 On the last day of the 1982 – 83 season , the club 's first back in the top tier , it narrowly escaped relegation : playing Manchester City at Maine Road , Luton needed to win to stay up , while City could escape with a draw . A late winner by Yugoslavian substitute <unk> Antić saved the team and prompted Pleat to dance across the pitch performing a " jig of joy " , an image that has become iconic . The club achieved its highest ever league position , seventh , under John Moore in 1986 – 87 , and , managed by Ray Harford , won the Football League Cup a year later with a 3 – 2 win over Arsenal . With ten minutes left on the clock and Arsenal 2 – 1 ahead , a penalty save from stand @-@ in goalkeeper Andy Dibble sparked a late Luton rally : Danny Wilson equalised , before Brian Stein scored the winner with the last kick of the match . The club reached the League Cup Final once more in 1988 – 89 , but lost 3 – 1 to Nottingham Forest . 
