himself. He proved himself most adept at doing so.

“No complaints,” said Edwards. “They were ruthless.” With Ross Barkley making his 250th Premier League appearance, Luton’s passing game dominated the early stages. At such a time, it was difficult to recall that United finished 11 points clear of Luton last season in the Championship. Not that they created much in the first 25 minutes. As Edwards sighed: “It doesn’t matter how much you have the ball, it’s what you do with it.”

After Sheffield United saw out that opening spell – something that has been a problem for them all season – a golden chance fell their way. Albert Sambi Lokonga’s misdirected header dropped to Archer who somehow managed to miss. Within seconds, though, he had dispossessed Gabriel Osho, and his drop of the shoulder hoodwinked both Thomas Kaminski and Lokonga before he fired home. It was a moment of fortitude considering how bad the previous miss had been.

Next came VAR’s first key intervention, with the referee, Chris Kavanagh, called to the screen. Luton’s Reece Burke was penalised – harshly – for a handball from Vinícius Souza’s header, with James McAtee coolly stroking home the spot-kick.

The contingent of fans from South Yorkshire were determined to enjoy themselves, their gallows humour to the fore. “We let them down last week and now we have to engage them again in the next game,” said Wilder, a diehard Blade himself. By the close, Kenilworth Road’s usually primal atmosphere had been reduced to a muttering hush.

When Vinícius Souza started playing for time in the opening moments of the second half, the scene looked set for Luton attack v Blades defence. More so when VAR re-entered the scene: Vinícius Souza – even more unluckily than Burke – was penalised for handball. “Neither were penalties,” said Edwards. “I don’t know what a penalty is any more.”

Carlton Morris converted, and the momentum was with Luton. They might be unfamiliar with dominating possession but Sheffield United are equally unacquainted with defending a winning position. “We weren’t slick enough,” said Edwards.

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After Jayden Bogle’s injury had used up yet more time, only for him to be fit enough to continue for the 90, Luton threw on Andros Townsend for the last 20 minutes but their hopes of a comeback were dashed by Barkley’s mistake in midfield.

Archer again surged forwards impressively, drawing defenders. He lost the ball only for Ben Osborn to intelligently lay up Vinícius Souza, galloping forwards on the overlap. “That’s desire, that,” said Wilder. The Brazilian scored to take the wind out of Luton’s sails. This defeat will be a cold dose of reality to counter the dream they have been living of late.