By Quinn Stables
Cardiff City suffered a major setback in their fight for survival in the Championship as fellow-strugglers Luton Town condemned them to a third successive league defeat.
Despite taking the lead early in the second half through a Callum Chambers strike, Luton mounted a comeback to cut the gap to just two points between them and the Bluebirds, who currently sit just one place and one point above the relegation zone.
It was a cagey start with both teams taking time to settle.
The Hatters’ Alfie Doughty had the first opportunity of the game, running onto a Liam Walsh free kick but failing to put his effort on target.
Cardiff offered some threat on the break, and in the 23rd minute Cian Ashford and Reuben Colwill combined to set up striker Yousef Salech, who could only place the ball over the bar from outside the box.
It was deadlocked at 0-0 come the interval, with only five attempts at goal from both teams combined.
Cardiff took the lead just six minutes into the second half after an Alex Robertson free-kick was headed away and met by Callum Chambers who fired a volley into the ground that bounced into the top right corner.
Yet just six minutes later Luton found their equaliser through Jordan Clark.
Clark showed great composure to chest the ball down and strike a volley brilliantly into the top left corner from outside the box.
Luton completed the turnaround in the 80th minute as Thelo Aasgaard turned the ball in from the centre of the box after Cardiff defender Dimitirous Goutas deflected a cross into his path.
Cardiff offered very little threat for the final minutes of the game and slumped to another defeat, leaving them just one point above Derby County who sit in 22nd place but who improved their situation with a 2-0 win against Coventry.