A terrific second-half display saw Luton give their hopes of staying up yet another huge boost by beating play-off chasing Bristol City 3-1 at Kenilworth Road.

Thelo Aasgaard’s opener was cancelled out by George Tanner but Carlton Morris and Izzy Jones secured a vital victory.

The visitors had looked the better side early on as Tanner eyed up the bottom corner from outside the box, only to shoot narrowly wide.

Town looked to respond as Liam Walsh, up against his former side, saw his cross-shot gathered by Max O’Leary and Jones put a hopeful volley wide on 12 minutes.

Luton were denied an opener on 18 minutes when Morris’s low cross was cleared by Cameron Pring but cannoned into an unexpecting Aasgaard who diverted goalwards, O’Leary making a stunning save to scoop away with his right hand.

The Robins continued to look the more likely, Tanner finding Nakhi Wells inside the area just before the half-hour mark but the forward dragging wide of the target.

Town’s best chances came from throw-ins as on 38 minutes, Christ Makosso hurled into the box only for Mark McGuinness to get too much on his volley.

Aasgard sent a free-kick inches over the bar from 25 yards out in the closing stages of the half but the Norwegian did break the deadlock on 49 minutes. Makosso seized on untidy defending to create the chance and from just outside the box, Aasgaard beat a man and drove beneath a slow to react O’Leary.

City were behind for just three minutes as Teden Mengi’s headed clearance dropped perfectly for Tanner, who volleyed superbly into the bottom corner to level the scores.

Makosso shanked well wide after a promising foray but Town were back in front on 59 minutes when Walsh’s corner was knocked on by Makosso and Mengi, Morris hooking in to end a goal drought that had stretched back to December 29.

The game was end-to-end from then on and City looked destined to level when Tanner was unmarked at the back post, but Kaminski did brilliantly to stop him as the attacker could only lift the rebound into the grateful home supporters.

Luton made the most of it as they increased their lead on 72 minutes when Jones burst clean through and fired a brilliant attempt off the underside of the bar and post to give Town a pressure-relieving third.

The Hatters had a huge let-off moments later when Sinclair Armstrong went through on goal and appeared to be fouled by Mengi for a penalty but referee John Busby waved the appeals away.

Still the Robins pressed, Scott Twine off target before George Earthy was denied by Kaminski and then put a curler well wide.

Luton remain third bottom but with back-to-backs over the Easter period, they are now well in the fight to stay up.