AT the end of John Carver’s fourth successive defeat, the Leeds caretaker manager wandered alone into the penalty area behind which the visiting fans were sitting.

He was clapping, and then when he turned to wander away, he offered one more wave.

It could be his last in his short reign in charge of a club who capitulated in a second half where they just could not cope with what Luton offered.

Pace and height, Luton’s two great strengths, left Leeds reeling — and you suspect that chairman Ken Bates will not wait too much longer to put it right.

After winning his first match in charge after stepping in as a temporary replacement for Kevin Blackwell, Carver’s CV makes dreadful reading: that one win, then four defeats.

In May, Leeds were one match from the Premiership, losing the playoff final. Now they are edging towards a winter of relegation struggle, never able to recover after conceding two goals in a minute in the second half.

They trailed after just 11 minutes, against a Luton team unbeaten in five games and playing with the sort of confidence a run like that should bring.

Carlos Edwards was electric, and Rowan Vine and Steve Robinson seized upon his speed and delivery to send as much of the ball his way.

It worked perfectly when Vine’s pass sent Edwards clear, the midfielder breaking into the Leeds area, side-stepping Neil Sullivan and firing Luton in front.

Yet, a goal up and, as Luton’s swift counter-attacking had ominous signs after Edwards’ strike, Leeds equalised within five minutes.

Hayden Foxe, who had not started a match for almost three years because of injury, marked his return by meeting Adam Johnson’s corner to equalise.

Nine minutes after the break, Leeds were undone when Warren Feeney cut through their defence and crossed low from the right for incoming Vine to score his ninth goal of the season.

Leeds did not have time to re-group before they found themselves 3-1 down. Edwards crossed this time from the right, Vine’s shot was blocked and David Bell fired in the rebound.

Richard Cresswell thought he had reduced the arrears with a flick header that Marlon Beresford stopped on the line before, in the 73rd minute, Luton increased their lead when Robinson’s free-kick found Markus Heikkinen unmarked, and he converted a straightforward header.

Then, in stoppage time, Edwards made it five, before Leeds were put out of their misery.

Star Man: Carlos Edwards (Luton)

Player ratings. Luton: Beresford 6, Foley 6, Heikkinen 7, Barnett 6, Davis 7, Edwards 8, Robinson 7 (O’Leary, 81min, 5), Morgan 6 (Keane, 84min, 5), Bell 6, Feeney 7 (Boyd, 81min, 5), Vine 7

Leeds United: Sullivan 5, Kelly 5, Butler 5, Foxe 6, Crainey 5, Douglas 6, Derry 6, Westlake 6 (Lewis, 70min, 5), Johnson 5; Cresswell 5 (Moore, 70min, 6), Blake 6 (Healy, 62min, 5)

Scorers: Luton: Edwards 12, Vine 55, Bell 56, Heikkinen 73, Edwards 90

Leeds United: Foxe 17

Referee: G Hedgley

Attendance: 10,260