Reading 3 Luton 0: Hatters limp to dreary defeat

Luton capitulated to a fourth league defeat on the spin, which was effectively confirmed with 68 minutes still to play in a toothless display against Reading.

Michael Morrison headed in from a corner and the Hatters, featuring four changes, had no answer.

Centre half Lloyd Jones was handed his full Championship debut at the expense of captain Sonny Bradley who was “taken out of the firing line,” according to manager Graeme Jones.

But the return of Jacob Butterfield, Luke Bolton (both subbed off) and Callum McManaman did nothing to affect change from last week’s insipid capitulation. In fact, it was worse. 

And as the Reading fans repeatedly sang their own version of Herman’s Hermits classic ‘I’m Into Something Good’, it made those heady days of Hatters success – when the chant was a regular feature – seem a very distant memory.

That Town are firmly entrenched in a relegation battle is no surprise – or at least it shouldn’t be to any sensible observer, given the disadvantages of returning to the Championship after 12 years away – it’s that the early-season performances of promise, albeit without points, have been replaced with a current sense that the gulf in class too vast to navigate. 

Top scorer James Collins – now seven games without a goal – was arguably Town’s best defender in a limp first half, which tells its own story. He was deployed as a replacement for the injured Izzy Brown which meant that, at the end where he should be making his mark, there was an off-target diving header and a Martin Cranie volley saved by Rafael Cabral. And then the Royals took the lead. Game over on 22 minutes. 

Liverpool loanee Ovie Ejaria then turned a Town attack into goal number two on the half hour. Still nothing in the way of a response from Luton. 

Alan Sheehan replaced Luke Bolton at half time and Andrew Shinnie and Kazenga LuaLua followed, for Harry Cornick and Butterfield. Still nothing. No urgency. Not a shot on target in the second half.

Then Sheehan, unmarred by the defensive howlers that have plagued this Luton side all season – by virtue of not having played a Championship minute before today – had his pocket picked by Garath McCleary. And, as the last line of defence, the club captain watched as the Royal raced towards Shea, slotting beyond the keeper. 

With 79 minutes played, that saw the majority of the 2,097 travelling Town contingent make for the exits. It’s a credit to them that they stayed that long.