THANKS A TON

Blues grateful Lukas spots chance for his 100th goal

LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ got his 100th career league goal but Birmingham still had to settle for a point.

The much-travelled striker, 31, rammed home a first- half penalty to celebrate (right).

But Luton levelled through defender Matty Pearson to leave Aitor Karanka’s Blues still in the wrong half of the table.

Hatters hitman James Collins headed the first chance of the night just wide after Luke Berry had picked him out in the box from the right flank.

Blues also had to keep out a series of inswinging corners from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Luton’s on- loan Leicester midfielder.

Referee

David

Webb awarded Birmingham a 23rdminute penalty for handball after Maxime Colin’s cross from the right was blocked ed by Elliot Lee.

And Jutkiewicz z blasted the spot-kick low to Croatia keeper Simon Sluga’s left for his second goal of the e season.

Ivan Sunjic fired over ver from distance before Lee tested Neil Etheridge at the other end with an effort lacking the required venom. Etheridge then reacted superbly to tip the ball over after Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s effort reared up off a defend defender.

B But the Philippines s shot-stopper was at fault when Pearson volleyed an equaliser from the corner that f followed in the 37th m minute. Etheridge got an arm to it but the ball squirmed in anyway. Etheridge made amends early in the second half when Collins jinked past challengers on the

HAT A BOY Pearson fires home to give the Hatters a share of the spoils left before launching a fierce drive that was parried.

Jutkiewicz, guilty of bad misses against Coventry in Birmingham’s previous game, failed to locate the target with two wayward replies.

Colin, the wing-back, had a go himself from just inside the box but fired just wide of the far upright.

Birmingham were almost caught out by a swift Hatters reply but Collins could not connect as the ball flashed across the box.

Suddenly it was end to end action as Sonny Bradley deflected Scott Hogan’s effort over before Etheridge pulled off a super save low down to deny Collins.

The former Fulham and Cardiff keeper was needed again soon after to tip over Berry’s drive.