New Luton manager Matt Bloomfield started his reign with an instantly forgettable goalless draw against Preston at Kenilworth Road.
The contest did not live up to the hype of the manager’s free-flowing efforts at his previous club, with high-flying Wycombe scoring goals aplenty in League One, as visiting goalkeeper Freddie Woodman was hardly extended all game.
Although the first half did not provide the kind of fireworks that were expected, Luton did have the opening chance of note. However, Tom Holmes was unable to bulldoze his way through from a corner with centre-half partner Mark McGuinness dragging the loose ball wide.
Luton remained the most likely scorers though, Jordan Clark sending in an effort that was easy for Woodman, while Tom Krauss’ cross was inches away from being turned into net by a North End defender.
Town looked to gain more ascendancy after the break, Clark dinking over a tantalising cross that was missed by both Carlton Morris and Isaiah Jones when a touch from either would surely have seen the deadlock broken.
A well-worked free-kick routine from deep then saw Luton defender Amari’i Bell have to make an important clearing header from inside his own six-yard box as the Lilywhites looked to pounce.
With 55 minutes on the clock, the visitors threatened once more, as they won a free-kick following a foul on Milutin Osmajic which was sent into the box. Morris cleared it out for Kaine Kesler-Hayden to fire in an ambitious half-volley that was well wide.
Midway through the half, Andrew Hughes tried to catch out Luton keeper Thomas Kaminski from 45 yards, but his attempt sailed wide of the target.
The Hatters responded with their first effort on target during the second period, Morris taking Clark’s chipped pass in his stride but putting his snapshot too close to Woodman.
Luton changed their entire front three with 15 minutes to go, bringing on Elijah Adebayo, Victor Moses and youngster Zack Nelson but they could not pep up the hosts’ attack.
Clark went close with four minutes to go but his free-kick from 25 yards unable to beat Woodman at his near post, while Adebayo then tried his luck in stoppage time from outside the box, Woodman barely tested once more as a drab affair ended all square.
