They say you should never change a winning team.

Albion manager Mark McGhee ignored that old footballing adage last night, then watched his re-shaped side slump to only their second Championship defeat in seven games against lively Luton.

McGhee made five changes following Monday's second victory in a row at home to Queen's Park Rangers.

One of them was forced upon him, Richard Carpenter taking over from broken ankle victim Charlie Oatway.

The rest were by choice, Federico Turienzo, Mark McCammon, Seb Carole and Kerry Mayo coming in for Leon Knight, Colin Kazim-Richards, Alex Frutos and Paul Reid.

The wholesale reshuffle was not without logic, bearing in mind the congested Christmas programme.

But McGhee was honest enough to admit afterwards it backfired as a rejuvenated Luton got their play-off challenge back on track with a comfortable first win for four games.

Turienzo's first start for the Seagulls lasted only 39 minutes, the Argentine target man limping off with a hamstring injury.

Albion were already 1-0 down by then and they were second best throughout the match.

Luton made sure the match went ahead by keeping the Kenilworth Road pitch under wraps over Christmas, the covers only coming off shortly before kick-off.

The firm surface came to Albion's rescue in the 11th minute when Steve Howard's header at the far post from a cross by Carlos Edwards bounced down and just over both Michel Kuipers and the bar.

It was a brief reprieve for the Seagulls, Howard putting the Hatters ahead in strange circumstances six minutes later.

The defence froze, thinking the ball had gone behind for a goal kick as Kevin Nicholls crossed. There was no flag from the referee's assistant and Howard, lurking at the far post, tucked away his eighth of the season from close range.

The glove-clad Carole, returning from the calf injury which ruled him out of Monday's home win against Queen's Park Rangers, offered the best hope of a response to Albion's confused deficit.

The Frenchman, having started on the left, switched wings with Gary Hart midway through the first half to give the home defence something to think about.

Turienzo, eager to make up for lost time, was working hard. but Luton's veteran keeper Beresford had not been called into meaningful action.

The fit-again Carpenter, making his first start since October, nearly fashioned an opening by winning possession midway inside his own half from Ahmet Brkovic and then releasing Turienzo with an incisive crossfield pass but the South American was just offside.

The Seagulls' deficit doubled in the 44th minute after Turienzo had been replaced by Colin Kazim-Richards.

A shot by Edwards from 15 yards was cleared off the line by Adam El-Abd and the Luton winger's follow-up struck a post before Brkovic's angled drive goalwards was touched in by Warren Feeney.

Kazim-Richards almost responded immediately as Beresford was finally forced to earn his money with a smothering stop to foil the substitute.

With Nicholls, Luton's inspirational captain, and Steve Robinson dominating in midfield, Albion faced an uphill task as they tried to force their way back into the contest.

The Hatters threatened to stretch their advantage six minutes into the restart, Edwards turning past the struggling Mayo to unleash a shot which was beaten away at his near post by Kuipers.

Carole continued to be the most creative attacking weapon for the Seagulls. An in-swinging free kick by the former Monaco winger was smuggled behind by Beresford as players ran across his line of vision.

Another free kick by Carole from the opposite flank shortly afterwards was flicked on by Hart and the diving Paul McShane failed narrowly to get a decisive touch.

McGhee made a double change in the 58th minute, introducing Leon Knight for Mayo and Alex Frutos for McCammon.

The reshuffle had no time to take effect before Albion fell further adrift after 62 minutes. Hammond cleared only as far as Robinson and he beat Kuipers with a chip from the edge of the area.

The impressive Robinson's strike left Albion with a hopeless task. Frutos could have reduced the deficit when Hammond put him through but he tried to round Beresford and the keeper managed to get a hand to the ball.

The lanky Luton substitute Showunmi should have increased Albion's embarrassment in the closing stages but he missed the target when clean through. Frutos was denied a last-gasp consolation for the Seagulls, Markus Heikkinen clearing his angled drive off the line.

Albion, having performed so well on the road this season, have now shipped eight goals in their last two away games.

Perhaps roles will be reversed in the second half of the campaign as they begin to find their form at Withdean, Millwall's visit on New Year's Eve offering the opportunity to complete a hat-trick of home wins.

  • Albion (4-4-2): Kuipers 7; El-Abd 6, McShane 7, Butters 7, Mayo 5; Hart 6, Carpenter 6, Hammond 6, Carole 8; Turienzo 6, McCammon 6. Subs: Reid, Knight for Mayo (withdrawn 58), Frutos for McCammon (withdrawn 58), Kazim-Richards 6 for Turienzo (injured 39), Chaigneau.
  • Luton Town (4-4-2): Beresford; Foley, Coyne, Heikkinen, Underwood; Edwards, Nicholls, Robinson, Brkovic; Howard, Feeney. Subs: Vine for Howard (withdrawn 76), Showunmi for Feeney (withdrawn 76), Morgan for Brkovic (withdrawn 70), Brill, Barnett.
  • Matchfacts
  • - Shots on goal: Albion 4 Luton 7.

- Shots off goal: Albion 3 Luton 5.

- Corners: Albion 5 Luton 3.

- Offside: Albion 6 Luton 2.

- Free-kicks: Albion 15 Luton 14.

  • Albion bookings: El-Abd (29) foul; Kazim-Richards (84) unsporting behaviour.
  • Luton booking: Underwood (56) foul.
  • Albion scorer: none.
  • Luton scorers: Howard (17); Feeney (44); Robinson (62).