Coca-Cola League One

Millwall 0 (0) Luton Town 0 (0)

Battling Luton played some bright and breezy football in the Lions' Den but lost their way after the break as they returned with just a point when they needed all three.

Just like on Saturday Town dominated the first half with Ryan Charles enjoying a hatful of chances, but they just could not find a way through Millwall's lax rearguard.

And the Hatters ran out of ideas and energy in the second half and, by the end, they were clinging on for a well-deserved point.

Town made two changes from the side that drew 1-1 at home with Cheltenham on Saturday, bringing in Don Hutchison at the back for Chris Perry and Stephen O'Leary in place of Sol Davis, who dropped to the bench. As a result Lewis Emanuel switched to left-back for a game Luton desperately needed to win if they were to retain any hopes of avoiding the drop.

Sam Parkin had the game's first real chance on four minutes, but he couldn't could over the ball properly and, while Rhys Evans eventually fumbled the ball behind under pressure from Charles the corner came to nothing.

Jem Karacan warmed Dean Brill's hand with a first time long range effort on six minutes, while Charles came within inches of giving Town the lead four minutes late when Zoumana Bakayogo's attempted clearance cannoned off Parkin's legs and into the young striker's path. Charles' low drive had Rhys Evans well beaten, but flashed just wide of the far post.

But the hosts came within a whisker of taking a fortuitous lead moments later. Ryan Smith chipped in a dangerous cross, which caught Brill flat-footed and drifted right across the face of goal before Luton were able to scramble it behind.

Both sides looked prone to errors, but it was David Bell's inswinging cross that carved out the next opportunity for the visitors, but Charles' diving header was straight at Evans.

And Luton should have taken the lead on 23 minutes when Emanuel's brilliant crossfield pass picked out Don Hutchison. The veteran took a brilliant first touch on his chest but Evans stodd tall to beat away his effort from 10 yards out.

Hatters were playing some lovely stuff and Charles had another great opportunity two minutes to give the visitors the lead when Parkin's knock down found him in space on the edge of the area. But he skewed his shot when well placed and Evans didn't even have to make a save.

All of a sudden the Lions came roaring back and forced Town to defend for their lives. A foul by Keith Keane game Millwall a free-kick in a good position on 29 minutes and Zak Whitbread's header back across goal presented Bas Savage with a gilt-edged opportunity just a few yards out, but Brill produced a brilliant point-blank save to deny the striker, although the linesman raised his flag for off-side.

And just second later only a superb last-ditch tackle from Keane prevented Lewis Grabban from giving the hosts the lead.

Having weathered the storm Luton settled down and once again looked the better side and in the final seconds of the half Charles had another chance but could only flick Bell's free-kick wide of goal.

The second half got off to a slower start and it was not until the 56th minute that Millwall captain Paul Robinson powerfully headed over Smith's corner.

Bakayogo's brilliant pass then sent Jay Simpson clean through on 62 minutes, but a combination of Emanuel and Brill did just enough to put the striker off.

Millwall were certainly having the better of the second half, but Ali Fuseini could only fire over from 20 yards after Matthew Spring had sold himself too early.

Savage outjumped Richard Jackson on 75 minutes, but could only head ex-Hatter Ahmet Brkovic's cross over the bar.

Millwall then had their best chance of the match with 12 minutes left when Brkovic was allowed time and space in the area, but his shot cannoned back off the bar and Simpson could only blast the rebound high and wide.

And with four minutes left Millwall blew another glorious chance to take the lead. Danny Senda whipped in a fizzing low cross and Brill could only push the ball into the path of Savage at the far post, who somehow scooped his effort over from just four yards out.

Savage then had another excellent opportunity in the last minute, but Jackson threw himself in the way to turn his effort over the bar.

Millwall: Rhys Evans, Danny Senda, Paul Robinson (C), Zak Whitbread, Lewis Grabban (Ahmet Brkovic 43), Ryan Smith (David Martin 60), Bas Savage, Jay Simpson, Zoumana Bakayogo, Ali Fuseini, Jem Karacan. Substitutes not used: Lenny Pidgeley, Richard Shaw, Justin Cochrane.

Luton: Dean Brill, Richard Jackson, Keith Keane (C), Lewis Emanuel, Matthew Spring, David Bell, Sam Parkin, Ryan Charles (Calvin Andrew 81), Paul McVeigh, Stephen O'Leary, Don Hutchison. Substitutes not used: Sol Davis, Alan Goodall, George Beavan, Darren Currie.

Referee: Tony Bates.

Assistant referees: M Stewart and G Hambling.

Fourth official: S Tomlinson.

Attendance: 8,375 (Luton 446).

Star Hatter: Don Hutchison. Involved throughout and read the game well.