The Town failed to take their chances as they went down to a New Year’s Day defeat to Norwich.

Twice the Hatters hit the woodwork and came close to going in front but against the run of play the Canaries earned all three points thanks Marcelino Nunez’s second half strike.

Defeat – only the Town’s second in their last 11 at Kenilworth Road – was harsh on the Hatters but the result leaves Rob Edwards’s side just three points above the Championship relegation zone.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to Elijah Adebayo who tested Angus Gunn in the Norwich goal in the seventh minute having been found by Tahith Chong.

But the visitors then troubled Thomas Kaminski on 18 minutes through Emiliano Marcondes’ low shot.

Chong couldn’t react in time to Marvelous Nakamba’s pass into the area on 32 minutes with the Town man only seeing the ball late after Jack Stacey had left the ball.

And the Town came closer to taking the lead five minutes before half-time when Adebayo met Chong’s left-wing cross but the striker’s header was turned away well by Gunn.

In the second half the Town were relieved to see Borja Sainz miscue a shot from the edge of the box but, as the half wore on, the Hatters pushed the visitors onto the backfoot.

On 63 minutes the Hatters hit the woodwork for the first time when a flowing move ended with Chong thundering a left-foot shot against the underside of the crossbar. From the follow-up Zack Nelson’s on-target effort was blocked by Ben Chrisene.

Still the chances came. Adebayo nodded over from a Nelson corner a minute later and from another flag-kick Tom Holmes’ header was stopped by Gunn.

On 71 minutes Carlton Morris saw a shot blocked by Shane Duffy as the Town continued to press but, two minutes later, and with the Hatters on top, Norwich took the lead. Nunez was allowed to drive forward and from the edge of the box the winger arrowed a low shot across Kaminski into the corner of the net.

Behind it almost got worse for the Town two minutes later but a magnificent last-ditch challenge from Holmes denied Ashley Barnes as the visitors pushed for a quickfire second.

Edwards made four changes with six minutes left in a bid to find a late leveller and one of those came close to making it 1-1 in injury time when Cauley Woodrow’s deflected effort came back off the post with the last kick.

No points for the Town to start 2025 and it’s off to QPR next on Monday.

We’ll see you then.

Town: Kaminski, Walters (sub Moses 84), Chong, Bell, McGuinness, Holmes, Krauß (sub Woodrow 84), Nelson (sub Taylor 84), Clark (sub Nakamba 12), Morris, Adebayo (sub Adebayo 84).

Subs not used Krul, Andersen, Mpanzu, Hashioka.

Attendance: 11,828, including 1,338 from Norwich.