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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: Selhurst Park
  • Attendance: 21166
  • Referee: Dowd, P

Live Commentary

90mins

The ref has blown his whistle for full time.

88mins

Ahmet Brkovic is replaced by Enoch Showunmi.

84mins

Jonathan Macken is being taken off, Wayne Andrews has come on in his place.

84mins

Crystal Palace are replacing Mark Hudson with Darren Ward.

79mins

Goal!! Luton have scored with Ahmet Brkovic putting it in the back of the net.

76mins

Kevin Foley goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

71mins

Dean Morgan is replaced by Peter Holmes.

66mins

The referee has booked Paul Underwood.

62mins

Crystal Palace are replacing Tom Soares with Joonas Kolkka.

59mins

Mark Hudson goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

52mins

Goal!! Andy Johnson scores for Crystal Palace.

46mins

The second half is under way with the score currently at 0 v 1.

45mins

Half time whistle is blown by P Dowd

44mins

Goal!! Luton have scored with Steven Howard putting it in the back of the net.

1mins

Michael Hughes goes into the referees book for unsporting behaviour.

0mins

The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.

Match Report

Luton got their season off to a great start with a well deserved win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The Hatters missed several chances before Steven Howard headed them in front, only to see Andy Johnson reply for Palace early in the second half.

But Luton kept their nerve and Ahmet Brkovic gave them victory 11 minutes from time.

A stop-start first half got more interesting as the game progressed. Apart from a free header from Mark Hudson, Palace offered little while Luton looked more lively in the early stages.

The visitors should have gone ahead after 23 minutes, when Hudson pulled back Steve Robinson for referee Phil Dowd to award a penalty. But skipper Kevin Nicholls saw his penalty saved by Gabor Kiraly - the Hungarian keeper guessing right and diving to his left to keep out the poorly struck effort.

But Luton did not let up and Kiraly rescued Palace again to prevent Brkovic from scoring, before Warren Feeney shot wide from just five yards out.

The Hatters were eventually rewarded for their useful first-half endeavours, when Nicholls hoisted over a free-kick from the right and Howard was one of two players unmarked to place his header past Kiraly.

As expected, the Eagles were more involved after the break and within seven minutes of the restart Johnson was on target from close range after Luton failed to clear Ben Watson's corner.

Teenage goalkeeper Dean Brill making a rare appearance in place of the injured Marlon Beresford, made a top-class diving stop to deny Johnson and then produced another splendid block from Jobi McAnuff.

Just as Palace were looking more threatening, Luton delivered the killer blow.

Nicholls' free-kick not far from the corner flag bobbled into the goalmouth, Palace reacted hesitantly and although Howard was on hand, Brkovic was first to the ball and rolled it over the line.

Palace offered little constructive after that and Luton coped with ease to earn a welcome three points.

Crystal Palace Team

Luton Town Team

Crystal Palace

Luton Town

Corners

146

Fouls

915

Goal attempts

37

Shots off target

05

Offsides

03

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