Stoke v Luton report

Luton made three changes to the side that last played in a 1-1 draw at Leicester, with Dean Morgan replacing Lewis Emanuel, Markus Heikkinen returning from injury in the place of Keith Keane and Adam Boyd starting instead of Drew Talbot, who was absent through illness.

In a heated encounter with very little to recommend it as a spectacle, the most noteable incidents related to two sendings off and a fight in the players' lounge afterwards!

Ricardo Fuller was sent off on 31 minutes when he confronted Sol Davis and pushed him violently in the face.

Luton played the best football of the game for about 7 minutes with Bjorn Runstrom drawing a good save from Simonsen, but as Sidibe was jockeying with a Luton defender down the Stoke right flank, Sol Davis came in at great speed and went to ground in a heavy sliding tackle which took the ball and Sidibe with tremendous force and as the players began to form a mass confrontation, Referee Trevor Kettle rushed into the fray brandishing a red card for Davis.

Some meaty challenges followed with the referee sruggling to maintain control and dishing out yellow cards on a regular basis.

Neither side looked like scoring but Hendrie beat Beresford only for substitute Emanuel to head off the line and Markus Heikkinen got in an excellent header from a Morgan cornerin time added on but it grazed the wrong side of the post.

Markus Heikkinen received his fifth caution of the season and will be suspended for the match at Crystal Palace of Saturday.

With Barnsley, Leeds and Southend all losing, it was a most valuable point which lifted the Town to 19th.

Luton will now play 5 of their next 7 games at home and their success in staving off relegation will require some solid performances, particularly in those home games.

Next up Luton play Sheffield Wednesday at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday Evening, and a victory in that match might give them a little breathing space.

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