Luton endured yet more away day misery as a 2-1 loss at QPR condemned them to a tenth straight away reverse in the league.
Michael Frey’s goal for QPR had been cancelled out by Mark McGuinness, but Luton fell behind in unfortunate circumstances when Morgan Fox’s deflection on an Ilias Chair shot that was going wide wrong-footed Thomas Kaminski and crept in.
Defeat in West London means Luton have now lost ten away games in a row, with the Hatters having picked up just 4 points on their travels so far this season. The result also means that Luton have lost 4 straight games, having lost their last home game, with the Hatters having slumped to 20th place in the table and two points above the relegation zone.
Having begun 2025 with a New Year’s Day defeat at home to Norwich, Luton were seeking for better times on the road after ending 2024 by losing nine consecutive games away from Kenilworth Road.
A reshuffled squad included a debut for 20-year-old midfielder Lamine Fanne, who had joined in August but spent the first half of the season on loan in Sweden.
QPR began the contest on the front foot, with Frey heading over at an early chance before Kaminski made a flying stop to keep out Jimmy Dunne and the defender missed the target with the rebound.
In the 23rd minute, the Hoops forced their way in front. From a cross from the QPR right, Frey initially couldn’t get a header past Reuell Walters but a second strike found its way beyond Kaminski. TV replays hinted that Frey had used an arm in controlling the ball, but the officials didn’t spot it and the goal stood.
Shortly after falling behind, Luton missed their best chances of the game when Amari’i Bell’s shot induced a goalmouth scramble, with Zac Nelson, Carlton Morris and Liam Walsh all having attempts blocked.
QPR dominated possession and seemed to be keeping Luton at arms length, but in first half stoppage time, the Hatters equalised. McGuiness made space for a free header and the former Cardiff defender’s header from Nelson’s corner hit the back of the net.
Luton had a few half-chances after the break but couldn’t take any of them, and then there was further misery for the visitors when they conceded an unfortunate goal just after the hour.
A short free-kick was played for Chair, whose shot seemed to have been going wide. However, the strike hit Fox, with the heavy deflection off his left foot sending the shot back on target and seeing it trickle past the wrong-footed Kaminski.
Paul Nardi in the QPR goal denied Morris a quick equaliser, before the hosts missed a chance for third as substitute Alfie Lloyd saw a strike hit the post.
A great chance to grab a second equaliser came for Luton in stoppage time at the end of the second half, only for McGuinness to head over the top at a corner, and despite eight minutes of stoppage time, there was no way back for the travelsick visitors.
The Hatters now have a distraction from their league grind in the form of an FA Cup tie away at Premier League high-fliers Nottingham Forest, before they host Preston in their next league assignment on January 18th.