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Nico returns in Albion defeat
Fans' favourite Kevin Nicholls pens a three year deal Kenilworth Road
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Luton Town 0 (0) Brighton & Hove Albion 3 (0)
The half time public signing of former Town captain Kevin Nicholls overshadowed any of the other entertainment on offer at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.
With the chants of "super Kev" echoing through the sparsely populated Kenilworth Road the fans' favourite penned a new three-year deal at pitchside.
However, not even his introduction of a second half substitute could stop Luton faltering to a 3-0 home defeat to their League One rivals.
Manager Mick Harford once again fielded a side packed with triallists, pairing released Port Vale defender Keith Lowe with former Walsall centre-half Ian Roper in the centre of defence.
The visitors almost seized the advantage in the fifth minute when Glenn Murray beat Ian Roper in the air and his knockdown found Nicky Forster, but his snapshot from 10 yard was well saved by Dean Brill.
Forster went close again on 11 minutes when Andrew Whing's searching cross found him unmarked at the far post, but h could only prod over from close range.
Luton were slow to get going, but Rossi Jarvis and Paul McVeigh combined well on 18 minutes, but nothing was given when McVeigh tumbled in the area.
In a half of few chances Jarvis, Sam Parkin, Dean Morgan and Asa Hall linked beautifully on 33 minutes, but the triallist's shot was blocked on the edge of the box.
Town were inches away from taking the lead seconds later, when the impressive Jarvis laid the ball into Claude Gnakpa's path and he whizzed a shot just wide of the left-hand upright.
The Seagulls though had a great chance to take the lead seven minutes before the break. With Town appealing for an earlier off-side Dean Cox was allowed space on the edge of Luton's box, but his effort was straight at Brill who gathered the ball at the second attempt.
And Brill pulled off a wonderful save to deny Glenn Murray just before the break. Steve Thomson got the better Lowe, who has been released by Port Vale, and squared the ball across the six-yard box to Thomson. However, his sliding close range effort was brilliantly pushed away by Brill to keep the scores level.
Murray had the first real chance of the second half on 58 minutes when Forster cross eventually found its way to him, but he could only drag his shot straight at Brill.
However, the visitors took the lead seconds later when Robin Hulbert gave the ball away and Forster was allowed to run on to a through ball and slot coolly into the bottom left-hand corner.
The substitutions began to flow after that, but the largest cheer of the day was reserved for Nicholls who replaced Hulbert on the hour.
Murray's header was easily saved by the triallist keeper with 15 minutes left, but Brighton moved two goals ahead just second later. A foul by Claude Gnakpa gave the Seagulls a freekick on the edge of the area and Cox had no hesitation in drilling it home into the bottom right-hand corner.
And Brighton cemented their victory with five minutes left when Lowe tried to pass an awful ball back to the keeper and Murray nipped in to intercept before firing past the stranded stopper.
Hatters: Dean Brill (Triallist 60), Claude Gnakpa, Sol Davis (C ), Robin Hulbert (Kevin Nicholls 60), Ian Roper, Keith Lowe, Rossi Jarvis, Asa Hall (Kevin Watson 74), Sam Parkin (Triallist 60), Paul McVeigh (60), Dean Morgan (Ryan Charles 46).
Seagulls: Michael Kuipers (John Sullivan 46), Andrew Whing (Gary Hart 64), Joel Lynch Kerry Mayo 27), Colin Hawkins, Tommy Elphick (Tommy Fraser 64), Adam Virgo (Doug Loft 68), Dean Cox, Steve Thomson (Adam El-Abd 60), Nick Forster Jonny Dixon 68), Clenn Murray, Kevin McLeod (David Livermore 60).
Attendance: 1,358 (Brighton 148).
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Weather for Luton
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -8 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -5 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North east
