Luton Town 1-2 Cardiff City: Morrison header earns Cardiff win

Cardiff had lost 10 of their previous 13 games in the Championship

Luton Town were beaten by Cardiff for a fifth league game in succession as Sean Morrison's header proved decisive for the Bluebirds at Kenilworth Road.

Cardiff led at the break thanks to Rubin Colwill's header, their first goal in the first half this season.

The Bluebirds missed chances to extend their lead and Luton punished them when Jordan Clarke levelled on 64 minutes.

But Morrison earned Cardiff the win as he headed home from Ryan Giles' cross in the 77th minute.

The victory for Steve Morison's side gives Cardiff a five-point cushion above the relegation zone as they remain in 20th position in the Championship, while Luton fall to 14th.

Bluebirds boss Morison made four changes to the side beaten 1-0 by Hull City, while Hatters boss Nathan Jones rotated his squad, with five of the players who held Nottingham Forest to a 0-0 draw dropping out of his side.

Cardiff's changes were chiefly designed to produce more of a goal threat with James Collins and Kieffer Moore paired together - Collins starting against his former club - as the visitors sought to put an end to an unwanted statistic.

The Bluebirds had not managed to score a goal in the Championship this season in the first half, with their last first half goal coming 203 days ago in a 4-0 win at Birmingham City on 1 May.

It took Cardiff just 10 minutes to finally end their first half hoodoo, however, as Colwill headed home Perry Ng's cross with Simon Sluga's effort to save proving to be in vain with referee Oliver Langford judging that the ball crossed the line.

The Bluebirds maintained control of the first half after taking the lead, with Kal Naismith's shot over the bar the closest Luton came to a response.

Cardiff should have doubled their advantage seconds before half time, but captain Morrison headed wide from a corner.

The visitors began the second half as they ended the first, missing key chances with Moore missing the ball in a good position before Mark McGuinness missed a fantastic chance, heading off target from Marlon Pack's cross.

Colwill also missed a good opportunity as he fired at Sluga, while Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu fired over twice from promising positions as Luton pushed to level.

Luton were determined to make Cardiff pay for their earlier missed chances, but Wales defender Tom Lockyer headed over the bar from a corner.

However, the Hatters' pressure eventually led to a deserved equaliser as Clark finished neatly after Elijah Adebayo's found him in the penalty area.

Both sides then pushed for a winner, rather than settling for a point and it was Cardiff who found the goal with Morrison - who was recalled to the starting 11 - heading home from close range after Ryan Giles' cross caused confusion in the Luton defence.

Clark missed the target with an almost instant chance to level, while Cardiff substitute Isaak Davies was denied by Sluga as the Bluebirds countered.

Luton Town have now lost their last five league games against Cardiff, their worst losing run against the Bluebirds.

Luton Town manager Nathan Jones told BBC Radio Three Counties:

"I regret the changes I made, I make the same mistakes because I am learning as a manager.

"I pulled people out of the team today who were excellent in midweek, I wanted us to be big and strong and go again and we didn't.

"We played three centre backs and they scored two goals from crosses into the boss, I should have been braver and bolder in my selection process.

"We have a poor record against Cardiff and other teams enjoy playing against them at the moment. It's a lack of bravery all over from us."

Cardiff City manager Steve Morison told BBC Radio Wales:

"I thought we were excellent, I thought we dominated in all areas, with and without the ball.

"Conditions were terrible, it was really tough, but we fought for each other and the fans and it was a well deserved victory.

"It's only the media who want to focus on the stat about the first half goals, I couldn't care less when we score as long as we win games of football.

"We have won three in four and we look for the positives and how we can get better going forward."