Drew Talbot and Dean Morgan both found the target as Luton notched their third pre-season win against Oxford United.

Both goals came within five minute of each other in the first-half in a less than eventful game at the Kassam Stadium.

Talbot was first to get off the mark as he fired home from inside the area on 29 minutes before Morgan slammed a shot into the roof of the net after being put through by Paul Furlong.

The second-half was a tedious affair from both sides, but Oxford managed a consolation, which was scored by Alex Jeannin eight minutes from time.

Only three of the side that began against Rushden & Diamonds at the weekend were included in Kevin Blackwell's starting line-up.

With the Hatters struggling for centre-halves and a goalkeeper, only Chris Perry, Chris Coyne and Dean Brill kept their places in the side.

That meant Blackwell could take a look at his latest signing Don Hutchison while there was also a return for Keith Keane, who missed the trip to Nene Park because of a dead leg he picked up in the friendly at Dagenham & Redbridge.

Oxford, who narrowly missed out on a return to the Football League last season, named a relatively strong line-up with trailist Arthur Gnohere looking to impress.

And it was the home side that made the better start as Luton struggled to settle. On seven minutes Joel Ledgister wormed past the Hatters defence and his cross from the right eluded everyone as Luton breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Oxford, who went into this game with an unbeaten pre-season campaign, showed why they are strong favourites for promotion out of the Conference as they continued to bombard the Luton goal.

On 11 minutes, Oxford came close again as Keane bravely blocked a goal-bound effort from Yemi Odubade after the striker got himself into a promising position from the edge of the area.

Luton failed to stamp their authority on the game as Oxford continued to pour forward. Brill was called upon to make a key save on 17 minutes when Ledgister displayed great trickery to hit a 20-yard effort that was heading for the back of the net.

It wasn't until midway through the first-half that Luton managed to threaten the Oxford goal when on 28 minutes Keane's cross from the right picked out the unmarked Morgan, whose header was brilliantly kept out by Oxford goalkeeper Billy Turley from six yards.

But a minute later, and against the run of play, Luton made the breakthrough. After Coyne managed to squeeze the ball through the legs of Oxford's Luke Foster down the right, the Hatters skipper pulled a cross back for Talbot to fire a low, hard shot under the body of Turley from inside the area.

Coyne then produced another moment of brilliance that even Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud of. It was his back-heel from the by-line on 33 minutes that gave Steve Robinson the chance to cross from the right, and the ball was met by Furlong's bullet header, but Turley was again on hand to make the important save.

Oxford's goalkeeper had kept his side in the match, but there was nothing he could do about Luton's second. A long kick up field was flicked on by Furlong on 34 minutes, which released Morgan scampering through on goal and he slammed a left-footed shot from ten yards into the roof of the net.

HALF-TIME: OXFORD 0 v 2 LUTON

The second half showed little in terms of entertaining football as both sides failed to find gaps in their opposing penalty area.

It was a repeat of the second half at Rushden & Diamonds, as Luton rarely came to life with Oxford offering very little in return.

It took until 71 minutes for any notable opportunity to arise as Lewis Emanuel's cross from the left found Furlong, whose turn and shot from 12 yards sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.

Oxford responded with their own chance six minutes later when Alex Jeannin found plenty of space down the left flank and his in-swinging cross was met by the head of Robert Duffy, who fired over from six-yards.

The second-half finally found some much-needed excitement when Morgan almost scored with an amazing 35-yard shot that saw Turley acrobatically reach high to his right and push the shot over the crossbar.

Oxford finished the stronger side and found a way back into the game on 82 minutes when Jeannin's shot from an acute angle managed to find the far corner of the net, but it wasn't enough as Luton held on.

Worryingly for Luton, Hutchison and Morgan both left the field in the closing stages after picking up minor knocks, to end the game on a disappointing note for Hatters supporters.

FULL-TIME: OXFORD 1 v 2 LUTON

Oxford: Turley, Pettefer (Anaclet 46), Jeannin, Foster, Day, Gnohere (Quinn 46), Ledgister (Standing 46), Hutchinson, Twigg (Duffy 58), Odubade (Robinson 70), Trainer (Corcora 58)

Subs not used: Tardif

Luton: Brill, Keane, Emanuel, Hutchison (Edwards 90), Perry, Coyne, Robinson, Brkovic, Furlong, Talbot (Andrew 68), Morgan (Spring 87)

Subs not used: Goodall, Foley

Referee: Graham Scott

Attendance: 1,406 (218 from Luton)