A lacklustre Luton performance helped Hartlepool to a comfortable win at Victoria Park as Mick Harford continues to search for his first win as Hatters boss.

Not even the return of Luton favourite Sol Davis could inspire the Hatters to victory as Hartlepool always looked in control of this one sided contest.

Switching to a 4-4-2 formation in the second-half, after playing the opening 45 minutes with a 4-5-1, seemed to do more damage as Hartlepool's counter-attacking style was too much for Luton to handle.

It was also a bad day at the office for skipper Chris Perry who gave away a penalty and a free-kick that lead to two of Hartlepool's four goals.

But despite Luton's poor performance, you couldn't take anything away from a resounding Hartlepool display as Richard Barker grabbed a brace, which was added to by strikes from Alan Thompson and Joel Porter, to make it an unhappy 400 mile round trip for disappointed Hatters fans.

Davis was one of two changes to the Luton side from Tuesday's defeat against Swindon as Don Hutchison returned to face the Club where he started his football career.

Hutchison's return meant Harford opted to play five across midfield with Calvin Andrew the unfortunate one to drop to the bench, leaving Paul Furlong as the lone striker.

Hartlepool, who had won just once in their last eight games, gave a debut to Sam Collins who arrived at Victoria Park from Hull City prior to the closure of the January transfer window.

Despite their dip in form over recent weeks, Hartlepool made a flying start to the game and in the fifth minute Barker was gifted with a free header from Ritchie Humphreys cross, but thankfully for the Hatters, his effort flew straight into the hands of Brill.

On 10 minutes, Luton responded when David Bell found space down the left and slipped a pass to Davis, who pulled back a cross to Furlong, but his turn and shot deflected off a Hartlepool defender.

Matthew Spring's mistake on 12 minutes almost gifted Hartlepool the lead when his miss-placed pass allowed James Brown a free sight of goal, but the midfielder wasted the opportunity by spooning his effort over the crossbar.

Despite Luton's numerical advantage in midfield, Hartlepool were overpowering the visitors and on 18 minutes Brown went close but his shot was tipped around a post by Brill's flying save.

Luton's goalkeeper was certainly the busier goalkeeper and on 26 minutes, Brill kept his side on level terms with an astonishing save that had the entire Victoria Park crowd on their feet.

A cross from the right by Anthony Sweeney saw Barker guide a header towards goal and with everyone expecting the shot to creep into the top corner, Brill somehow stretched out a hand to lift the ball over the crossbar.

It seemed as if it would only be a matter of time before Hartlepool would make a breakthrough and that arrived on 29 minutes.

A clumsy challenge from Perry on Porter inside the Luton area saw the referee quickly point to the spot. Despite protests from the Hatters players, it was all in vain as Barker sent Brill the wrong way to give the home-side a deserved lead.

The Hatters were seemingly struggling to have any impact on the break with Furlong battling hard, but having no joy on his own.

It could have been a lot worse for the Hatters before half-time when Brown was left unmarked on 41 minutes, but his shot from a Humphreys cross flew straight into the arms of Brill

AT HALF TIME: HARTLEPOOL 1 V 0 LUTON

It was little surprise when Luton returned for the second-half and reverted to a 4-4-2 formation with Stephen O'Leary, who had replaced the injured Hutchison just after the half-hour, operating on the right side of midfield.

It took ten minutes of the second half for someone to threaten the goal as a Bell corner wasn't gathered by the onrushing Hartlepool goalkeeper Jan Budtz, leaving Perry to have a shot that was cleared off the line.

On 57 minutes, Barker should have extended the home side's lead when some neat football involving Porter and Humphreys saw the ball roll out to the Hartlepool striker, who blasted over the bar from six yards.

The Hatters were working hard to get themselves back in the game, but a lack in concentration saw Hartlepool score two goals in quick succession to effectively put the game beyond Luton's doubt.

Firstly, a needless free-kick conceded by Perry on 61 minutes saw Hartlepool double their lead in spectacular style with Thompson swinging a free kick from 25-yards beyond the reach of Brill.

There was probably not much Luton could have done about Hartlepool's second, but their third, scored on 63 minutes, would have surely frustrated the Hatters bench.

Substitute David Foley went racing down the right flank and after getting past his marker the defender pulled back a cross for Porter who was left with the simplest of jobs to strike home from six yards as Luton's defence were left stunned.

It went from bad to worse for Luton as Hartlepool added as fourth on 74 minutes when Barker, with his back to goal, managed to turn a squeeze a shot past Brill, who had been caught flat-footed and could only watch the ball trickle into the net.

Hartlepool could have easily added more to their tally but a combination of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Brill kept the margin to four goals.

AT FULL TIME: HARTLEPOOL 4 V 0 LUTON

Hartlepool: Budtz, Sweeney, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys, Brown (Foley 57), Liddle, Boland (McCunnie 78), Thompson (Monkhouse 77), Barker, Porter

Subs not used: Elliott, Mackay

Bookings: McCunnie (90)

Luton: Brill, Jackson, Keane, Perry (Goodall 67), Hutchison (O'Leary 31), Talbot, Spring, Bell, Furlong, Robinson (Andrew 67), Davis

Subs not used: Beresford, Parkin

Bookings: Keane (78), Spring (90)

Referee: Mr ND Swarbrick (Lancashire)

Attendance: 3,913 (228 from Luton)