Kevin Blackwell suffered a losing return to Leeds United after former Hatters striker Tresor Kandol scored the only goal at Elland Road.

Blackwell spent two-and-a-half years as a manager at Elland Road, but despite receiving a warm welcome by Leeds supporters, that was as far as the generosity went for the Hatters boss.

What was more frustrating for Blackwell was the manner in which Kandol, who spent three years at Kenilworth Road, scored his third goal of the season to give Leeds maximum points.

The striker capitalised on a mistake from Alan Goodall after the former Rochdale defender placed a pass into the path of the Leeds attack, enabling Kandol to finish off a cross from Seb Carole.

Luton had their chances to snatch an equaliser, but despite a late spell of pressure, the Hatters slipped to their second league defeat of campaign.

Both sides went into the game making a number of changes from their Carling Cup fixtures in midweek.

Luton, who went into the game on the back of an impressive 3-0 win over Sunderland, made three changes as Darren Currie and Dave Edwards returned to the side with Keith Keane making his first league start of the season.

There was no place for new signing, Jaroslaw Fojut, who completed a four month loan move from Bolton on Friday, whilst Steve Robinson and Dean Morgan dropped to the substitute bench.

Leeds, who were heavily beaten by Premiership Portsmouth in midweek, made three changes to their side with Alan Thompson, Jamie Beckford and Andrew Hughes all returning to the starting line-up.

Blackwell received a warm welcome for from the home supporters, but Leeds' players were certainly not as homely as they almost took the lead in a matter of seconds.

The pace and power of Jermaine Beckford caught Luton on the back foot inside the opening minute and the striker unleashed a powerful shot from inside the area, but fortunately his effort flew straight into the hands of Hatters goalkeeper David Forde.

Leeds, with three straight victories in League One, made the far superior start and Luton breathed a huge sigh of relief when Kandol went tumbling inside the area on seven minutes under a challenge from Chris Perry.

Despite strong protests from the home-side, referee Clive Oliver waved away the protest, much to the frustrations amongst the Leeds bench.

Luton had rarely threatened as their disjointed play saw plenty of frustration from the Hatters bench.

It wasn't until David Bell's dangerous run from the left on 19 minutes that the Hatters threatened to break the deadlock, but the former Rushden midfielder spurned his opportunity well wide of the target after progressing into a promising position.

But the Hatters began to get themselves into the game and Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren was almost embarrassed a minute later when he failed to deal with Currie's cross from the right, with Bell almost poking home the loose ball into the net.

Despite Leeds' early promise, they hadn't rarely threatened to open the scoring, but Kandol should have done better on 28 minutes when he failed to take advantage of some sloppy Luton defending.

After Chris Coyne directed a header into the path of Kandol, he then had room to cut inside the box and after Keane had completely miss-kicked the loose ball, the Leeds striker fired over the crossbar from 12-yards.

Luton then responded with Alan Goodall trying his luck with a low shot on 31 minutes after a Hatters free-kick had not been cleared by the Leeds defence.

But after missing a good chance to help his side take the lead, Goodall's afternoon got a whole lot worse when his miss placed pass gave Leeds the lead on the stroke of half-time.

His simple pass went astray and after Leeds broke down the Luton end, the ball reached Seb Carole on the left, who then cut inside and slipped a pass to Kandol who struck a first-time shot beyond the reach of Forde.

AT HALF-TIME: LEEDS 1 V 0 LUTON

Luton bossed the opening of the second half and they thought they had brought themselves back on level terms just seven minutes after the restart.

However, Paul Furlong's goal was ruled out by the referee as he was adjudged to have impeded Leeds' Rui Marques after Currie had sent a pinpoint cross from the right into the area.

But it was in defence where Luton seemed to be struggling. Leeds should have really been further in front on 55 minutes after another sloppy pass, this time from Keane, fell to Kandol who charged into the Hatters area, but his left-footed effort crashed into the side netting.

Bell flashed a 30-yard effort over the Leeds crossbar on the hour mark as a pulsating second half saw both sides show plenty of promise on the attack.

Luton were enjoying their best spell of the game as they continued put pressure on the Leeds defence.

And the Hatters came close on 69 minutes when Goodall's long throw was flicked on into the heart of the area, and as the ball ran loose to Edwards, the former Shrewsbury midfielder drilled a low shot straight into the arms of Ankergren.

In a desperate bid to salvage something from the game, Blackwell threw on Paul McVeigh and Calvin Andrew and the change almost had an immediate effect.

On 78 minutes, a Bell corner caused confusion inside the Leeds penalty area and after McVeigh laid off a pass to Spring, the midfielder whistled a long range shot just inches past Ankergren's post.

Luton rallied late in the game, but their opportunities at goal were to tell with only one notable shot on target.

Unfortunately, the game was soured by some unnecessary actions amongst both dugouts involving individuals from both sets of teams.

AT FULL-TIME: LEEDS 1 V 0 LUTON

Leeds United: Ankergren, Richardson, Douglas, Marques, Heath, Prutton, Thompson (Clapham 73), Beckford, Carole, Kandol, Hughes

Subs not used: Martin, Howson, Parker, Ameobi

Bookings:

Luton: Forde, Goodall, Perry, Coyne, Bell, Currie (Morgan 63), Edwards, Talbot (McVeigh 76), Keane, Spring, Furlong (Andrew 76).

Subs not used: Hutchison, Robinson

Bookings:

Referee: Mr C W Oliver

Attendance: 26,896

You are respectfully reminded that this report - as with all content on this website - is subject to copyright and www.lutontown.co.uk must be acknowledged as the original source.