Luton became only the second Championship team to take maximum points from Reading this season as Rowan Vine's fine run of form continued with his second brace in the space of three days.

The former Portsmouth striker capped off an instrumental performance with two fine goals as Reading's 33 game unbeaten run came crashing to an abrupt end.

Dean Morgan scored the goal of the game with Luton's third, early in the second half, all this after Reading had made a dream start when Kevin Doyle had broken the deadlock within 20 seconds. A late Doyle goal meant Luton endured some nail biting moments in stoppage time, but the Hatters held on during four minutes of additional time.

Hatters boss Mike Newell went into the game with an unchanged side from the one that drew 3-3 with Cardiff on Tuesday night.

The only change within the Luton team was amongst the substitutes with the return of Warren Feeney, who had missed the last two games through injury.

Reading made two changes from the side that gained an impressive 1-1 draw with Sheffield United in midweek as John Oster and Brynjar Gunnarsson returned for Steve Coppell's team.

Spectators inside Kenilworth Road were just settling into their seats when Reading opened the scoring within 20 seconds. A mistake from Leon Barnett allowed Bobby Convey's pass to reach Doyle, who struck his shot across goal, beyond the arms of Marlon Beresford.

On four minutes, James Harper went agonisingly close to extending Reading's lead as the midfielder curled an effort from the edge of Luton's penalty area inches wide of Beresford's post.

Luton were slow to get out of the traps and their first effort of the game arrived on 11 minutes when Carlos Edwards' through ball was hit first time by Steve Howard, but the former Northampton striker could only find the side netting.

Howard was on the end of Luton's next effort as an inch perfect pass from Morgan split open the Reading defence, but the striker's effort was safely gathered by goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann.

AFTER 15 MINS: LUTON 0 V 1 READING

Luton were back on level terms on 20 minutes thanks to some incisive football as the home-side quickly came to terms with Reading's free flowing football.

Brkovic's short pass fell kindly to the feet of Howard, who found Vine with a first-time pass that enabled the former Portsmouth striker to fire home from inside the penalty area.

Vine, a scorer of two goals in the draw with Cardiff on Tuesday night, soon notched his fourth goal in two games as Luton took the lead on 25 minutes.

Howard was instrumental once again in the build-up as his pass released Kevin Foley, who was allowed to waltz into the visitors' penalty area, and cross for Vine, who stole in front of his marker to side-foot home.

AFTER 30 MINS: LUTON 2 V 1 READING

Vine almost claimed his hat-trick in bizarre circumstances as a header from Brkovic, back across the face of the Reading goal on 33 minutes, struck the Luton striker on the knee but fell kindly into the hands of Hahnemann.

Luton were making Reading, the league leaders in the Championship, look second best and within the space of two minutes, the Hatters could have extended their lead further.

Firstly, on 36 minutes, Brkovic was on the end of a free-kick and headed a Kevin Nicholls ball back into the area where Howard somehow rattled the crossbar from within the six-yard box.

Then, Luton had the ball in the back of the net but the linesman's flag ruled out Leon Barnett's header, which was later confirmed by television cameras.

AT HALF-TIME: LUTON 2 V 1 READING

Luton fans were going crazy just six minutes into the second half as the home side extended their lead. Howard was again involved in the goal as his short pass to Morgan enabled the midfielder to skip past one challenge and hit a reverse shot into Hahnemann's bottom right corner.

Dave Kitson thought he should have been awarded a penalty on 56 minutes when the striker went down under a challenge from Marcus Heikkinen. Referee Kevin Wright was quick to wave away the appeals as Luton survived a nervy spell.

AFTER 60 MINS: LUTON 3 V 1 READING

Luton were beginning to lose their way as Reading slowly began to threaten the Luton goal. Doyle went close on 67 minutes but the striker could only guide a header into the arms of Beresford.

In a rare second-half attack, Edwards surged from one end of the field to the other on 69 minutes, only to waste a golden opportunity when he sliced the ball wide of Hahnemann's goal.

AFTER 75 MINS: LUTON 3 V 1 READING

Luton went in search for number four and Barnett went close when, popping up from defence, his header sailed inches wide of the target.

However, despite a late flurry of attacks from Reading, they never looked as if they would get themselves back in the game until, into stoppage time, Doyle headed home a cross after a mistake from Foley allowed Stephen Hunt to cross.

Reading pressed forward in the closing stages but Luton held their discipline and managed to claim three vital points

AT FULL-TIME: LUTON 3 V 2 READING

Luton: Beresford, Foley, Davis (Holmes 82), Edwards, Nicholls, Vine, Brkovic, Howard (Feeney 81), Morgan (Showunmi 83), Heikkinen, Barnett.

Subs not used: Perrett, Brill

Bookings: Vine (56), Beresford (78)

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Shorey, Sonko, Gunnarsson, Oster (Lita 80), Kitson, Harper, Ingimarsson, Convey (Hunt 64), Doyle

Subs not used: Halls, Stack, Makin

Bookings: Doyle (54), Kitson (58), Oster (64)

Referee: Mr K K Wright

Attendance: 8,705 (1,098 from Reading)