Luton Town have now won three out of their past six games in the Championship
Luton Town shocked play-off-chasing Bristol City with three second-half goals to register a vital win, but they remain in the Championship relegation zone after a hectic day at the bottom of the table.
Thelo Aasgaard opened the scoring for the home side early on in the second half, but the visitors levelled the game through George Tanner moments later.
Carlton Morris produced a volley from close range to retake the lead for the Hatters just before the hour mark.
Isaiah Jones added a third deep into the second half with a shot into the top left-hand corner of the net, but victories for Derby County and Hull City keep the Hatters in the bottom three.
As for Bristol City, they end the day in fifth position with a four-point cushion on seventh-placed Middlesbrough, but missed the chance to ensure a play-off spot as they lost at Kenilworth Road.
Luton started the game on the front foot and Liam Walsh slipped past Bristol City's defence before firing a dangerous strike at Robins keeper Max O'Leary, who saved well.
The visitors were forced into an early change after 20 minutes as Cam Pring came off for Haydon Roberts having received some treatment and they had an inconsistent first half as they failed to register a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
Luton had the better chances in the first period, and came close to taking the lead when Aasgaard sent a free-kick just over the crossbar, while moments later Jones hit the side-netting with a cross.
The Hatters picked up where they had left off after the break and took the lead when Aasgaard curled a strike under a diving O'Leary, but Tanner volleyed home to equalise with the visitors' first shot on target.
Luton retook the lead just before the hour mark as Bristol City failed to deal with a defensive set-piece that ended with Morris volleying home from close range.
The hosts then added a third with 20 minutes remaining, with Jones finding space in the penalty area before he fired a shot into the net off the crossbar and post to ensure a huge three points for Luton.
Luton boss Matt Bloomfield BBC Three Counties Radio:
"It's possibly the best result and performance since I've been here.
"It was edgy in the first-half but we stayed calm with it at half-time and spoke to the players about a couple of tactical things we wanted to adjust.
"It's a big result - I've felt we've been due a big home win because we've had some good performances and not got the rewards I've thought we should have so I'm really pleased we've managed to do that.
"We've got to focus on our own work - we'd all like results elsewhere (today) to be different but games are running out and we have to make sure we focus on ourselves and facing Coventry on Saturday."
Manning : "There's an element of frustration..."
Bristol City boss Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:
"There's an element of frustration because it feels more on us than them.
"You could sense in the second half they're fighting for their lives but you have make the game look like you want it to.
"We shifted the momentum in their favour with an error, there were too many mistakes and we didn't take our chances.
"We have to be disappointed with our performance but step back and it's still in our hands - when you're in a performance industry like the lads are you have to stay brave, stay focused and very much play the game and not the occasion.
"The more this goes on you just love the Championship."
