The Blues got back to winning ways with a 1-0 defeat of Luton Town. Sub Ian Westlake struck on 69 from Darren Currie's excellent 40-yard pass from halfway. Earlier, strike pair Dean Bowditch and Danny Haynes had both missed good chances to put the Blues in front.

Nicky Forster and Gavin Williams missed out (and are ruled out of the Stoke match on Monday) and, with Lewis Price was on the bench, the Blues started with what must be one of their youngest ever line-ups including two 17-year-olds (Haynes and Garvan), one 18-year-old (Supple), 19-year-old Dean Bowditch, 21-year-old Matt Richards and 22-year-old Jimmy Juan.

History appeared to be repeating itself in the fourth minute when keeper Shane Supple was on the end of a late boot to the head from Luton striker Warren Feeney. Fortunately the Irishman didn't require the stitches that Lewis Price did after his more serious clash with Paul Furlong early in the recent game with QPR.

Veteran Luton keeper Marlon Beresford was out quickly to get to the ball ahead of Dean Bowditch in the eighth minute from an incisive Richards pass. Supple got down well to his right to save Luton's first effort in the 11th minute, a low shot on the turn from Feeney, whose grandfather Jimmy played for Town in the 1950s.

There was a scare for the Blues on 19 when a Kevin Foley cross bobbled as it came into the box, completely beating Richard Naylor and foxing Hatters striker Feeney who mis-hit his effort wide, Jason De Vos clearing the danger.

Town felt they ought to have had at least an indirect freekick for obstruction inside the penalty area after Danny Haynes appeared to be impeded when running past Chris Coyne in the 22nd minute. Both players required treatment and referee Andy D'Urso surprisingly awarded Luton a freekick.

The Blues should have gone in front in the 38th minute when Fabian Wilnis played Dean Bowditch in one-on-one with Beresford. The England U19 international tried to slip to the ball to the keeper's left but the much-travelled stopper got a hand to it but failed to hold on and Danny Haynes gained possession. The 17-year-old found Bowditch again but this time the out-of-luck frontman shot over.

Paul Underwood shot wide of Shane Supple's goal then Bowditch's weak strike from the edge of the box gave Beresford no problem.

The Hatters' best chance of the half came in the final minute, a Richards clearance cannoned somewhat fortunately into the path of Ahmet Brkovic who took the ball to the edge of the area but sent his shot over Supple's cross bar when he ought to have done much better.

Town had enjoyed the better of the half, again keeping hold of the ball for long periods but for once looking more dangerous in front of goal with Bowditch's chance perhaps the nearest the Blues had been to a goal during the Christmas period.

Shane Supple made a fine save four minutes after the break, tipping Steve Robinson's header wide. However, the young Irishman put the Blues under pressure soon afterwards, throwing the ball to an oblivious Sito and Vine just failing to get on to a dangerous ball across the Town box.

Sito was replaced on 52 minutes by Ian Westlake due to an ankle injury he sustained in the first half. The Spaniard is not expected to be fit for Monday's game at Stoke. Westlake moved to the left side of midfield and Matt Richards into Sito's left-back role, a position he is likely to take up again at the Britannia Stadium.

A minute after the change, the Blues should have been in front. Dean Bowditch headed the ball down and Danny Haynes failed to beat Beresford from six-yards out, the keeper blocking the first strike and the young striker sending the rebound over the bar.

Haynes cut in from the left and shot wide in the 54th minute with Bowditch unhappy with his strike partner for failing to lay the ball back to him inside the area. Soon after, Steve Robinson went wide of Shane Supple's goal.

Ian Westlake appeared to have battled a superb chance to put the Blues in front in the 57th minute, taking the ball from Foley but, as he bore down on Beresford, referee Andy D'Urso awarded the visitors a freekick.

Foley's became the first name to enter D'Urso's book a minute later after the full-back fouled Westlake. Darren Currie's freekick flashed across the Luton box but no one could get a touch on it.

On the hour, Currie curled a freekick just over the bar after a foul on Jimmy Juan by Brkovic. In the 63rd minute Dean McDonald replaced Dean Bowditch. Some sections of the crowd booed the decision, although Bowditch had picked up a hip injury and is all but ruled out of Monday's game at Stoke, becoming Town's sixth striker currently injured.

Supple saved from Underwood, then McDonald hit a right foot shot from the left wide when a cross looked a much better option.

Town's goal came in the 69th minute. Currie, inside the centre circle, found Westlake on the left, the midfielder taking the ball down and into the area and slipping it to the right of the keeper and into the net for his second goal of the season.

On 75 Jim Magilton replaced Owen Garvan in midfield. A minute later Luton sub Steve Howard had the ball in the net from a corner but referee D'Urso had already whistled for a push.

Robinson's shot was deflected wide, then Haynes was fouled in a dangerous position not far outside the Luton area after a poor kick from Beresford. Magilton hit the wall with his freekick, his rebound looping over the bar off a defender. On 84 Carlos Edwards, once linked with Town during his time with Wrexham, was booked for a late tackle on Currie.

Dean McDonald shot over the bar in the 85th minute with Darren Currie well placed on the right desperately calling for a pass.

Edwards's strike went straight to Supple, then Howard headed over from a right-wing Robinson cross as the game entered injury time. Supple caused racing hearts amongst Town fans when he mishandled a subsequent Howard header but claimed the ball at the second attempt.

The final chance of the game went to Town, Westlake being sent away on the left and crossing, a defender getting a toe in ahead of Dean McDonald with a very tired looking Danny Haynes failing to make it into the area.

Town played much as they had in recent games with long spells of possession but looked much more of the threat up front, Bowditch and Haynes both having opportunities to put the Blues in front prior to Westlake's goal.

Jimmy Juan looks an increasingly important part of the Town midfield and was probably the pick of the side, while Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos did well to repel Luton's aerial attack late on via Howard and Enoch Showunmi.

There was also none of the confusion between defenders and goalkeeper which almost handed Hull three first half goals on Wednesday, Shane Supple catching everything sent his way.

The Blues may want to switch the rest of their games to Saturdays with their record on football's most traditional of days reading played 15, won 8, drawn 5 and lost 2, while non-Saturday results in all competitions are much, much worse: played 13, won 0, drawn 3 and lost 10.

Joe Royle will hope that this strange statistic can be overturned on Monday when the Blues travel to Stoke, although it is likely to be a somewhat threadbare side with Richard Naylor serving a one-match suspension for reaching five yellow cards and Nicky Forster, Gavin Williams (knee), Dean Bowditch (hip) and Sito (ankle) all likely to be out along with the longer term injured and Jason De Vos a doubt with a dead leg.

Town: Supple, Wilnis, Sito (Westlake 52), Naylor, De Vos, Garvan (Magilton 75), Juan, Richards, Currie, Bowditch (McDonald 63), Haynes. Unused: Price, Barron. Att: 23,957.

Photo: Action Images

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