SPIRIT and belief, verve and courage were in plentiful supply. All that was missing was the cutting edge in front of goal. Steve Howard struck the post against his old club but Luton continue to lead the way in the Championship, their performance meriting at least a draw in a high-energy, entertaining game.

Having beaten in their opening two games promotion contenders Crystal Palace and Southampton — both Premiership clubs last season — Luton’s solid organisation under manager Mike Newell was underpinned by a steely confidence. Curtis Davies, with a bandage around his head, held firm against the physically intimidating Michael Ricketts and Markus Heikkinen kept out Robbie Blake.

In Dean Morgan and Steve Robinson, Luton had attacking midfielders who constantly looked for their big centre-forward, Howard, and posed questions of a pressurised Leeds defence.

But Kevin Blackwell, who grew up a Luton lad, would have been pleased with the way his side passed the ball for long stretches of the first half, though they produced little to show for it. Shaun Derry, who worked hard to contribute in both defence and attack, should have done much better when an early corner kick by Eddie Lewis presented him with a free heading opportunity but he completely mistimed his effort which went lamely wide.

Luton proved considerably more threatening. Morgan and Paul Underwood, overlapping on the left flank, combined well to produce a steady stream of crosses.

Ian Bennett, standing in for the injured Neil Sullivan, had to clean up when Dan Harding struggled with a cross from Underwood and Howard gave Leeds skipper Paul Butler and Sean Gregan all they could handle, epitomising the ethic of hard work that Newell has instilled.

It began to look like Luton might make a breakthrough, Howard heading into the side netting from an Ahmet Brkovic cross to the back post. Then Davies did superbly well to chase a ball to the byline and fire an incisive cross into the near post where Howard struck the post with a shot that rebounded off his knee and wide.

Brkovic went close with a rasping volley from 25 yards which grazed the roof of the net and stirred Leeds into some retaliatory action. A free kick by Lewis landed on the roof of the net and Blake set up Ricketts, who had time and space on the edge of the penalty area but rushed his shot and fired wide.

The Hatters remained calm and continued to play their tight, high-tempo passing game into the second half, Underwood setting up Brkovic for another volley which he again fired over.

STAR MAN: Ahmet Brkovic (Luton)

Player ratings. Luton Town: Brill 6, Foley 7, Davies 7, Heikkinen 6, Underwood 7, Brkovic 8, Nicholls 7, Robinson 6, Morgan 7 (Edwards 84, 5), Howard 7, Feeney 6 (Showunmi 78, 5)

Leeds: Bennett 6, Kelly 6, Butler

7, Gregan 7, Harding 6, Wright 6 (Richardson 71, 6), Bakke 6, Derry 7, Lewis 7, Blake 6 (Healy 67, 6), Ricketts 6 (Einarsson 78, 6)

Referee: Steve Bratt (West Midlands)

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