Last updated on .From the section Championship

Luton Town striker James Collins (left) scored his 11th goal of the season to secure victory over Sheffield Wednesday

Struggling Luton Town produced a gutsy performance to beat a disappointing Sheffield Wednesday and move off the bottom of the Championship table.

Luton were awarded a penalty after 15 seconds but James Collins hit the crossbar, before he made amends when he turned in Harry Cornick's pass.

The Owls rarely threatened in the first half although Fernando Forestieri's long-range shot curled wide.

Luton thought they had sealed the win with a second goal but Dan Potts' volley was disallowed for a foul.

Wednesday never looked likely to end their winless run, which now stretches to five matches, while Luton jump above Barnsley, who were beaten 1-0 at home by Birmingham on Tuesday.

There was drama inside the first minute as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu was brought down by Dominic Iorfa in the first attack of the game, but Collins' powerful penalty hit the top of the bar.

Izzy Brown missed a great chance from seven yards after a clever chest-down by Collins, before the Luton striker stabbed a close-range effort over moments after opening the scoring.

Wednesday improved after the break and Hatters keeper Simon Sluga made a fine save from a long-range shot by Kadeem Harris, who then set up Julian Borner but the defender headed wide from six yards.

Luton were less threatening in the second half and they were denied a second when referee Gavin Ward ruled out Potts' volley for a foul from the corner.

There was another positive moment for the Hatters as forward Danny Hylton returned to action as a second-half substitute after 11 months out with a knee injury.

Luton boss Graeme Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"What pleased me is it was the same level of performance we got on Saturday, just tonight we got rewarded.

"The level of performance has been there for the past five games and I've got a group of players that I'm proud of, I love their honesty.

"When you keep yourself out there and training every day and you're a good professional, eventually you'll get your rewards and that's what you've seen."

Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We're in a run of eight or nine games where we haven't turned it around and I think a lot of that has been because of some real schoolboy errors leading to goals.

"This period of games has been nowhere near good enough - the results aren't good enough, I'm totally aware of that - and obviously I'm fully responsible for that.

"I've tried a few things in this period and it hasn't worked, but I'm a fighter - I've always fought my whole career and life so I'll continue to do that for this club."