Luton back at the bottom after losing to Charlton

Luton's mini-revival was brought to a disappointing end this afternoon as they were beaten 3-1 by fellow relegation rivals Charlton Athletic.

Going into the contest, the Town had won their last two games, keeping clean sheets in the process to breathe real life into their hopes of staying in the Championship.

However, they were brought back down to earth at the Valley in a second half that saw the Addicks score twice to triumph, Luton dropping back to the bottom, nine points behind their hosts, six from safety too.

The visitors' selection was hit with injury and illness , as Izzy Brown, Kazenga LuaLua and Sonny Bradley were ruled out, while keeper James Shea was replaced on the bench by Marek Stech after fracturing his finger in training.

That meant Glen Rea, Harry Cornick and James Bree were restored to the starting line-up, as striker James Collins wore the captain's armband.

Town made a decent enough start, looking to have settled well into the encounter, but it was the hosts who were inches away from taking a 14th minute lead, Naby Sarr left unmarked in the area from a short corner routine to hammer his effort against the underside of the bar.

Luton had cries for a penalty shortly afterwards, when Luke Berry went over in the area under a challenge from Tom Lockyer, but referee Andre Marriner was unimpressed, waving away the appeals.

The midfielder then went closest for Town on 20 minutes as Dan Potts read a crossfield pass to set up a counter, which saw Berry's deflected 20-yarder drop narrowly wide.

Visiting stopper Simon Sluga was called upon to palm Alfie Doughty's rasping attempt behind after he had skinned full back Bree, as the defender quickly redeemed himself when Erhun Oztumer fed Lyle Taylor, impeccably tracking Charlton's prolific front man and saving the corner too.

Town were behind on 34 minutes though when the visitors looked to have cleared the danger, only to turn possession over softly in their own half, Collins' pass out defence cut out.

There was still plenty for Taylor to do though and he did it superbly, flicking past the visitors' defence and arrowing his angled drive beyond Sluga.

Hatters were behind for barely a minute though, as they worked it down the right, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's cross cleared only as far as Cornick who kept his cool to sidefoot into the bottom corner for his eighth goal of the season.

After the break, the Addicks should have been back in front just three minutes in when Taylor turned provider this time, his excellent low cross met by Andre Green, who could only slide wide from a matter of yards.

Town had a terrific opening themselves when Tunnicliffe did superbly to win the ball back and feed Cornick, who sped into the area, his cross-shot which looked on its way in, turned over the line by Collins, only to see the linesman's flag immediately raised to rule the goal out for offside.

Back came Athletic as the game began to open up, Erhun Oztumer skying a decent opening from Green's left wing delivery.

They then had the lead on the hour when a short corner was worked to sub George Lapslie whose blast was blocked by the arm of Collins inside the area, official Marriner whistling for a penalty, confidently dispatched by the right boot of Taylor.

Tunnicliffe made a vital block to prevent Josh Cullen's close range volley from flying in for a third.

Town boss Graeme Jones made a double change with 20 minutes to go, George Moncur and Callum McManaman on for Cornick and Rea, Moncur almost equalising after dummying his way past two players, only to see keeper Dillon Phillips tip his curling shot behind.

Town's last throw of the dice saw Luke Bolton on for Bree as Moncur dragged wide from outside the box this time, with McManaman slicing over from far closer in.

It was game over with three to go though, Lapslie, who had a real impact on the game in his 35 minutes on the pitch, escaping Town's defence to prod home from close range.

McManaman's late snap shot cannoned into an arm, Marriner giving nothing on this occasion, while Moncur's wayward attempt from distance flew harmlessly wide to sum up Town's frustrating second half display.

Addicks: Dillon Phillips, Adam Matthews, Deji Oshilaja (George Lapslie 55) Tom Lockyer, Lyle Taylor ©, Andre Green (Jason Pearce 88), Naby Sarr, Josh Cullen, David Davis, Erhun Oztumer (Macauley Bonne 78), Alfie Doughty.

Subs not used: Ben Amos, Aiden McGeady, Matt Smith, Tomer Hemed.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, James Bree (Luke Bolton 82), Dan Potts, Matty Pearson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Glen Rea (George Moncur 69), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Luke Berry, Harry Cornick (Callum McManaman 69), James Collins (C).

Subs not used: Marek Stech, Danny Hylton, Andrew Shinnie, Martin Cranie.

Booked: Tunnicliffe 26, Oshilaja 44, Taylor 76, Pearson 84.

Referee: Andre Marriner.

Attendance: 18,969 (2,785 Hatters).