Ten-man Watford survived a second-half fightback from their local rivals to earn their first away win since November 5.

The Hornets looked to be cruising after Darius Henderson and Malky Mackay put them two up within 30 minutes, but Carlos Edwards scored for Luton shortly after half-time and the visitors had to play the final 23 minutes a man down following Ashley Young's sending-off.

Watford strengthened their Coca-Cola Championship play-off claims with this win, while a second defeat in three days saw Luton's promotion hopes fade.

This was the first derby at Kenilworth Road since Watford's 4-0 win in October 1997, and it was Adrian Boothroyd's men who seized the lead.

Henderson headed goalkeeper Ben Foster's long clearance to Marlon King, who laid the ball back to the edge of the area for Henderson to thump a left-footed effort beyond Marlon Beresford.

Luton's fans were dismayed, and their disappointment was increased when their team wasted two glorious chances to equalise four minutes later.

Following Edwards' right-wing cross, Rowan Vine fired a 12-yard shot against Mackay, and Al Bangura - who had been preferred to former Luton midfielder Matthew Spring - did equally well to block Ahmet Brkovic's follow-up effort.

Although the home side were enjoying plenty of possession, it was the Hornets who looked more dangerous going forward.

King shot straight at Beresford in the 25th minute after Henderson had won yet another header, and five minutes later the Hornets made it 2-0.

Centre-back Mackay got the faintest of touches inside the six-yard box to Anthony McNamee's inswinging free-kick from the right and, although Beresford pushed his effort away, the ball was ruled to have crossed the line.

Luton looked beaten, but they scored the early second-half goal they craved.

James Chambers failed to clear on the edge of his own box, allowing Edwards to shoot crisply from 18 yards into Foster's bottom-right corner after 48 minutes.

The goal filled Luton with verve and Foster denied them an equaliser twice in the space of five minutes. First he pushed Howard's header from Robinson's cross around his left post, and in the 58th minute the on-loan Manchester United stopper saved from Vine after the Hatters forward got the better of Chambers on the right.

Just when Watford appeared to have regained their composure, they went down to 10 men in the 67th minute when Young was shown a straight red card by referee Iain Williamson for kicking out at Kevin Foley, who had fouled him.

Williamson rejected vociferous Luton claims for a late penalty when substitute Warren Feeney tangled with Clarke Carlisle, and Watford hung on.

Teams

Luton Beresford, Foley, Underwood, Heikkinen, Barnett, Edwards, Brkovic (Showunmi 62), Robinson, Nicholls, Howard, Vine (Feeney 76).

Subs Not Used: Perrett, Morgan, Brill.

Booked: Foley.

Goals: Edwards 49.

Watford Foster, Doyley, Chambers (DeMerit 74), Mackay, Carlisle, Young, Mahon, Bangura (Spring 77), McNamee (Stewart 58), Henderson, King.

Subs Not Used: Chamberlain, Devlin.

Sent Off: Young (67).

Booked: Henderson, Carlisle.

Goals: Henderson 9, Mackay 30.

Att: 10,248

Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).