A late headed goal from top-scorer Steve Howard saw Luton leapfrog Ipswich into 10th place after a dreary encounter between two sides with remote play-off aspirations at Kenilworth Road.

Howard nodded Ahmet Brkovic's left-wing cross into the top left-hand corner of the net from the edge of the six-yard box, for his 14th league goal of the season with 10 minutes remaining.

The Hatters made a bright start and were the first to threaten after eight minutes when Dean Morgan met a cross from Carlos Edwards, but sent his effort past Shane Supple's left-hand post from 20 yards.

Ipswich were soon into the game though, with Owen Garvan and Darren Currie dominating the midfield as the away side made their one-man advantage in that area pay dividends.

Despite that domination, they were unable to muster any worthwhile attempts on goal in the opening quarter of the game - a punch by Marlon Beresford from a 21st-minute corner the Luton keeper's only contribution.

Luton almost made their opponents pay for that lack of cutting edge in the 28th minute, when Steve Robinson's lobbed effort was parried by the outstanding 18-year-old Supple.

A minute later, Edwards fired just wide from 20 yards as the Hatters made the most of their scant possession.

Top scorer Howard then forced yet another save from man-of-the-match Supple with a curling 25-yarder 10 minutes before the break.

Ipswich eventually registered a goal attempt in the 39th minute - their only one of the first period - but Jimmy Juan's scuffed effort from 12 yards was typical of their goal-scoring profligacy this term.

Luton emerged from the dressing room with all guns blazing, as efforts from Dean Morgan and Rowan Vine missed the target in the first five minutes of the second half. Three minutes later, Edwards' shot from the penalty spot was caught by Supple.

Ipswich threw on Dean Bowditch, recently returned from a loan spell at Wycombe, as they desperately tried to turn things their way. A Juan 25-yarder flew past the post on 57 minutes as Ipswich suddenly got back into a game which seemed to be slipping away from them. Strike partner Alan Lee forced Beresford into action a minute later.

The match became progressively more scrappy, with chances at a premium until Lee fired over the bar from the edge of the box in the 74th minute.

That initiated a string of of Ipswich chances, with Garvan missing and having a shot blocked in close succession on 75 minutes.

But it was Luton who finally broke the deadlock through hitman Howard and then comfortably saw out the remaining minutes.

Sporting Life