Harry Cornick scored in each half as a clinical Luton Town inflicted a first Championship defeat in eight games on Millwall.
With the away side’s first real chance, an unmarked Cornick bent the ball into the top corner first time from 14 yards after a determined run and pass from Jordan Clark.
Millwall then huffed and puffed without creating any clear openings, Benik Afobe and Sheyi Ojo having efforts blocked with the hosts struggling in the final third.
Clark again released Cornick for Luton’s second, the forward shooting low across goal and into the corner, and the Lions’ day was summed up late on when Jed Wallace saw a decent penalty excellently saved by Sluga.
Victory extends 10th-placed Luton’s unbeaten run to three, all without conceding, while Gary Rowett’s Millwall drop below their opponents, into 14th, after a first league loss since 21 August.
There was a lively atmosphere inside The Den at kick-off but the hope side failed to feed off that, falling behind when Jake Cooper’s poor header under pressure allowed Luton to ruthlessly pounce for their opener.
Cornick, 26, scored just once in 43 appearances for Luton last season but grabbed his sixth of this campaign – and second brace in three matches – with a composed finish after the Hatters came out on top in a midfield battle.
The recalled Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu rattled the bar from 25 yards as Nathan Jones’ side threatened to run riot while, after Cornick was withdrawn in the 68th minute, Millwall did everything but score.
Wallace saw a fine free-kick tipped away by Sluga before also being denied from the spot by the Croatia keeper after Kal Naismith had handballed in the box.
But it was not to be the Lions’ day as they suffered their first defeat in 10 against Luton, who avoided defeat in London for the first time in 10 league visits to the capital.
Line-ups
Millwall
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 33Bialkowski
- 26Ballard
- 4Hutchinson
- 5CooperBooked at 69mins
- 2McNamaraSubstituted forSmithat 55′minutes
- 28EvansSubstituted forMitchellat 78′minutes
- 17Saville
- 3M WallaceSubstituted forLeonardat 67′minutes
- 7J Wallace
- 14Eye
- 23HellSubstituted forBennettat 78′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Long
- 6Kieftenbeld
- 9Bradshaw
- 10Smith
- 18Leonard
- 20Bennett
- 24Mitchell
Luton
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 12Servant
- 15LockyerSubstituted forBurkeat 87′minutes
- 5Bradley
- 4NaismithBooked at 83mins
- 2BreeBooked at 84mins
- 6Rea
- 17Mpanzu
- 29Bell
- 18ClarkBooked at 72minsSubstituted forLansburyat 76′minutes
- 11AdebayoSubstituted forMuskweat 79′minutes
- 7CornickSubstituted forJeromeat 68′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Shea
- 8Berry
- 16Burke
- 23Lansbury
- 24Onyedinma
- 26Muskwe
- 35Jerome
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
- Attendance:
- 14,227
Live Text
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Match ends, Millwall 0, Luton Town 2.
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Second Half ends, Millwall 0, Luton Town 2.
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Attempt saved. Matt Smith (Millwall) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jed Wallace with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Jake Cooper (Millwall) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Jed Wallace with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Kal Naismith.
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Danny Ballard (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Cameron Jerome (Luton Town).
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Foul by Ryan Leonard (Millwall).
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Amari’i Bell (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, Luton Town. Reece Burke replaces Tom Lockyer.
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Foul by Mason Bennett (Millwall).
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Admiral Muskwe (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Sonny Bradley.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Cameron Jerome.
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James Bree (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Kal Naismith.
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Penalty saved! Jed Wallace (Millwall) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
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Kal Naismith (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
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Penalty conceded by Kal Naismith (Luton Town) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
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Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Kal Naismith.