Rob Edwards said Luton's 1-0 victory over Newcastle was the embodiment of their captain Tom Lockyer as his side moved to within two points of Premier League safety.

It was the Hatters' first game since Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during last Saturday's abandoned match at Bournemouth. 

The 29-year-old club captain's name was sung around Kenilworth Road throughout the contest, with the home side having laid out his strip pre-match in their dressing room in tribute. 

Andros Townsend headed the only goal in the first half, stealing in at the back post after Ross Barkley had flicked on a corner from Alfie Doughty to beat Martin Dubravka.

And Edwards, 40, said: "I'm immensely proud of everyone. This has been a really challenging week. 

"They don't teach you this on the coaching courses. I've needed my team around me. 

"The players have been amazing, really brave. We've rallied around each other. 

"It's been hard to concentrate on a game of football this week. My focus has been on Tom and has family but then there's been a job to do, an important Premier League game. We've all helped each other. 

"The performance was probably the most complete performance we've had this season. 

"We've been playing really well. I don't think it's because of what's happened that we've won the game today. 

"We talked about it, we wanted to do it for Tom. But I don't think there was any extra motivation there. Today we embodied everything that Tom Lockyer is."

Newcastle piled on the pressure after falling behind but it was Edwards' side who came closest to adding to their tally. 

First, Barkley slammed an effort off the underside of the bar with a rasping 30-yard drive that beat Dubravka at full stretch, then Jacob Brown did the same in the second half after being played through by good work from Elijah Adebayo. 

Alexander Isak thought he had equalised, sliding the ball into the far corner past Thomas Kaminski from Miguel Almiron’s pass, only for VAR to judge he had strayed fractionally offside.