Luton substitute Dean Morgan spoiled Leicester winger Mark Yeates' dream debut at the Walkers Stadium as both Coca-Cola Championship sides' search for a victory continues.

Morgan, an eighth-minute replacement for the injured Lewis Emmanuel, powered David Bell's 33rd-minute free-kick from the right into the top-left corner leaving Foxes keeper Paul Henderson with no chance, cancelling out Yeates' opener.

The loan signing from Tottenham had earlier taken just six minutes to open his City account with what was their 100th goal against the Hatters.

Yeates was the first to react to Iain Hume's parried shot, tapping into the unguarded net from the edge of the box after the Canada international had scampered clear of the hapless Hatters rearguard.

The result leaves Luton, now seven league games without a win, just one point clear of the drop zone, while City, themselves seven without a victory in all competitions, remain three points clear of a relegation spot.

Despite being 11 games without a win on their travels, it was Mike Newell's side who made the more promising start, with another debutant, Bjorn Runstrom inches away from meeting Matthew Spring's inviting cross.

But Leicester, who had won just one of their last six Championship home games, began to take charge, with fleet-footed Foxes youngster Yeates opening the scoring with their first real chance.

Hume, City's top scorer this term, was close to adding his ninth Championship goal of the season when his 25-yard shot curled inches wide of the right-angle of the crossbar with Marlon Beresford beaten.

And soon after Rob Kelly's team again came close from long range as Alan Maybury's 27th-minute drive flew just over the bar from 22 yards.

Another Premiership loan player, Fulham forward Runstrom also came close to marking his debut with a goal.

The Sweden Under-21 striker could have had a hat-trick in the opening 45 minutes, with the best chance volleyed over the bar when the ball fell to him unmarked on the left side of the six-yard box. But Runstrom's blushes were saved when Morgan headed home to leave the scores tied in an even encounter at the halfway stage.

Leicester's other debutant, Geoff Horsfield, began to make an impression after a quiet opening period but the striker's penalty claims were waved away by referee Mike Thorpe after he collided with Russell Perrett inside the area.

The Sheffield United loan signing demonstrated his considerable aerial prowess moments later, instantly controlling a long ball on his chest before laying the ball off to the oncoming Hume, whose crisp half-volley was palmed away by Beresford for a corner.

The Foxes' loan pair almost combined on the hour mark when Yeates' inswinging corner found Horsfield, but the former Fulham forward's towering header sailed over the bar.

Luton had chances of their own, with Perrett unable to divert his back-post header goalwards from Bell's teasing centre.

And Kevin Foley's flick header from Steve Robinson's cross was close to creeping inside Henderson's far post.

The final quarter delivered little in the way of goalmouth action but the Foxes almost stole the three points deep into injury-time when Beresford somehow smothered the ball after an almighty scramble as Leicester's 13-year search for a home win over the Hatters continued.

Teams:

Leicester Henderson, Maybury, McAuley, Kisnorbo, Johansson,Yeates (Hammond 77), Hughes (Stearman 63), Johnson, Porter,Hume, Horsfield.

Subs Not Used: Logan, Cadamarteri, Kenton.

Booked: Johansson, Kisnorbo.

Goals: Yeates 6.

Luton Beresford, Foley, Keane, Perrett, Davis,Bell (Langley 79), Robinson, Spring, Emanuel (Morgan 9),Runstrom, Talbot (Boyd 79).

Subs Not Used: Brill, Asafu-Adjaye.

Booked: Talbot, Perrett, Runstrom, Morgan.

Goals: Morgan 33.

Att: 20,410

Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).