Notts County 0-0 Luton Town
Notts County were held to a 0-0 draw by Luton Town at Meadow Lane.Substitute Vadaine Oliver saw a late penalty brilliantly saved as Notts stayed sixth in Sky Bet League Two.
John Sheridan made one change to the side that beat Portsmouth last weekend, Alex Rodman replacing the bench-bound Matt Tootle.
The two sides exchanged light blows in the opening stages before the first real chance of the match fell to Notts on 17 minutes. Rob Milsom’s low cross for Aaron Collins was taken off the Wolves loanee’s toe by a Luton defender, and Collins could only fire the ball wide from a narrow angle on the follow-up.
Collins was left frustrated again later in the half when he looped a header over Town keeper Christian Walton, only to see the ball brilliantly cleared off the line.
Luton were having their fair share of the play, however, and went close through Jack Marriott before Richard Duffy scrambled the ball clear just as Danny Hylton looked set to strike from six yards.
There were no changes for either side at the break and Rodman tried his luck within five minutes of the restart, evading two defenders before firing the ball straight at the keeper from 18 yards.
Sheridan switched things around shortly afterwards, sending on Michael O’Connor and Oliver for Adam Campbell and Aaron Collins.
Both sides then traded blows as Jonathan Forte shot narrowly wide before Glen Rea sent the ball over.
The tide was beginning to turn in Notts' favour, though, and O'Connor unlocked the Hatters' defence with an excellent side-foot through ball only for Forte to see his shot saved.
Sheridan's side kept up their pressure by winning a succession of corners - and it eventually told when the referee awarded them an 83rd-minute penalty after Man of the Match Haydn Hollis was held by Scott Cuthbert in the area.
Oliver stepped up to take the spot kick but, agonisingly, Walton was able to drag the ball away with his trailing arm.
Notts wasted no time in taking the resultant corner but were left to curse their misfortune once again as Carl Dickinson crashed an instinctive header off the crossbar from close range.
And 0-0 was how it stayed as Notts stretched their unbeaten run to three matches.
Notts bookings: Duffy 58, Hollis 78', Milsom 88'
Luton bookings: Rea 35', Hylton 55'
Attendance: 6,313 (2,033 away)