A late penalty from Kevin Nicholls handed Luton their fourth straight victory in a 1-0 win over Walsall.

The Hatter midfielder calmly slotted home, sending Walsall goalkeeper Joe Murphy the wrong way, after Chris Coyne was sent tumbling in the penalty area.

Hatters boss Mike Newell kept faith with the same starting line-up that began proceedings in Saturday's 1-0 win over Bradford City.

That meant striker Steve Howard kept his place in the starting line-up despite leaving training early on Monday because of the flu. He partnered Rowan Vine in Luton's attack.

Walsall's player-boss Paul Merson decided not to include himself in his starting line-up with the visitors attempting to pack out their midfield playing a 4-5-1 formation as Matt Fryatt occupied the loan strikers position.

The visitors carved open the first opportunity of the evening as Fryatt's run and shot from 25-yards flew over the Luton crossbar.

Luton made a slow start but could have broken the deadlock on nine minutes as Howard sent a flashing volley over the Walsall crossbar.

The home-side went even closer just two minutes later when Steve Robinson latched onto Howard's header to guide a shot the wrong side of a Walsall post.

After 15 mins: Luton 0 v 0 Walsall

After 17 minutes, neither side had found the target, an indication of just how both sides were struggling to make a break through. Ahmet Brkovic fired a shot just wide of the Walsall goal and moments later Howard saw a header blocked by a packed Walsall defence.

The Midlands club, who were looking for only their third away win of the season, rarely threatened but did come close on 20 minutes as Fryatt worked up an opening to fire wide of the target.

Vine was put in the clear on 22 minutes but failed to take advantage and he squandered an effort straight into the arms of Walsall goalkeeper Joe Murphy.

Luton went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on 25 minutes as Howard failed to apply the finishing touch to Vine's low drive across the face of the goal.

The Hatters began to enjoy good spells of possession and on 28 minutes, Brkovic wormed his way past two Walsall defenders only for the Croatian to strike his shot straight at Murphy.

After 30 mins: Luton 0 v 0 Walsall

Howard missed the target on 40 minutes as he failed to guide one of his trademark headers from Nicholls' corner on target.

The Luton striker lost his marker in the penalty and managed to head towards goal despite running away from his target. Unfortunately, Howard was unable to keep his effort under the crossbar.

Neither side could work an opening in the closing stages as a 0-0 score line was probably a fair reflection on events in the first-half.

At half-time: Luton 0 v 0 Walsall

There was no Robinson for the second-half as Newell introduced Stephen O'Leary who slotted into central midfield.

The second-half saw both teams start in a scrappy manner with a number of miss-placed passes and lack of creativity in midfield.

After 60 mins: Luton 0 v 0 Walsall

It took 63 minutes for any notable effort to occur in the second-half as a tame effort from Andrew Sermon was blocked by Luton's defence.

Coyne shot high over the crossbar from 25-yard just a few moments later as Enoch Showunmi was introduced in a bid to liven up proceedings.

The Nigerian striker was placed on the right side of midfield and Kevin Foley pushed back into left-back as Alan Neilson was the unfortunate man to make way.

After 75 mins: Luton 0 v 0 Walsall

Brkovic needed to get the faintest of touches to Showunmi's cross on 81 minutes as the second-half continued to frustrate both sets of supporters with a lack of openings.

Howard headed the first effort on target on 85 minutes although it failed to cause any trouble to Murphy.

Luton had the perfect opportunity to grab a late winner as the referee awarded the home-side a spot kick after Coyne was sent tumbling in the penalty area under the challenge of Neil Emblem.

After mass debate from the visitors, Nicholls calmly slotted home the penalty kick, sending Murphy the wrong way and claim Luton's fourth straight victory.

AT FULL TIME: LUTON 1 V 0 WALSALL

Luton: Beresford, Foley, Neilson (Showunmi 67) , Nicholls, Vine, Robinson (O'Leary h/t), Coyne, Brkovic, Howard, Davies, Davis

Subs not used: Perrett, Seremet, Holmes

Bookings:

Walsall: Murphy, Aranalde, Osborn, Emblem, Roper, Wrack, Fryatt, Wright, Taylor, Taylor, Sermon

Subs not used: Standing, Merson, Bennett, Broad, Coleman

Bookings: Osboun

Referee: Mr K K Wright

Attendance: 7,236 (275 from Walsall)

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Match STATS
	Hatters	Saddlers
Goal Attempts	12	5
On Target	4	0
Offside	2	6
Corners	9	6
Free kicks	17	13
Yellow cards	0	1
Red cards	0	0
Possession (%)	56	44