Luton were comprehensively beaten by an impressive Everton outfit as the Hatters' Carling Cup campaign came to an abrupt end at Goodison Park.

A youthful and inexperienced Luton back four failed to cope with the pace of Andy Johnson as an experienced Everton side strolled to a comfortable victory.

Luton were always up against it as Markus Heikkinen missed the game because of flu and had it not been for the heroics of Marlon Beresford, who saved a first-half penalty from Mikel Arteta, the Hatters could have been left on the wrong side of an embarrassing scoreline.

As it was, Everton still managed to find the net four times with Tim Cahill and a Keith Keane own goal scored before the interval before James McFadden and substitute Victor Anichebe added to the score with second half strikes.

The game saw Keith Keane, who was the only change from the side that beat Leeds at the weekend, given a torrid time by the nippy Johnson.

If Luton thought that Everton were going to take the Carling Cup competition lightly, they were hugely mistaken as regulars Johnson and Cahill were both selected in the starting eleven.

It didn't take long for Johnson to show why he is one of England's top strikers when his first time shot on five minutes, from McFadden's pass, was struck straight into the arms of Hatters goalkeeper Marlon Beresford, who gathered at the second attempt.

Luton made a sluggish start, but did come close on 11 minutes when Rowan Vine collected a pass from Carlos Edwards and directed a tame effort on goal, which was comfortably saved by Iain Turner.

Everton should have been in front on 15 minutes, but Steve Robinson came to Luton's rescue as he denied Cahill a certain goal, when his header from six-yards took a deflection off the Hatters midfielder.

Everton looked dominant and bossed the game as Leon Osman's header on 21 minutes was superbly saved by Beresford at the near post.

And it was little surprise when Everton eventually broke the deadlock two minutes later. Arteta's deep free kick was headed at the back post by Joleon Lescott as Cahill was left unmark to nod home into an empty net.

Luton's best effort of the game arrived on 28 minutes when Alan Stubbs failed to deal with Edwards' cross, and as the ball fell to Warren Feeney, the Luton striker fired narrowly over the bar, with back to goal.

Four minutes later and Feeney went close again as he out jumped the Everton defence to head Kevin Foley's deep cross inches over the crossbar.

Luton couldn't make their best spell of the game count and were made to pay as Everton extended their lead through some sloppy Luton defending on 34 minutes.

The lively Johnson caught out Keane and robbed him of possession, darting into the Luton penalty area. As the England international squared the ball it was diverted into the net from a combination of Keane and Davis.

Luton refused to let their heads drop as Feeney saw another chance go begging as he fired over the crossbar from eight yards on 39 minutes.

Everton should have extended their lead further on 43 minutes when Johnson, who was giving Keane a torrid time, was brought down inside the box by the Luton youngster after he miss judged a long ball forward.

It was a comfortable decision for referee Steve Tanner to award the penalty, but Arteta failed to beat Beresford, who dived low to his right to make a comfortable save.

Luton kept pressing forward and were unfortunate not to have reduced the deficit when Morgan rattled the post with a delightful curling free-kick that had beaten Turner.

AT HALF TIME: EVERTON 2 V 0 LUTON

Everton made a blistering start to the second half as Beresford denied McFadden on 47 minutes, who beat the Luton offside trap to go clean through on goal.

A minute later and Beresford was again called upon to tip over Arteta's header after the midfielder found space at the back post to connect with Cahill's pinpoint cross.

The home side were as comfortable as the scoreline suggested and added a third on 53 minutes when McFadden tapped home into an empty net, to finish a neat move involving the impressive Cahill and Arteta.

Despite conceding three goals, Beresford was outshining his team-mates and superbly denied Johnson his first goal of the evening as the Luton shot-stopper guessed the right way and prevented the England striker from rounding him and slotting into an unguarded net.

Chances continued to come Everton's way and on 60 minutes, Beresford acrobatically tipped over McFadden's header over the crossbar after he connected with Arteta's corner.

Morgan came close two minutes later when, from an acute angle, the midfielder forced Turner into a good save after Vine's shot had initially been blocked by the Everton defence.

Luton began to enjoy more possession before Everton hit a fourth when, seven minutes from time, Anichebe raced through on goal and calmly side-footed past Beresford, who was left toatally helpless.

Everton could have had a fifth on 87 minutes but McFadden's fierce shot was cleared off the line by Davis.

AT FULL TIME: EVERTON 4 V 0 LUTON

Everton: Turner, Weir (Hughes 46), Arteta, Johnson (Beattie 68), Davies (Anichebe 70), McFadden, Stubbs, Lescott, Cahill, Osman, Carsley.

Subs not used: Howard, Vidarsson

Bookings:

Luton: Beresford, Foley, Davis, Edwards, Robinson (O'Leary 80), Vine (Boyd 80), Feeney, Morgan (Brkovic 80), Keane, Barnett, Bell

Subs not used: Emanuel, Brill

Bookings: Keane (42)

Referee: Mr S J Tanner

Attendance: 27,149