Goals from Kevin Nicholls, Ahmet Brkovic and Peter Holmes sealed Luton all three points in a scrappy affair with Swindon Town.

The 3-1 victory maintained Luton's three point cushion over nearest title challengers Hull City and takes the club one step closer to promotion this season

Luton raced into a two-goal lead through a Nicholls penalty and a close range Brkovic strike. Despite Swindon grabbing a goal through on-loan striker Michael Proctor, Holmes capitalised on an error from Swindon goalkeeper Rhys Evans to seal maximum points.

Hatters boss Mike Newell went into the match keeping faith with the same starting line-up that trounced Bristol City last weekend.

It meant Peter Holmes, Keith Keane and Russell Perrett all kept their places in Luton's side with Kevin Foley returning to the substitute bench.

Swindon, and the returning Mick Harford, made two changes to their side, which lost 3-0 to play-off hopefuls Bournemouth at the weekend.

Stefani Miglioranzi and Jerel Ifil both returned to the side as midfielder Lee Holmes was placed amongst the substitutes.

It was the visitors who started brightly with Sam Parkin quickly displaying his qualities that has seen him notch up 19 goals this season.

However, within the opening five minutes neither side had taken control of the game with wayward passing from both teams and no threat to either goalkeeper.

The first opening never arrived until 11 minutes when Luton broke the deadlock through Nicholls' spot kick. Brkovic was sent sprawling in the penalty area under the challenge of Matthew Heywood and Fred Graham, the match referee, had no hesitations and pointed straight to the spot.

Kevin Nicholls celebrates his goal with the injured Chris Coyne

The Luton skipper coolly slotted home his sixth spot kick from seven this season despite Evans guessing the right way to put the league leaders into the lead.

Swindon almost gained an immediate response but Grant Smith's half volley on 12 minutes flew straight into the arms of Hatters goalkeeper Marlon Beresford.

After 15 mins: Luton 1 v 0 Swindon

The goal had certainly opened up the flow of the game with Swindon looking dangerous on the attack.

Despite looking good on the attack themselves, the Hatters were constantly being denied by the linesman flag with Rowan Vine and Steve Howard both being the frustrated players.

However, it didn't take long for Luton to double their advantage when Brkovic grabbed his 15^th goal of the season thanks to some sloppy defending from the visitors.

Sol Davis' wayward shot wasn't cleared by Swindon's defence and the Croatian simply slotted a side-footed shot under Evans' body and into the net from close range.

Ahmet Brkovic is mobbed by Keith Keane after doubling Luton's lead

After 30 mins: Luton 2 v 0 Swindon

Swindon got themselves back into the game in the most bizarre circumstances as Proctor found the net straight from a corner.

The on-loan Swindon striker somehow caught the home-side defence napping, including a bewildered Beresford to see the ball creep into the corner of the net.

Beresford soon made amends with a breathtaking reflex save to prevent Sean O'Hanlon from bringing the visitors back on level terms, tipping the defenders deflected header over the crossbar.

Swindon tried to bring themselves back on level terms before the break but some steady defending from the home side prevented the visitors from finding a second before the interval.

AT HALF-TIME: LUTON 2 V 1 SWINDON

After a dour opening to the second-half, Nicholls almost grabbed his second of the game on 51 minutes, sending a curling free-kick inches past the wrong side of Evans' goal.

Rowan Vine gets in a tussle with Swindon's Sean O'Hanlon

As Luton went in search for more goals, Howard and Vine both had openings but were denied by some good work in the Swindon goal from Evans.

The Hatters were getting closer and closer to adding a third as Paul Underwood thumped a half volley onto the Swindon crossbar on 57 minutes. The midfielder's shot completely beat Evans after getting on the end of some neat build-up play involving Vine and Brkovic.

After 60 mins: Luton 2 v 1 Swindon

Beresford was called upon to make an important stop from Parkin on 61 minutes as the visitors began to push more bodies into the Luton penalty area.

In what was turning into a scrappy and untidy contest, neither side could find a breakthrough with most of the play occurring in midfield.

After 75 mins: Luton 2 v 1 Swindon

With neither side playing attractive football, chances were few and far between although Christian Roberts did flash a shot across the face of Luton's goal on 81 minutes.

Kevin Nicholls and Sol Davis are all smiles after the final whistle

Some nervy moments for Luton were finally put to rest as Holmes grabbed his second goal in two games capitalising on an error from Evans.

The Swindon goalkeeper made a hash of Nicholls deep cross and Holmes calmly nipped the ball out of his grasp to slot home into an empty net.

Luton could have grabbed a fourth through a fierce shot from Enoch Showunmi but it didn't matter as the Hatters claimed their 14 win at Kenilworth Road this season.

It's handshakes all round as Mick Harford congratulates Mike Newell on a job well done

AT FULL TIME: LUTON 3 V 1 SWINDON

Luton: Beresford, Perrett, Underwood, Nicholls, Vine (Showunmi 71), Brkovic (Foley 71), Howard, Davies, Keane (Leary 79), Davis, Holmes

Subs not used: Seremet, Barnett

Bookings: Nicholls (90)

Swindon: Evans, O'Hanlon, Smith, Jenkins, Igoe, Parkin, Miglioranzi (Holmes 77), Duke, Ifil, Heywood Proctor (Roberts 67).

Subs not used: Howard, Reeves, Book

Bookings: Jenkins (12), Proctor (50)

Referee: Fred Graham (Essex

Attendance: 8,173 (626 from Swindon)