Town all but cemented their Championship status for another season with a 2-0 win at Luton. Alan Lee put the Blues in front in the first half with sub Matt Richards adding the second after the break against a lacklustre Hatters side.

Boss Jim Magilton brought in Fabian Wilnis in place of the injured Dan Harding, the Dutchman taking up his usual right-back role with David Wright moving to the left. Owen Garvan came in for George O'Callaghan in the centre of the midfield, while Gavin Williams replaced Matt Richards on the left. Up front, Alan Lee took over from Danny Haynes alongside Jon Walters.

Town had the better of the opening stages but it was Luton who would come closest to an early goal. Owen Garvan lost possession and Clarke Carlisle hit a powerful shot from the 18-yard line which Lewis Price did well to tip over. Garvan had tried to pass his way out of the area, something not wise on a surface not so much bumpy as craggy.

The Blues were reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute when Jason De Vos was caught in mouth by Leon Barnett. The Canadian suffered a cut to the mouth and left the field to receive stitches to the wound. Owen Garvan took over at the centre of the defence.

On 26 Town were temporarily down to nine men as Sylvain Legwinski hobbled off with an ankle injury sustained in an earlier challenge with Louis Emanuel. Matt Richards replaced the Frenchman, taking up the left midfield position with Gavin Williams moving into the middle.

In the 31st minute Jon Walters felt he ought to have been awarded a penalty after colliding with a couple of defenders inside the area, but referee Andy D'Urso disagreed with him.

Two minutes later, Jason De Vos returned from the medical room and immediately caused problems in the Luton area, beating keeper Marlon Beresford in the air from an Alex Bruce freekick. The loose ball fell to Gary Roberts but the midfielder couldn't a get in a shot and the ball was cleared.

From the resultant throw-in on the right, De Vos flicked on at the near post to Lee, whose header was blocked.

Town's top scorer didn't have to wait too much longer for his 15th goal of the season. Gary Roberts sent in a freekick, Owen Garvan turned it onto the bar and Lee reacted quickest to nod into the net.

The Irish international, who for once allowed his football to so the talking throughout, immediately went after a second, hitting a cross-shot from the right which Beresford saved.

Town deserved their lead at the break having controlled the game playing some good football on a very poor surface. Luton had created little of note and caretaker-manager Brian Stein made two changes for the second half, Chris Coyne and Warren Feeney, whose grandfather Jimmy played for the Blues in the 1950s, taking over from Besian Idrizaj and Lewis Emanuel.

Andy D'Urso showed the first yellow card of the game in the 47th minute, Luton skipper Steve Robinson having arrived late at Fabian Wilnis's ankles, after receiving an earlier warning for a similar challenge.

Jon Walters shot across the face of goal soon after from a Lee flick after a half-cleared corner was played back into the danger area by Williams. Shortly afterwards, Luton had the ball in the net twice in four minutes but the whistle had already gone on each occasion, the first time for a foul on Lewis Price and the second for an offside.

On 57 Leon Barnett received a yellow card for shoving Lewis Price over after the keeper had caught the ball at a corner.

Town added to their lead four minutes later from an excellent cross from the byline by Fabian Wilnis. Jon Walters beat keeper Marlon Beresford in the air and the loose ball fell to Matt Richards, who gleefully volleyed home from six yards for his third goal of the season.

Immediately, the Luton crowd began calls for the sacking of their board and some fans tried to make their way towards the directors' box, the large number of police present in the stadium and stewards making efforts to avoid this happening. The Town fans joined in the ‘Sack the board' chants and even appeared to start a chorus of “There's only one Mike Newell”.

Danny Haynes took over from Alan Lee in the 73rd minute, the young striker combining with Richards on the right soon after to find space for Walters, but the former Chester man's shot was too weak to trouble Beresford.

Price saved David Bell's 20-yard strike, prior to Billy Clarke coming on for Jon Walters.

With three minutes remaining, Luton sub Bjorn Runstrom's flicked header from a corner ended up on the roof of the net. For the Blues, Owen Garvan hit a 25-yarder only inches over Beresford's crossbar.

As the game moved into injury time, Clarke Carlisle headed a corner over the bar at the far post when he should have scored.

Soon after, the whistle went, prompting further demonstrations amongst the home supporters.

A decent performance from Town in difficult conditions with the Blues rarely in any trouble against a Luton side which looks destined for one of the relegation places. Lewis Price and his defence were hardly troubled, even during the 13-minute spell they were down to 10 men.

Town might have created more one or two more chances, but Lee reacted well to score the first goal and Matt Richards will have gained confidence from netting his after a typical run into the box from midfield.

Gavin Williams showed some good touches but still looks a little off match fitness, while Fabian Wilnis's cross for the second goal was superb and the Dutchman will prove an able deputy for Dan Harding while the former Leeds man is suspended for the next two matches.

No one let the side down in what was a determined team display, even referee Andy D'Urso had a rare good day in control of the Blues.

All in all, the sort of away performance and result Town will need to put in on a regular basis next season if they are to come anywhere near challenging at the top of the table.

Town: Price, Wilnis, Wright, De Vos, Bruce, Legwinski (Richards 26), Garvan, Roberts, Williams, Lee (Haynes 73), Walters (Clarke 85). Unused: Supple, O'Callaghan. Att: 8,880.

Photo: Action Images

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