Hatters boss tastes defeat against former side Stoke

Luton boss Nathan Jones suffered defeat in his first meeting with former side Stoke City since leaving the Potters last season as two quickfire second half goals condemned the Hatters to their first home defeat of the season this afternoon.

Going into the break, Luton would have been more than happy with their opening 45 minutes, as they played some excellent football at times to break the visitors' press, going close through Elliot Lee and Rhys Norrington-Davies.

But a 10-minute spell immediately after the interval changed the whole complexion, as Steven Fletcher nodded home just moments in, while Nick Powell's second 10 minutes later gave Town a mountain that they just couldn't climb.

They certainly tried though, Harry Cornick and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu denied by fine saves by Potters keeper Adam Davies, leaving Jones to rue the decision he made to bring the Barnsley stopper into the club when had been in charge at the Bet 365 Stadium.

Town made two changes to the side who had beaten Wycombe Wanderers before the international break, as top scorer James Collins missed out through illness, Danny Hylton starting, Elliot Lee also replacing Jordan Clark.

New signing Joe Morrell was on the bench alongside Tom Lockyer, with deadline day additions Sam Nombe and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall signed too late to feature.

Hatters made a fluent start to proceedings, Glen Rea sending an effort over the top from 22 yards after being teed up by Cornick.

Tyrese Campbell served notice of his threat, beating Town's defence and nutmegging Sonny Bradley, only to see his attempt deflect narrowly wide.

Town had a marvellous chance on 15 minutes though when Luke Berry did superbly to spring the offside trap and play in Lee on the left.

His touch wasn't the greatest though, as he forced himself wider than he would have wanted, drilling into the side-netting.

Hylton had a sniff on 20 minutes, unfurling his trademark nutmeg inside the area, seeing a shot charged down for a corner, with Fletcher then sliding Berry's low free kick only just beyond his own goal.

Mpanzu, popping up in a number of advanced areas, found some space on the right, as his cross-shot flashed narrowly off target, while Norrington-Davies almost capped a superb week personally with the opener, his right-footer tacking a nick on its way over.

Town's impressive first half work went up in smoke just 60 seconds into the second period as an attack on Stoke's right saw Campbell produce a wonderful cross for Fletcher to plant a downward header beyond the previously underworked Simon Sluga.

Luton looked for an instant leveller, Lee navigating his way across the box to find Rea who sliced behind and then Sonny Bradley's downward header grabbed by Davies.

However, Stoke took what looked like an unassailable lead in the 55th minutes, Town not covering themselves in glory defensively, failing to clear from a corner, and Nick Powell was able to slam home.

Matty Pearson swivelled and fired over the bar as Town looked to halve the deficit, before Jones made a double change in a bid to find a way back in to proceedings, Morrell making his debut and Clark on too, Lee and Cranie departing.

The former Bristol City midfielder almost had an immediate impact, picking up play deep and then switching a wonderful crossfield pass that found Cornick.

The attacker did well to manouevre some space inside the area, unleashing a low drive destined for the net until Davies stuck out a glove to tip it behind.

Town forced a flurry of corners, the best seeing Rea connect well, nodding straight at Davies, as Fletcher sent a wild hack wide at the other end.

Morrell tried his luck from outside the box, unable to beat Davies, while City almost had an unfair third, Sam Clucas racing through from half way, unable to beat Sluga and Tommy Smith hammering the rebound over.

In the closing stages, Davies once again showed just why Jones snapped him up during his Stoke reign, spreading himself well to palm Mpanzu's daisycutter away.

Sluga then went up for a corner at the death, meeting the delivery well, but putting his downward header straight at Davies, as Luton couldn't muster a grandstand finale.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Martin Cranie (Joe Morrell 66), Rhys Norrington-Davies, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley ©, Glen Rea, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Luke Berry (George Moncur 75), Elliot Lee (Jordan Clark 66), Danny Hylton, Harry Cornick.

Subs not used: James Shea, Tom Lockyer, Kazenga LuaLua, Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Potters: Adam Davies, Danny Batth, John Obi MIkel, Tommy Smoth, Steven Fletcher (Lee Gregory 85), Sam Clucas (C), Nick Powell (Jordan Thompson 74), Tyrese Campbell (Jacob Brown 60), Josh Tymon, Harry Souttar, Nathan Collins.

Subs not used: Tom Ince, Sam Vokes, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Blondy Nna Noukeu.

Booked: Hylton 20, Davies 20, Mpanzu 24, Batth 32.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson.