Hatters switch off at the back as they fall to late defeat at Blackburn

A controversial late goal by striker Adam Armstrong condemned Luton to an undeserved 1-0 defeat at Ewood Park this afternoon.

With 85 minutes gone, the Hatters looked more than worthy for a point on their travels, possibly even pushing for a victory themselves, before Dan Potts went down after a cross was blasted at him from close range.

Referee Jeremy Simpson stopped play, allowing Potts to recover, and then awarded an uncontested drop ball, with Lewis Holtby quickly sending it into the area before Town could regroup, where the unmarked Sam Gallagher headed it back for the equally unmarked Armstrong to nod home.

With Town complaining profusely to the officials over the goal, their mood was to worsen even further, as the visitors thought they had levelled through Harry Cornick's first goal of the season, only for an offside flag to rob the attacker of an equaliser.

Earlier, the Hatters made three changes for the clash, Matty Pearson, Potts and top scorer James Collins back in, with James Bree, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Kal Naismith dropping out.

Town were almost undone inside the opening five minutes as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's ill-advised backpass was pounced on by Armstrong who went clean through on goal.

Crucially and somewhat surprisingly, he delayed his shot, although it was still a magnificent recovery run by captain Sonny Bradley who timed his full stretch sliding challenge to absolute perfection, preventing a certain goal.

The usually free-scoring hosts looked good in the early stages, Pearson forced to head a dangerous Harvey Elliott cross away under heavy pressure, with Armstrong putting a 20-yarder well over.

With 18 gone, Cornick, on his 150th appearance for the Hatters, set off from well inside his own half on a lung-busting, powerful run, nutmegging his opponent and eventually finding Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu whose left footed attempt was deflected behind.

Liverpool loanee Elliott was picked out by Joe Rothwell's fine crossfield pass only to also get his radar wrong, as Luton, particularly with the impressive Cornick, began to grow into proceedings, fashioning a number of dangerous moments from either flank, but just couldn't pick out a team-mate in the area.

Mpanzu was unable to pull the trigger, stopped by a good challenge, as he was once more just before the break, when Cornick and Collins combined to good effect on the right, Ryan Nyambe getting across to muscle the midfielder off the ball in the act of shooting.

The first half ended with Town in the ascendancy, although Rovers upped their efforts immediate after the interval, Armstrong beating Bradley, but his shot was collected by Sluga.

Luton quickly went up to the other end, winning a free kick 22 yards out that Dewsbury-Hall sent off target, before Rovers boss Tony Mowbray signalled his intentions, with four changes on the hour mark, including the introductions of Bradley Dack and Gallagher, the latter having scored in both of his last sub appearances against the Hatters.

Jones reacted by bringing on Danny Hylton for Collins moments later, with Martin Cranie soon in action for the first time since Boxing Day to replace Pearson who looked to have hurt his hamstring.

The sub was involved in a crucial block just moments after coming on, Luton caught out in possession at the back, with Thyrys Dolan taking aim, Cranie throwing himself in the way to divert over the bar

Lockyer then managed to get in the way of a header at the back post, knocking it back to Sluga, before Dolan once again threatened, shooting into the stands.

Hatters really should have gone ahead when Cornick had a marvellous chance after being found by the increasingly influential Dewsbury-Hall, but rather than go for goal, he tried to find a visiting attacker inside the area, the danger was cleared away.

A poor throw by Rovers keeper Thomas Kaminski was then cut out by Potts, Dewsbury-Hall's snap-shot from 20 yards, finding the Belgian well positioned to gather.

With five remaining, Blackburn pounced though, Armstrong left unmarked to beat Sluga and break the deadlock.

Town believed they had the goal their efforts deserved moments later though, Dewsbury-Hall's free kick met by Bradley at the far post.

His effort beat Kaminski, but was cleared off the line, before Cornick hammered into the top corner only for the linesman's flag to cruelly cut short both his and Luton's celebrations, meaning that yet again, Town drew a blank on the road, their eighth out of 14 fixtures this season.

Rovers: Thomas Kaminski, Ryan Nambe, Stewart Downing (Lewis Holtby 61), Adam Armstrong, Joe Rothwell (Tyrhys Dolan 61), Barry Douglas, Harvey Elliot (Bradley Dack 61), Ben Brereton (Sam Gallagher 61), Darragh Lenihan ©, Lewis Travis, Jarrad Branthwaite.

Subs not used: Aynsley Pears, John Buckley, Corry Evans, Elliott Bennett, Tyler Magloire.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson (Martin Cranie 72) Dan Potts, Tom Lockyer, Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea (Sam Nombe 88), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Jordan Clark (Kal Naismith 88), Harry Cornick, James Collins (Danny Hylton 64).

Subs not used: James Shea, George Moncur, Luke Berry, Joe Morrell, George Moncur, Kazenga LuaLua.

Bookings: Travis 50, Rea 62.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson.