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City signed 2020 in defeat at Kenilworth Road.
A Glen Rea volley puts the hosts ahead at halftime, though Chris Martin headed off the crossbar as the Robins looked for an equalizer.
The Robins fought back and deservedly leveled when Sonny Bradley shoved the ball into his own net, but Luton went ahead and sealed the final three points of the calendar year with a low drive from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
2-1 loss means City slide to 10th in the Sky Bet Championship, but they remain just four points behind the top six.
Dean Holden named a change from Saturday’s win over Wycombe Wanderers, with Han-Noah Massengo welcome to the starting lineup. He replaced the injured Callum O’Dowda (hamstring), although Zak Vyner and Jack Hunt, who also took hits against the Chair Boys, were fit to play at Kenilworth Road. The winner of Saturday’s match, Famara Diédhiou, who came off the bench to strike at the end of the weekend, was named among the substitutes as he continues with a groin injury.
The visitors began brilliantly under the lights of Luton. Massengo won a free kick after leading the defense almost immediately after kickoff and Martin took the lead with the free kick but couldn’t hold the ball. City’s initial intention forced Nathan Jones’ team to adopt a more defensive form, but they threatened from set pieces, especially from the corners.
The first saw Dan Bentley tilt the pitch only to Tom Lockyer, who landed a shot from a tight angle, but Tomas Kalas, joint leader in the Championship standings by blocking this season, well positioned to deny the goal.
However, the Hatters went ahead with the next set piece. Dewsbury-Hall’s corner this time reached the unmarked Rea, whose volley was perfect as the ball entered the net.
It was a disappointing way to concede, but it didn’t allow City heads to fall, with the visiting team now chasing the game.
Still, good passing play was displayed with a move that resulted in a half-penalty appeal. Tyreeq Bakinson slid the ball towards Antoine Semenyo, who fell to the ground under pressure from Rhys Norrington-Davies, but it would have been a soft decision had it come. However, Semenyo was a threat coming from the right side and forced Simon Sluga to make a low save after beating Norrington-Davies.
Nahki Wells was dazzled even as Martin moved closer as he headed against the crossbar, again after some good play from Holden’s men, but failed to convert against his former club from the center of Jack Hunt.
It could have been 2-0 shortly after the second half, but City had Bentley to thank. A loose pass from Bakinson, which found neither Kalas nor Tommy Rowe, was intercepted by Harry Cornick, who slipped a direct pass to the unmarked James Collins. He had a good chance of scoring one-on-one, but the City attacker made a great save to prevent the Hatters from doubling their lead.
The demise of City had been quick at times and they unlocked another opportunity when Ádám Nagy and Martin combined. The latter’s film released the Hungarian international whose cutout for Massengo simply eluded his target with Luton dropped the hook.
Diédhiou came off the bench with half an hour to go, replacing Massengo, and with Wells out of bounds, City finally found a way back into the game. They built from behind before Semenyo opened up the Hatters defense with Wells running down the left side. His low delivery found Bradley, but unfortunately for the Hatters captain, he was only able to steer the ball into his own net.
Cornick fired wide as the home team looked to get back to the front quickly and indeed it was only a matter of minutes before they did! Semenyo couldn’t get a pass from Bakinson with Dewsbury-Hall fast on tiptoe before firing a low shot into the far corner, away from Bentley’s fall.
Norrington-Davies looked to add a third, but saw his shot drowned out by Bentley, before Holden looked at his bench. Experienced Adrian Mariappa replaced Hunt with 15 minutes to go, before Wells gave way to young Sam Bell with the necessary fresh legs.
But within four minutes of overtime, Rowe’s dangerous cross couldn’t find a target in purple and lime before the referee called time on the night’s play.
The city returns to action in Brentford on New Years Day (3pm KO).
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