Luton's centurions keep up advance

Luton Town 1 Wolves 1

Indeed, Wolves were fortunate to escape with a draw. Glenn Hoddle has already this season seen his side produce football in keeping with his ideals. But this was an afternoon for trying to stand firm in the face of a Luton onslaught that finally brought its reward through a deflected shot from Kevin Nicholls.

An angry kick of the ball by the Luton manager, Mike Newell, towards the officials as the players left the field at half-time saw him banished to the stands for the second half. Afterwards, he gave an approving assessment of his team's post-promotion progress. "We knew we had players capable of making the next level," he said. "We just didn't know how many. But everyone we have used so far has looked capable of stepping up."

Two headers cleared off Wolves' line and a third that bounced off their bar showed how close Luton went to a win that would have taken them to second.

The visitors had to play on the break. Even so, a promotion push is taking shape and their acting captain, Mark Kennedy, is enjoying life under Hoddle - and marvelling at him in training. "He has been excellent here," he said. "He's still the best player in the club."

Goals: Cort (24) 0-1; Nicholls (78) 1-1.

Luton Town (4-4-2): Beresford; Edwards, Coyne, Heikkinen (Perrett, 87), Davis; Brkovic, Nicholls, Robinson, Underwood; Howard, Feeney (Showunmi, 70). Substitutes not used: Brill (gk), Morgan, Holmes.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-3-3): Oakes; Edwards, Gyepes, Lescott, Naylor; Kennedy, Anderton (Olofinjana, 60), Ricketts; Seol (Cameron, 88), Cort, Miller (Clarke, 28). Substitutes not used: Postma (gk), Craddock.

Referee: L Probert (Gloucestershire).

Booked: Luton Edwards, Feeney, Nicholls, Davis; Wolves Kennedy, Clarke, Gyepes.

Man of the match: Nicholls.

Attendance: 10,248.