Dean Morgan failed to convert a late penalty as Leeds closed the gap on Luton at the bottom of the Championship table with a 1-0 win at Elland Road.

The Luton midfielder blasted his spot kick, but was denied by the feet of Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren after Leon Barnett was sent tumbling in the penalty area on 87 minutes.

However, the Hatters had rarely looked as if they would get themselves back on level terms after Richard Cresswell gave the home side an early second half lead.

The result means Luton have now dropped into the bottom three, with Leeds United two points behind the Hatters in the Championship table.

Luton boss Mike Newell went into the game making three changes from the side that were beaten by Wolves last weekend.

Sol Davis returned to the starting line-up after being on the bench for the visit of Wolves, while up front Warren Feeney replaced Drew Talbot, who dropped to the bench.

Clark Carlisle made his full Luton debut against his former club, meaning Leon Barnett pushed into central midfield, to partner Steve Robinson, with Matthew Spring, another former Leeds player, named as a substitute.

Kevin Foley was the surprise omission from Luton's squad with Keith Keane keeping his place at right back and David Bell switching from the left to right side of midfield.

Leeds, without former Hatters midfielder and skipper Kevin Nicholls, included new signing Lubomir Michalik in their starting line-up just 24 hours after he signed on loan from Bolton Wanderers.

A highly-charged Elland Road atmosphere set the tone for the game in which Leeds made the brighter start with Jemal Johnson blasting over the crossbar from 16-yards inside the opening five minutes.

And the home side continued to put on early pressure, almost breaking the deadlock on six minutes when Radostin Kishishev's shot from the edge of the area, after Luton had only half-cleared a Leeds corner. A goal was saved by Sol Davis on the line.

Luton took a while to settle into their stride and it wasn't until Lewis Emanuel ventured forward to try his luck from 16-yards on eight minutes that the visitors threatened to make impact.

As Bell whipped in a corner from the left, Emanuel almost capitalised on some sloppy Leeds defending when he unleashed a first time shot that rocketed over the crossbar.

However the home side continued to boss proceedings and somehow Luton survived a 17th minute incident that saw Leeds twice hit the crossbar.

Robbie Blake's corner was met by Michalik and his rising header crashed against the woodwork. As the rebound bounced out, Jonathan Douglas also saw a header thump against the crossbar with Matt Heath eventually blasting over from eight yards.

Luton had rarely troubled the Leeds goal and the home side continued to create the better chances. On 29 minutes Sebastien Carole's cross from the right was headed back into the danger area by Johnson, but Blake was unable to keep his first-time volley on target.

The half had belonged to Leeds and on 42 minutes another well worked moved was let down only by the finish when Johnson teed up Douglas 22-yards out and his snap shot carried over Marlon Beresford's crossbar.

Leeds then hit the crossbar for the third time when, just two minutes before the interval, Blake's curling free-kick rattled the woodwork after Barnett had conceded a needless free-kick in a dangerous area.

AT HALF TIME: LEEDS UNITED 0 v 0 LUTON TOWN

The home side continued where they had left off after the break, dominating the early possession.

And it didn't take long for Dennis Wise's words to have an impact on his team when on 50 minutes Johnson fed through Cresswell, who was able to get the better of Heikkinen to turn inside the area and guide the ball beyond Beresford from an acute angle.

Leeds almost doubled their lead six minutes later when a mistake by Keane sent Blake racing towards goal, but the midfielder's shot was blocked by Beresford. Them, after Luton failed to deal with the loose ball, Johnson firstly had a 16-yard shot blocked by Barnett then fired over the crossbar.

Luton's chances were rare and a Bell free-kick on 64 minutes, which hardly troubled Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren, was all the Hatters had to show.

The home side were maintaining the pressure and came close to extending their leadon 71 minutes when Blake's free-kick needed only the faintest of glances to direct the ball into the Hatters goal.

Cresswell almost grabbed his second of the game when, four minutes later, he was given freedom to turn inside the area, but blasted an eight -ard shot over the crossbar.

The introduction of Morgan gave Luton some much needed-attacking flair and on 77 minutes his telling ball across the face of the area warranted a goal, but nobody in an orange shirt was able to make contact.

Luton should have equalised on 84 minutes when they squandered an excellent opening after Morgan's corner kick was flicked on by Drew Talbot, who had replaced Feeney, but the former Sheffield Wednesday striker had his effort cleared off the line. Despite Leeds failing to clear the danger, Luton were unable to get the ball into the net.

The Hatters then squandered an even better chance when they were awarded an 87th minute penalty after Barnett was sent tumbling in the penalty area under a challenge from Kishishev. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but Morgan drilled his effort straight down the middle, enabling Ankergren to make the save with his feet.

AT FULL TIME: LEEDS UNITED 1 v 0 LUTON TOWN

Leeds: Ankergren, Douglas, Kishishev, Lewis, Johnson (Healy 85), Richardson, Carole (Sa 88), Heath, Cresswell, Michalik, Blake (Moore 90)

Subs not used: Stack, Kandol

Bookings: Johnson (33), Douglas (53), Michalik (83)

Luton: Beresford, Keane, Carlisle, Heikkinen, Davis, Bell, Robinson, Barnett, Emanuel, Runstrom (Talbot 69), Feeney (Morgan 69)

Subs not used: Brill, Spring, Langley

Bookings: Emanuel (31), Runstrom (60)

Referee: Mr P Walton

Attendance: 27,438