Gary Kelly celebrated his 500th appearance for Leeds in style as his side overcame Luton to keep their hopes of automatic promotion alive.

Goals from Jonathon Douglas and Eddie Lewis shortly after the break put Leeds 2-0 up before the spirited Hatters pulled a goal back through Steve Howard after 83 minutes.

Luton's hopes finally ended in the final minute as Sol Davis saw red for a second booking but there was no question the day belonged to Kelly.

More than 14 years on from making his debut as a 17-year-old in December 1991, and despite the most turbulent period in the club's history, the Irishman is still holding down the right-back spot.

The appearance allowed the loyal servant to become only the 10th Leeds player in history to reach the landmark of 500 appearances for the club.

Mike Newell's play-off hopefuls arrived at Elland Road in buoyant mood having ended Reading's 33-match unbeaten run with a superb 3-2 victory last Friday.

But after Dean Morgan and Chris Coyne had shots cleared during the opening exchanges, Leeds gradually stamped their authority on proceedings.

After 25 minutes the Elland Road club engineered the first clear sight of goal following good work from the impressive Douglas.

The on-loan Blackburn midfielder seized possession 30 yards from goal and spotted Lewis bursting clear into the visitors' penalty box before slipping the USA winger in with a perfect pass.

Lewis looked to have done everything right with a powerful left-foot strike but could only watch in agony as Luton goalkeeper Marlon Beresford produced an excellent low save.

However, there remained a nagging suspicion that Luton could pilfer a goal on the counter-attack.

And it almost happened shortly after the half hour mark when Rowan Vine's delightful footwork took him past Paul Butler before he delivered an inch-perfect cross into the box. Hatters defender Kevin Foley arrived to connect but he could only send his header over the bar from just six yards.

It was a dreadful miss but although Leeds came close at the other end through Blake, Luton again served notice of their attacking threat moments later when Ahmet Brkovic fired inches wide from 18 yards.

Leeds' profligacy came to the fore again shortly after the restart when Blake headed wastefully wide from Kelly's cross.

But midfielder Douglas displayed a clinical streak after 49 minutes to hand Leeds the all-important breakthrough.

He drove forward into the visitors' penalty box and collected possession before firing a superb right-foot shot shot past Beresford to break Luton's spirited resistance.

It was 2-0 four minutes later as Kelly's long ball down the right flank was collected by Rob Hulse, who fired the ball across the face of goal to give Lewis the simplest of tasks to bundle the ball over the line.

Luton's response was impressive and a sustained period of pressure paid dividends seven minutes from time when Howard headed powerfully home from Paul Underwood's cross.

The Hatters continued to ask questions of the Leeds defence but could not fashion an equaliser despite incessant late pressure while Davis' dismissal late on capped a miserable day for the visitors.

Teams

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey,Blake (Moore 87), Miller, Douglas, Lewis, Hulse,Healy (Bakke 70).

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Einarsson, Griffiths.

Booked: Hulse, Douglas.

Goals: Douglas 49, Lewis 53.

Luton Beresford, Edwards, Barnett, Coyne, Davis,Brkovic (Feeney 63), Foley, Morgan (Showunmi 63), Underwood,Vine, Howard.

Subs Not Used: Perrett, Holmes, Brill.

Sent Off: Davis (90).

Booked: Davis.

Goals: Howard 83.

Att: 23,644

Ref: K Hill (Hertfordshire).