The QPR defender was simply guilty of standing in the wrong place at the wrong time when Dean Morgan's volley cannoned off his leg and past the outstretched arms of Rangers goalkeeper Simon Royce.

It was a miserable evening for the visitors who had Stefan Bailey sent off for a rash challenge on Ahmet Brkovic on 77 minutes and were guilty of missing several opportunities.

However, Luton's slice of good fortune means Hatters boss Mike Newell will go up against the team he helped win the Premiership title all them years ago

Luton were dealt a major blow before kick off as Marlon Beresford, who was expected to replace Dean Kiely in the Hatters goal, was ruled out with a back injury.

That gave Dean Brill his second Luton start of the season after the young goalkeeper was recalled back from his seven day loan spell with Gillingham.

Better news for the Hatters concerned Kevin Foley, who made his first start of 2007 having recovered from a heel injury while Ahmet Brkovic was recalled to the starting line up to operate from the right flank.

Brkovic's inclusion handed David Bell an unexpected opportunity in attack and he partnered Adam Boyd, who replaced the injured Warren Feeney. The other change from Saturday's shock 2-0 defeat to Barnsley saw Russell Perrett replace Leon Barnett, who was ruled out through injury.

QPR, who were defeated by Southampton at the weekend, made three changes to their side with Mauro Milanese, Stefan Bailey and Lee Cook all returning to John Gregory's team.

Both sides enjoyed a good spell of possession in the early stages of the game, but the first 15 minutes seemed non existent with a wayward Bell effort on 13 minutes the only real opportunity created by either side.

It took an 26 minutes for the first notable opportunity to be created. It was a chance that eventually gave Luton fans something to shout about as Steve Robinson's through ball released Bell surging through the middle, but the midfielder was unable to connect cleanly with a right footed shot that just missed the target.

QPR responded with their own opportunity a minute later as Dexter Blackstock got beyond the Luton defence, but his left wing cross to the unmarked Marc Nygaard was just beyond the reach of the Rangers striker.

The game began to see some entertainment and Brill was called upon to make an impressive save on 31 minutes as he twice prevented the visitors from taking the lead.

As Luton struggled to clear their lines, Jimmy Smith fired a first time shot from the edge of the area which forced Brill into a low save. With the ball only parried, the young Luton goalkeeper displayed quick reactions to prevent Blackstock nipping in to score from the rebound.

Luton had the ball in the back of the net on 37 minutes, but Bell was deemed offside after his surging run and shot went through the legs of Rangers goalkeeper Simon Royce.

The Hatters were beginning to threaten, however the visitors should have broken the deadlock on 38 minutes but were guilty of missing a golden opportunity.

Milanese found space down the right flank and delivered a perfectly weighted cross that found the head of Nygaard, but the former Brescia striker couldn't find the target from six yards out and with the goal at his mercy.

AT HALF TIME: LUTON 0 V 0 QPR

Rangers almost made the perfect start to the second half but Nygaard failed to make the most of a good opportunity when on 48 minutes he latched onto Smith's pass down the right, but instead of dragging a cross back to his waiting team-mates, he managed to clip the top of Brill's crossbar from an acute angle.

Lewis Emanuel tried his luck with an ambitious 25 yard free kick that fizzled wide of the target as both teams tried to stamp their authority on the game in the early stages of the second half.

Although Luton were enjoying the majority of the second half possession, it was the visitors who looked more likely to score and on 62 minutes Damion Stewart almost found a way through but sent his close range header from Smith's corner inches wide.

Rangers continued to press forward and Nygaard was guilty of wasting another opportunity on 67 minutes when he collected Smith's through ball but could only hit a first time shot against the side netting from eight yards.

Luton were soon given the advantage as Rangers were reduced to ten men after Bailey was shown a straight red card following a two footed challenge on Brkovic. A mass brawl followed, but after order was restored, referee Michael Jones quickly issued the red card.

The challenge left Brkovic leaving the field on a stretcher as Newell threw on Morgan.

The man advantage soon made the difference as Luton took the lead on 79 minutes through bizarre circumstances. As Rangers struggled to clear the danger, Morgan sliced a volley from the edge of the area that took a wicked deflection off Rehman's leg and beyond the reach of Royce.

In a desperate bid to find an equaliser, Gareth Ainsworth was thrown into action and he almost made an immediate impact when he saw a long range effort blocked by the Hatters defence.

Luton had the chance to seal the game when Morgan raced through on goal, but the substitue wasted his opportunity, firing over the target from eight yards.

AT FULL TIME: LUTON 1 V 0 QPR

Luton: Brill, Foley, Davis, Coyne, Perrett, Robinson, Emanuel, Langley, Brkovic (Morgan 77), Boyd, Bell

Subs not used: O'Leary, Keane, Stevens, Barrett

Bookings: Coyne (74), Morgan (90)

QPR: Royce, Milanese, Rehman, Lomas, Cook, Bailey, Stewart, Nygaard (Jones 72), Blackstock, Smith (Ainsworth 84), Mancienne

Subs not used: Cole, Kanyuka, Furlong

Bookings:

Sent-Off: Bailey (74)

Referee: Mr M Jones

Attendance: 7,494 (1,492 from QPR)