Luton failed to close the gap on the top two in the Blue Square Bet Premier after being held to a goalless draw by Mansfield at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters started the stronger and almost scored in the 20th minute when Janos Kovacs' header hit the bar.

Mid-table Mansfield also created openings, with Adam Smith and Ben Hutchinson both going close.

But Luton finished the stronger and wasted several opportunities to record a sixth successive home victory.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Luton Town boss Gary Brabin told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"Frustrating is the word we've used in the changing room.

"We started with our three leading goal scorers in attack and we felt really confident we were going to score goals.

"But on the night our quality and inventiveness in the last third wasn't good enough."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (4)

Luton Town

  • 30 Pilkington
  • 02 Gleeson
  • 03 Taylor Booked
  • 06 Pilkington
  • 15 Howells
  • 34 Kovacs
  • 07 Lawless
  • 28 Watkins
  • 08 Morgan-Smith (Fleetwood - 57' )
  • 10 Crow (McAllister - 67' )
  • 14 O'Connor

Substitutes

  • 01 Tyler
  • 19 Dance
  • 25 Poku
  • 09 McAllister
  • 13 Fleetwood

Mansfield Town

  • 01 Marriott
  • 06 Riley Booked
  • 16 O'Neill
  • 17 Sutton
  • 31 Dempster
  • 11 Murray
  • 35 Roberts Booked
  • 10 Green
  • 15 Dyer
  • 19 Smith (Meikle - 76' )
  • 28 Hutchinson (Briscoe - 82' )

Substitutes

  • 23 Redmond
  • 04 Worthington
  • 21 Howell
  • 07 Briscoe
  • 24 Meikle
Ref: Bull
Att: 5,261

Match Stats

Shots

15 10

On target

8 6

Corners

6 4

Fouls

10 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:09 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

89:08

The ball is crossed by Gary Roberts.

88:22

Jake Howells concedes a free kick for a foul on Louis Briscoe. Free kick taken by Ritchie Sutton.

87:59

Louis Briscoe takes a shot. Save made by Kevin Pilkington.

85:46

Inswinging corner taken by Luke O'Neill from the right by-line. Gary Roberts takes a shot from 35 yards and went wide right of the net.

84:50

Daniel Gleeson challenges Lindon Meikle unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Ross Dyer, Ross Dyer concedes a free kick for a foul on Greg Taylor. Kevin Pilkington restarts play with the free kick.

84:23

Daniel Gleeson takes a shot. Save made by Alan Marriott.

83:11

The referee gives a free kick against Daniel Gleeson for handball. Luke O'Neill takes the free kick. Matthew Green takes a shot. Clearance by George Pilkington.

81:02 Substitution

Substitution Louis Briscoe replaces Ben Hutchinson.

80:05

Adam Murray fouled by Jake Howells, the ref awards a free kick. Gary Roberts restarts play with the free kick.

79:30

Effort from deep inside the area by Craig McAllister misses to the right of the goal.

79:16

Adam Watkins takes a shot. Save by Alan Marriott.

76:40

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matthew Green by Janos Kovacs. Luke O'Neill crosses the ball in from the free kick, Kevin Pilkington makes a save.

75:03 Substitution

Substitution Lindon Meikle joins the action as a substitute, replacing Adam Smith.

74:38

Greg Taylor produces a cross, Alan Marriott makes a save.

73:17

Corner taken left-footed by Jake Howells from the right by-line, clearance made by Ben Hutchinson.

70:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ritchie Sutton on Stuart Fleetwood. Greg Taylor takes the direct free kick.

69:14

Shot from long range by Stuart Fleetwood goes wide of the left-hand post.

68:18

The ball is sent over by Stuart Fleetwood, save made by Alan Marriott.

66:41

Foul by Matthew Green on George Pilkington, free kick awarded. Kevin Pilkington takes the direct free kick.

66:05 Substitution

Substitution Craig McAllister joins the action as a substitute, replacing Danny Crow.

65:45

Jake Howells produces a cross, Alan Marriott makes a save.

65:12

Luke O'Neill sends in a cross, Ben Hutchinson takes a shot. Save by Kevin Pilkington.

63:33

Free kick crossed left-footed by Luke O'Neill from right wing, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Janos Kovacs by Ross Dyer. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

63:33 Booking

Booking Greg Taylor goes into the referee's book.

63:32

Greg Taylor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ross Dyer.

62:59

Ben Hutchinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron O'Connor. Kevin Pilkington takes the direct free kick.

60:12

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Adam Watkins, Alex Lawless produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the target.

59:28

Direct free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

59:28 Booking

Booking Gary Roberts booked for unsporting behaviour.

59:09

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Roberts on Alex Lawless.

57:49

Shot from just outside the box by Ben Hutchinson goes over the bar.

56:04 Substitution

Substitution Amari Morgan-Smith goes off and Stuart Fleetwood comes on.

55:21

Centre by Adam Smith.

53:41

Adam Smith takes a shot. Janos Kovacs gets a block in. Gary Roberts decides to take a short corner, Luke O'Neill delivers the ball, clearance made by Janos Kovacs. Gary Roberts takes a shot. Save by Kevin Pilkington.

53:04

Corner taken short by Gary Roberts.

51:09

Greg Taylor takes a shot. Alan Marriott makes a save.

50:28

Martin Riley fouled by Aaron O'Connor, the ref awards a free kick. Alan Marriott restarts play with the free kick.

49:07

A cross is delivered by Daniel Gleeson.

45:21

Shot on goal by Adam Smith from long range goes harmlessly over the target.

45:01

The second half has started.

45:00 +2:38 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +1:04

Corner taken by Jake Howells, Janos Kovacs produces a header from inside the area that goes over the crossbar.

43:54

Aaron O'Connor concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Hutchinson. Gary Roberts takes the free kick.

43:44

Ritchie Sutton crosses the ball, clearance made by Janos Kovacs.

41:56

Aaron O'Connor produces a drilled right-footed shot from 25 yards. Blocked by Martin Riley. Short corner taken by Adam Watkins.

41:14

Matthew Green is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

39:36

Adam Smith produces a cross, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Ross Dyer goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

38:40

Aaron O'Connor fouled by Ritchie Sutton, the ref awards a free kick. A cross is delivered by Adam Watkins, Janos Kovacs takes a shot. Save by Alan Marriott.

37:43

Handball decision goes against Danny Crow. Alan Marriott takes the direct free kick.

36:38

Aaron O'Connor crosses the ball, Danny Crow takes a shot. Ritchie Sutton gets a block in. Adam Watkins takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Ritchie Sutton.

35:25

Effort from a long way out by Jake Howells goes wide right of the goal.

35:04

The ball is sent over by Gary Roberts, save made by Kevin Pilkington.

34:21

The ball is swung over by Adam Smith, George Pilkington manages to make a clearance. Gary Roberts takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post.

33:53

Unfair challenge on Janos Kovacs by Matthew Green results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

30:23

The assistant referee flags for offside against Aaron O'Connor. Alan Marriott takes the indirect free kick.

28:58

Foul by Amari Morgan-Smith on John Dempster, free kick awarded. Alan Marriott takes the free kick.

28:21

The ball is sent over by Ben Hutchinson, save made by Kevin Pilkington.

27:10

Daniel Gleeson challenges Adam Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Luke O'Neill from left wing.

25:42

Free kick crossed by Jake Howells, blocked by Ben Hutchinson.

25:42 Booking

Booking Martin Riley shown a yellow card.

25:38

Foul by Martin Riley on Jake Howells, free kick awarded.

25:28

Gary Roberts sends in a cross.

23:20

The referee penalises Matthew Green for handball. Free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

20:55

The ball is sent over by Jake Howells, Header on goal by Janos Kovacs from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

20:11

Corner taken by Jake Howells from the right by-line, Martin Riley makes a clearance. Janos Kovacs takes a shot.

19:29

Adam Murray challenges Aaron O'Connor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Watkins restarts play with the free kick.

18:33

The ball is delivered by Greg Taylor, clearance by John Dempster.

16:11

Adam Watkins takes a shot. Save by Alan Marriott.

15:03

The ball is delivered by Jake Howells, Alan Marriott makes a save.

14:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron O'Connor by Luke O'Neill. Free kick taken by Kevin Pilkington.

13:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by John Dempster on Danny Crow. Alex Lawless takes the free kick.

12:36

Centre by Aaron O'Connor, clearance by Ritchie Sutton.

10:43

Adam Smith produces a cross.

9:51

Ross Dyer gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Watkins. Jake Howells delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, clearance by Martin Riley.

9:15

Adam Smith takes a shot. George Pilkington manages to make a clearance.

6:54

The ball is delivered by Alex Lawless.

6:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Amari Morgan-Smith by Ritchie Sutton. Free kick crossed right-footed by Adam Watkins, Martin Riley makes a clearance.

5:18

The ball is sent over by Adam Murray, clearance made by George Pilkington.

4:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Roberts by Alex Lawless. Free kick taken by Gary Roberts.

3:29

Amari Morgan-Smith takes a shot. Save by Alan Marriott.

2:21

The ball is sent over by Alex Lawless, save by Alan Marriott.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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