Despite an improved second half performance, Luton slipped to yet another away day defeat at struggling Crewe Alexandra.

Two first half goals from Ryan Lowe was the difference between the two sides, as Luton's winless run on the road extends to seven games.

It's not since April that Luton have recorded an away league win, and this was another performance that highlights the inconsistency in Luton's season.

Just days after steamrolling past Northampton, Luton looked a shade of their best as they were shunted by the Railway men at Gresty Road.

Luton boss Kevin Blackwell made just two changes from Monday's win over Northampton as goalkeeper Ben Alnwick and striker Calvin Andrew returned to the fold.

That meant there was no place for Dean Brill and Drew Talbot, who both missed out altogether, while Steve Robinson returned to the Hatters bench after being away on international duty with Northern Ireland.

Crewe, who went into the game without a win in six, gave Simon Church his debut while George Abbey and experienced midfielder Steve Schumacher both returned.

A rather subdued start to the game failed to ignite a speckled Gresty Road crowd. The opening ten minutes saw little in terms of goal mouth action as the game was played at a training ground tempo.

The game needed something to bring it to life and Paul Furlong almost delivered the goods when he managed to bravely guide a header towards goal on 11 minutes but the Hatters striker was denied by Ben Williams' comfortable save.

It wasn't really an opening that got the crowd in full voice, but three minutes later and there was certainly something to cheer about as the home side broke the deadlock with their first real chance of the game.

Church's cross from the left found its way to Neil Cox in the centre and after the defender blasted a shot towards goal, the deflection saw the ball roll into the path of Lowe, who buried a low drive past Alnwick at his near post.

The home side almost doubled their advantage on the half-hour mark when Lowe's ball through to Church saw the debutant fire past Alnwick, but his effort was cleared off the line by Jaroslaw Fojut.

Luton's attacks were rare as Blackwell's men failed to really stamp their authority on the game. A half chance on 32 minutes saw Matthew Spring whip in a cross from the left, that Furlong stooped with a low header, but his effort was blocked by the Crewe defence.

The home side continued to create the better chances and on 35 minutes, Lowe and Charles linked up well, but the latter should have done better when he was clean through on goal.

After outpacing Hatters defender Chris Perry, Lowe ran half the length of the pitch, but instead of shooting from ten-yards, the striker took one touch too many as the former Charlton man was able to recover.

Crewe had been in full flow, but that was disrupted for a brief moment on 37 minutes as Calvin Andrew headed into the path of Furlong, who riffled narrowly over the bar from 25-yards.

It was little surprise when Crewe doubled their advantage on 40 minutes as Church played in Lowe, who cut inside Fojut, before calmly firing the ball over Alnwick's despairing dive.

Lowe almost completed a hat-trick in the final moments of a despairing first half for Luton, but the striker was denied by Alnwick, who gathered a long shot at goal at the second attempt.

AT HALF TIME: CREWE 2 V 0 LUTON

Luton came out with one intention for the second half - to score early and put the pressure on the home side.

The almost succeeded in reducing the deficit when Bell tried his luck from distance, but the former Rushden & Diamonds man was well off target, firing over from 25-yards.

Andrew then hit a dipping volley from a similar distance that Williams in the Crewe goal had to be equal with, as Luton put the home side firmly on the back foot early in the second half.

On 55 minutes, Crewe failed to deal with a Luton corner and after Bell linked up with Spring on the edge of the area, he smashed a right footed shot narrowly over the Crewe woodwork.

In a bid to try something new, Blackwell withdrew Andrew from the action as Dean Morgan was given a rare run up front, alongside Furlong.

The change almost brought out a goal as Currie floated over a cross from the left which Bell headed inches wide of Williams' post.

Crewe had rarely threatened in the second half, but Luton were beginning to struggle to make inroads buts the home-side's defence.

In a bid to bolster his attacking options, Blackwell reverted to a 3-5-2 formation as Robinson and Dave Edwards were brought into the action.

Chances continued to come Luton's way as Edwards failed to capitalise on some uncertainty in the Crewe defence but his low shot was comfortable gathered by Williams.

On 78 minutes, Edwards came even closer as he struck the inside of Williams' post, as a hopeful ball pumped into the area was directed towards goal by the former Shrewsbury man from ten yards.

Spring flashed another chance off target on 85 minutes as the Hatters continued to boss second half proceedings.

Luton pushed men forward in the second half, but in truth never really looked like scoring, as the Hatters were left to rue another miserable afternoon away from Kenilworth Road.

AT FULL TIME: CREWE 2 V 0 LUTON

Crewe: Williams, Abbey (Roberts 51), Jones, Cox, Baudette (O'Donnell 45), Schumacher, Rix, McCready, Moore, Barnard (Lowe 9), Church.

Subs not used: Miller, O'Conner

Bookings:

Luton: Alnwick, Goodall, Hutchison (Edwards 70), Perry, Bell, Currie, Jackson (Robinson 70), Andrew (Morgan 58), Spring, Furlong, Fojut

Subs not used: Coyne, Brkovic

Bookings: Goodall (25)

Referee: Mr E L Ilderton

Attendance: 4,490 (435 from Luton)