Poor Hatters are no match for the hungry Lions

A hugely disappointing performance from Luton saw them fall to their second successive Championship defeat with a well below-par showing at Millwall this evening.

The visitors had appeared to have somehow made it to the break unscathed, despite being second best for the entire opening 45 minutes, only for Martin Cranie to unluckily put through his own net on the stroke of half time.

Although they improved slightly after the break, it was still never enough to really look like getting back into the contest, as their slim hopes were put to bed by Connor Mahoney's strike with 12 to play, making it zero points and zero goals since the international break.

Striker James Collins missed out after returning a positive coronavirus test meaning that he now faces a period of self isolation, as Danny Hylton led the line once more, while Nathan Jones made two changes to his side from the 2-0 defeat to Stoke City.

Kazenga LuaLua and Jordan Clark both came in, Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee dropping to the bench, as there was still no place for deadline day addition Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Town keeper Simon Sluga was called upon in the sixth minute, easily gathering Mahoney's scuffed low shot from 20 yards, although he should have been beaten three minutes later, a lovely backheel from Mason Bennett finding the unmarked Ryan Leonard, who dragged wide.

The Lions were enjoying by far the better of proceedings, Jake Cooper meeting Mahoney's cross at the back post, only to get too much on his header.

Town took until 15 minutes to really threaten an opener, and it was ambitious at that, a clever corner routine seeing the ball deflect out to Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu who thundered into the stands from just outside the box.

Millwall were inches away from breaking the deadlock midway through the first period, Matt Smith, as he has done all throughout his career, rising highest, seeing his header cannon against the post.

The rebound fell to Jed Wallace, who looked certain to fire into the net, only for the heroics of Sluga, who reacted superbly to save and gather the loose ball.

Millwall kept pressing, as another good move on the right saw Mahlon Romeo's cross missed by Mahoney, with Murray Wallace's effort blocked and then Jed Wallace unable to test Sluga.

He was moments later, the Croatian getting down smartly to palm to safety, and then watching the increasingly influential midfielder curl his next attempt wide.

Millwall ratcheted up the pressure in the final stages of the first period, forcing a host of corners and with the imposing Smith in the area, it was really no surprise when one paid off on the stroke of half time, Cranie turning his header over the line.

Luton should have been further behind just four minutes into the second period, the Lions cutting through their defence with ease, Jed Wallace skewing woefully off target with just Sluga to beat.

Town started to finally enjoy some kind of territory during the second period, with LuaLua beginning to come into the contest slightly, Jones bringing on Joe Morrell whose first action was to drill narrowly wide from 25 yards.

Jones raided his bench again at the half-way point, Lee replacing Hylton, as the replacement found the run of LuaLua, whose low 25-yarder wasn't too far away.

However, there was no such let off from Mahoney with 12 minutes remaining, as after Mpanzu lost possession in midfield, he found space on the left and picked his spot beyond Sluga with unerring accuracy to put the game beyond Luton.

The visitors might have made the final moments that bit more nervy, as Cranie flicked an effort goalwards that Bartosz Bialkowski showed great agility to touch away.

Matty Pearson's ill-judged back-header was skied over the top by the hosts as although Mpanzu put a late attempt wide, Jones' side were well beaten.

Lions: Bartosz Bialkowski, Murray Wallace, Shaun Hutchinson (c), Jake Cooper, Jed Wallace, Matt Smith (Scott Malone 64), Mahlon Romeo, Ryan Leonard, Ryan Woods, Mason Bennett (Kenneth Zohore 80), Connor Mahoney (Ben Thompson 86).

Subs not used: Frank Fielding, Shaun Williams, Tom Bradshaw, Alex Pearce.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Matty Pearson (George Moncur 87), Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry (Joe Morrell 59), Jordan Clark, Kazenga LuaLua, Danny Hylton (Elliot Lee 70).

Subs not used: James Shea, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Harry Cornick, Elliot Lee, Tom Lockyer.

Booked: Leonard 38, Woods 60, Cranie 64.

Referee: Tony Harrington.