Luton Town 1 Plymouth Argyle 1

Last updated : 20 March 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Steve Adams rescued a point for division two leaders Plymouth Argyle with a dramatic injury time equaliser.

Luton had taken the lead through Chris Coyne but played most of the second half with ten men after Kevin Nicholls was sent off for elbowing Nathan Lowndes.

Adams' late goal means caretaker-manager Kevin Summerfield is still unbeaten in his four matches after he took over following Paul Sturrock's decision to join the Premiership Southampton.

Luton took the lead just before half-time when a Steve Robinson free kick found Coyne and he dived to head the ball past Luke McCormick.

The Hatters had deserved their lead as Emmerson Boyce had hit the post and Steve Howard was unlucky when his deflected effort narrowly went past the post.

Plymouth midfielder David Friio should have scored but missed from a close range header and was later booked when he dived to the floor in the penalty area under no challenge.

Both sides struggled throughout the match to control the ball due to the heavy wind that made passing very difficult.

The second half started controversially as Luton were reduced to ten men when Nicholls was dismissed.

Home goalkeeper Morten Hyldgaard was adjudged to have held onto the ball for ten seconds and referee Graham Salisbury awarded an indirect free kick in the penalty area.

Lowndes tried to take it quickly but clashed with Nicholls and fell to the floor.

Luton players surrounded the referee claiming that Lowndes had made a lot of the challenge, but Mr Salisbury showed Nicholls the red card for serious foul play.

Luton defended bravely for the rest of the game and appeared to have secured the points before Adams bundled the ball home with the last kick of the match.

Hatters manager Mike Newell was disappointed his side had conceded the late goal.

He said: "We had it won and I am gutted. We had the best of the first half in difficult conditions and we deserved the lead. It is obviously difficult to play with ten men against the side that is top of the league but we felt we had done enough.

"The players worked their socks off and it is hard to take but we have to pick them up and make sure they are ready for the next game."