Despite dominating possession throughout the second-half, Luton conceded a soft goal to go out of the Carling Cup at the hands of Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday evening.

John Oster's 40-yard free-kick, intended to be played into a dangerous area in the penalty box, was the only goal of the game as his effort eluded everybody, deceived goalkeeper Dean Brill and travelled straight into the net.

It wasn't really what Luton had deserved after creating a stack load of chances throughout the game, most notably a glorious effort from Steve Howard from a couple of yards midway through the second-half.

Hatters boss Mike Newell was forced to make a number of changes to his starting line-up as Paul Underwood, Markus Heikkinen , Steve Robinson and Enoch Showunmi were out with injury.

That meant Leon Barnett was handed his first start of the season with Peter Holmes replacing Robinson in the heart of midfield. Youngster Danny Stevens was handed a place amongst the substitutes whilst Brill was recalled to the Luton goal.

Reading boss Steve Coppell dropped Glen Little, Leroy Lita, Brynjar Gunnarsson and Bobby Convey for the game as Sekou Baradji and Eric Obinna both made their home debuts.

Luton began the first-half in a positive manner with Howard almost threatening to break the deadlock within the opening three minutes but his header towards goal was denied by the linesman's flag.

Reading carved open the first opening of the game when, on nine minutes, Baradji's half-volley took a wicked deflection off a Luton defender.

The home-side began to step up the pressure with Luton struggling to get out of first gear as James Harper tried his luck from 25-yards with a shot that flew straight over the crossbar.

After 15 mins: Reading 0 v 0 Luton

Neither side were filling the deserted Madejski crowd with any confidence as both were struggling to find a sight of goal.

Dean Morgan grazed the side netting on 21 minutes from a 25-yard free-kick as Luton slowly began to make their presence felt on the game although neither side were able to boss proceedings.

Luton came close to breaking the deadlock on 25 minutes as Chris Coyne's header from Carlos Edwards' deep cross on the right flank sailed narrowly over the Reading crossbar.

The visitors began to turn up the pressure and moments later Morgan almost scored against his former club as the midfielder shot narrowly wide after running deep into the Reading penalty area.

After 30 mins: Reading 0 v 0 Luton

Luton began to look dangerous on the break as Morgan, who was looking lively for the visitors down the left flank, tested Marcus Hahnemann from an acute angle on 34 minutes. The Reading goalkeeper had to be alert for the effort and made an important intervention.

Howard saw a goal ruled out for offside on 40 minutes after the former Northampton striker miss-timed his run by a fraction after Nicholls had carved open the Reading back four.

As a dour first-half drew to a close, Morgan, who could have had a hat-trick, spurned another opening moments before half-time, on this occasion slicing his shot wide of the target from 15-yards.

AT HALF TIME: READING 0 V 0 LUTON

Luton almost made the perfect start to the second-half as Feeney forced Hahnemann into a vital save as the Northern Ireland international striker drilled a low effort on target.

Morgan hit his fifth shot off target on 51 minutes as the midfielder unleashed an unstoppable shot over the Reading crossbar from just outside the area.

Luton were dealt a major blow on 54 minutes as Barnett was forced to go off the field after picking up a knock to leg meaning Keith Keane was called upon to partner Coyne in the heart of defence.

After 60 mins: Reading 0 v 0 Luton

As the Reading fans began to get frustrated, Luton were trying their hardest to make the Royals pay and Feeney almost found a sight of goal but his shot was blocked by a defender.

Nicholls had a go from 25-yards on 69 minutes but had no joy as a number of decent chances went begging for the visitors.

Lita got his first sniff at goal on 71 minutes when the former Bristol City striker hit a shot narrowly wide on the second attempt with his first effort well blocked by Coyne.

Luton should have taken the lead just moments later but Howard saw his effort from six-yards travel wide after Feeney had squared the ball across the face of the goal.

After 75 mins: Reading 0 v 0 Luton

Luton had deserved to take the lead but against the run of play, Reading finally broke the deadlock when, on 80 minutes, Oster's 40-yard free-kick eluded everybody in the penalty area, deceived Brill and travelled straight into the net.

The visitors, to their credit, refused to drop their heads as they went in search for an equaliser as Holmes's left footed drive harmlessly rolled wide of the Reading goal.

FULL TIME: READING 1 V 0 LUTON

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Hunt, Oster, Harper, Ingimarsson, Doyle (Lita 56), Makin, Obinna (Cox 85), Baradji

Subs not used: Gunnarsson, Little, Federici

Bookings:

Luton: Brill, Edwards, Davis, Coyne, Barnett (Keane 55), Nicholls, Holmes, Brkovic, Howard, Feeney, Morgan

Subs not used: Seremet, O'Leary, Stevens, Andrew

Bookings: Howard (89)

Referee: Me M Fletcher

Attendance: 6,941

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