Meite’s pizza party after striking four past mad Hatters
fired wildly over the bar from close range.
What his thoughts were when Martin ended a marathon run of 992 days without Derby scoring a goal against the old enemy is anyone’s guess.
Forest still look the better bet to make it to the promised land although Derby could take some solace from that last-gasp leveller that nicked them a point.
Baltazar said: “We should have put the game out of sight. At times it was as close to perfection as you can get. But when you miss chances this is what can happen.
“But to take a point away at
Derby isn’t the worst result in the world.”
Rams boss Cocu will now be without the sent-off Waghorn for three games. He added: “He went over the ball. You have to be careful.
“Missing him makes our challenge for promotion harder.”
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YAKOU MEITE feasted on woeful Luton defending to score
times – and then spent the final 20 minutes with his feet up tucking into a pizza in the stands.
The Reading forward scored a hat-trick inside 35 minutes as Nathan Jones’ unbeaten start to his second spell in charge at Kenilworth Road ended in humiliating fashion.
Luton were simply not at the races after last week’s 1-0 win at Swansea and a 1-1 draw at leaders Leeds in midweek.
And Ivorian Meite, 24, took full advantage to take his season’s tally to 16 before being able to take it easy for the last quarter of the game.
It finally handed some pleasure to boss Mark Bowen after three winless games following the restart.
He said: “I’ve always said we need to strive for some consistency. We had to bounce back.
“Yakou’s finishes were quality – and sometimes there is that criticism of him.
“He will push on from this now. I’m delighted for him.
“Before anyone criticises him, players need fuel as soon as they finish work – I was just a bit surprised it was pizza.
“I’m not sure what toppings he had but it smelt good!”
After Dan Potts had cleared off the line to deny Meite and James Collins had a header that hit the bar, Reading took a 17th-minute lead.
It was George Puscas who set up Meite to finish well and within a minute it was two.
This time desperate defending from Luton and keeper Simon Sluga let in Meite whose finish was composed.
Shellshocked Luton were then three down by 35 minutes as Meite beat Sluga again after a clever pass from Ovie Ejaria.
Things got no better for the Hatters in the second half with Puscas nodding in after Michael Morrison had headed back Tyler Blackett’s 57th-minute cross.
And Meite then grabbed his fourth just five minutes later after running on to a Puscas flick – before going off to indulge in a tasty Italian treat.
Luton are now five points from safety with a minus 32 goal difference.
They sit rock bottom of the Championship and are staring down the barrel of an immediate return to League One ahead of a week that sees pivotal fixtures at home to Barnsley and away at Huddersfield.
Jones said: “We were really, really flat.
“We can only put it down to the effort they’ve put in but I’m really disappointed. They lacked that energy.
“There was so much wrong today.
“It was chalk and cheese from the previous three games. The players will be hurting.”