Last updated on .From the section Championship

Pearson (right) started his career as an academy player at Blackburn but left without making an appearance

Defender Matty Pearson scored against his former club as Luton beat Blackburn to end a three-match losing run.

James Collins headed the Hatters in front early on before a clever strike from Lewis Travis levelled matters at the break.

Pearson's glancing header against the club where he started his career as an academy player then put Luton back in front.

Bradley Dack thought he had equalised again for the hosts late on but his close-range finish was ruled out for offside.

Collins had given the visitors the lead with his 49th goal for the club when he headed in from Izzy Brown's pinpoint cross.

In the first league meeting between the two sides since 1982, Rovers were level at the break after Travis rifled an unstoppable strike past Simon Sluga from the edge of the box.

But, just 12 minutes into the second half, Pearson rose above the Blackburn defenders to put the visitors back in front.

Luton then survived an onslaught from the hosts as Stewart Downing, Lewis Holtby, Adam Armstrong and Danny Graham all went close to making it 2-2.

Callum McManaman could have made it more comfortable for Graeme Jones's side, before Dack's goal was ruled out, but his fierce drive was pushed away by Christian Walton.

Blackburn head coach Tony Mowbray:

"It's a hugely frustrating day for us. The first 15 minutes of the game we played probably as well as we have all season.

"The frustration is that we didn't really create enough clear-cut chances and make their goalkeeper work.

"I don't think you can put it down as a bad performance, it was pretty dominant yet very similar to Charlton where we lost the game to a set play which has been unlike us from then until now."

Luton manager Graeme Jones:

"Matty has got such a character. Nothing is too big for him. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but he's ready to have a go again. That's all you want from your players.

"I'm really satisfied for him. I'm sure it's a wonderful feeling scoring the winning goal at Blackburn Rovers. He deserves it and you get rewarded in the end.

"That's the pleasing thing. We won completely differently. Sometimes you have to be pragmatic. I've got a philosophy I believe in."