Luton suffer another home defeat

Things went from bad to worse for the Hatters as they suffered another home defeat on Tuesday evening. To make matters worse still another sending off, this time for Keith Keane, will not help Mick Harford’s selection options.

With Sol Davis, Drew Talbot and Jake Howells back in the starting 11, Chris Martin dropped out to serve a one game ban for 5 bookings.

In an even opening spell former Luton target Charlie MacDonald wriggled his way past the Town defence to be thwarted by some quick thinking by Logan who covered the shot at the expense of a corner.

In quick succession Asa Hall saw a shot cleared off the line and then Jake Howells had a shot saved by the keeper.

It looked as thought the first goal might be crucial and the Hatters strove to get it, and McVeigh made himself some space but then fired directly at the keeper.

MacDonald replied with a speculative drive from distance but it went wide with Logan seeming to have it covered.

Luton were having the better of the play but Brentford stung them with the opening goal on 28 minutes.

Bowditch beat young Jake Howells and got to the by-line and got in a teasing cross which Elder got to first and headed home.

Luton put in the effort to get back into the game but it remained 0-1 at the break.

Just before the hour, Claude Gnakpa struck a shot goalwards and it hit the arm of a defender before going out for a corner. I’ve seen them given but to be fair it looked like ball to arm with no intention by the defender. The corner was a good one and McVeigh got in a powerful shot but it was cleared to Gnakpa and his shot was blocked too.

Hall saw an opening from way outside the area and struck it beautifully but it drifted over the bar.

With Luton taking every opportunity to attack, they were sometimes stretched in defence and on the break the ball fell to Dean Bowditch just inside the penalty area and he made excellent contact but saw the save of the evening from Logan to prevent the Bees putting the game to bed.

Luton continued to work hard and good work between Gallen and Gnakpa saw an opportunity for Gallen to open his Hatters account but the keeper made a great save to deny him.

Logan again kept the Town in the match on 68 minutes with another good save from Elder before 5 minutes later another well taken corner by Howells was diverted goalwards by Hall but with the keeper at last beaten it was cleared off the line by the outstretched leg of a defender. It was obviously going to be another of those nights when it could have been 4-1 or 0-1 and looking like 0-1 the further it went on!

On 85 minutes with MacDonald in a good position on the edge of the box, Keith Keane got in a make or break tackle which looked to have been timed perfectly, but the referee thought it was a foul and as Keane was the last man he had to go, but it was a very harsh decision, and it seemed to deflate the players and the game drifted to a conclusion.

Luton Town: Logan, Gnakpa, Roper, Spillane, Davis (Andrews 60), Keane, Hall, McVeigh, Howells, Gallen, Talbot (Jarvis 71)

Subs not used: Brill, O’Connor, Beavan