Mike Newell made two changes for the visit of Stockport County, one to the starting line-up and one to the bench. Alan Neilson replaced the suspended Sol Davis at left back, with Keith Keane coming into the sixteen in the place of Calvin Andrew. Stockport themselves also made on change to their side, with Danny Griffin missing out. His place went to new loan signing Darrell Clarke, who has joined from Hartlepool United. Included amongst the replacements was Chris Armstrong, who signed for Countyafter being released by Queen of the South.

The deadlock was almost broken by Luton on three minutes when Kevin Nicholls' cross almost picked out Steve Howard at the far post but the former Northampton striker, despite losing his marker, was unable to connect. It was a positive start by the Hatters and Howard headed off target moments later, climbing highest in a packed penalty area, but was unable to threaten Neil Cutler in the visitor's goal.

Stockport, looking for only their third away win of the season, rarely threatened in the early exchanges but came close on ten minutes with their first real effort of the game when midfielder Ricky Lambert fired wide after being teed up by Clarke's free-kick.

Michael Raynes gets to grips with Rowan Vine. Photo: Gareth Owen

Howard continued to cause the visitors' defence plenty of problems and on 16 minutes the striker was unfortunate not to have grabbed his 18^th goal of the season when he fired over the crossbar after Kevin Foley's pinpoint cross from the right flank. A stoppage in play was enforced with a change of linesman on 17 minutes but it failed to disrupt Luton's attacking flow as they nearly broke the deadlock moments later with a Chris Coyne header that flew over the target.

However, Coyne didn't have to wait long to get his name on the score sheet as he pocked home his third goal of the season on 28 minutes. The Hatters defender was in the right place at the right time when after attempts from Nicholls and Curtis Davies had been scrambled away by the visitors from Steve Robinson's corner, Coyne popped up to stab the ball home from close range.

The home side continued to enjoy the majority of possession and Howard saw another goal bound header on 33 minutes comfortably saved by Cutler. It was Luton's set-pieces that were causing the problems for Stockport's defence and Cutler was called upon to make an important stop from Davies on 35 minutes after the defender popped up at the far post to guide a Robinson corner towards goal.

Rowan Vine wasted a golden opportunity to put the home-side two goals in front on 39 minutes. After beating the offside trap following an accurate ball from Brkovic, the on-loan Portsmouth striker failed to find the target as he tamely pushed the ball wide of the target failing to really trouble Cutler. Luton's defensive duties were rare but their was some nervy moments for the home-side to deal with three minutes before the half-time whistle when Jon Daly found space at the back post but failed to guide his header on target following a deep cross from John Hardiker.

As anticipated, Stockport made a bright start to the second half and Warren Feeney almost capitalised on some slack Luton defending to bring his side back on level terms but the striker was denied by a timely tackle from Foley.

However it was only eight minutes into the second-half when Luton doubled their advantage thanks to Hoawrd's 18^th goal of the season. Brkovic was allowed acres of space down the right flank to deliver a perfect ball across the face of the goal where Howard muscled his way past two Stockport to pounce from close range. Howard almost grabbed his second of the game just a few moments later but his towering header was tipped over the crossbar by some acrobatics from Cutler.

Steve Howard stabs home from close range Luton's second. Photo: Gareth Owen

Stockport had a chance to reduce Luton's lead on 58 minutes but Michael Raynes wasted a perfect opportunity after directing a free header wide of the target. The home side continued to boss the majority of the play and Paul Underwood's low drive almost found its way into the corner of Stockport's net. To their credit, Stockport refused to lie down and threw bodies forward in a bid to get themselves back into the game. Feeney drilled a low shot wide of Luton's goal on 60 minutes and wasted another notable effort from Daly then shortly after that, Damian Allen fired just wide from the edge of the box.

The Town's third arrived in the 74^th minute when Nicholls slotted home from the spot after Jim Goodwin handled a goal bound shot in the area. The teams then exchanged chances, firstly Cutler kept out yet another effort from Howard and Goodwin flashed a shot wide for County. Brkvoic couldn't find the finish necessary to end a flowing Luton move and then the visitors substitute Danny Jackman was denied by a good block from Marlon Beresford after a neat one-two on the edge of the area.

Hatters: Beresford; Foley, Coyne, Davies, Neilson; Brkovic, Robinson, Nicholls (sub Holmes 79), Underwood (sub Keane 79); Howard (sub Showunmi 86), Vine. Subs not used: Perrett, Seremet.

County: Cutler; Hardiker, Goodwin, Williams, Raynes, Adams; Clarke (sub Briggs 32), Lambert (sub Jackman 61), Allen; Daly (sub Armstrong 84), Feeney. Subs not used: Spencer, Barlow, Jackman.

Bookings: Briggs (Stockport) 63

Supporter's online Man of the Match: Kevin Nicholls 

Match STATS
	Hatters	County
Goal Attempts	16	9
On Target	7	2
Offside	3	4
Corners	10	5
Free kicks	12	12
Yellow cards	0	1
Red cards	0	0
Possession (%)	53	47

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