Rock-bottom Luton lived to fight another day despite a 2-1 Coca-Cola Championship defeat by Plymouth at Kenilworth Road.

The Hatters seemed destined for a return to League One after two years in the second tier for most of the afternoon after first-half goals from David Norris and Peter Halmosi.

Substitute Stephen O'Leary grabbed a second-half consolation for Luton but it was Jamie Cureton's equaliser for play-off chasers Colchester at relegation rivals Hull which gave Kevin Blackwell's side a reprieve from the drop until at least Friday.

Norris' fine header after just four minutes gave the Hatters the worst possible start before Halmosi smashed home a second.

Argyle took the lead when Hungarian winger Halmosi swung in a superb cross from the left flank and Norris ghosted in front of Luton defender Chris Coyne and planted a flying header beyond Dean Brill from 15 yards.

And Halmosi made it 2-0 in the 40th minute when he was allowed time and space on the edge of the area and bent a superb strike into the top right corner.

Such an early goal was a crushing blow to Blackwell's side's faltering hopes of survival but Calvin Andrew wasted a glorious chance to pull the scores level within three minutes of going behind.

Kevin Foley was brought down by Paul Connolly on the Luton right and David Bell's superb delivery picked out Andrew unmarked just six yards out but he headed wide.

Bell was pulling all the strings in midfield for Luton but Mathias Doumbe went close to extending the visitors' lead midway through the first half after more awful defending.

Akos Buzsaky whipped in an inswinging corner from the left and Doumbe was allowed the freedom of the six-yard box but headed over when it appeared easier to score.

O'Leary replaced the injured Matthew Spring at half-time and took just six minutes to get his name on the scoresheet.

Bell's corner picked out Coyne at the far post and after his volley was acrobatically kept off the the goal-line by Doumbe, O'Leary scrambled the loose ball over the line from point-blank range.

Paul Connolly then smashed into the side-netting from the corner of the six-yard box after another fine delivery from Halmosi before Andrew wasted the best chance of an equaliser when he dragged his shot wide from the edge of the area.

The defeat leaves Luton eight points adrift of fourth-bottom side Hull with nine points to play for.

Teams

Luton Brill, Foley, Coyne, Emanuel (Langley 82), Barnett,Spring (O'Leary 46), Robinson, Keane, Bell, Andrew,Talbot (Idrizaj 76).

Subs Not Used: Boyd, Heikkinen.

Booked: Andrew, Keane.

Goals: O'Leary 51.

Plymouth McCormick, Connolly, Seip, Doumbe, Sawyer, Buzsaky,Nalis, Norris, Halmosi, Ebanks-Blake (Sinclair 80),Hayles (Gallen 70).

Subs Not Used: Timar, Djordjic, Fallon.

Booked: Doumbe, Hayles.

Goals: Norris 4, Halmosi 40.

Att: 7,601

Ref: G Salisbury (Lancashire).