The Hatters fell short in the north west with a narrow defeat at Preston.
Rob Edwards’ side were unable to respond after the draw to Portsmouth with the Lilywhites spoiling the Town’s visit to Deepdale thanks to Will Keane’s goal shortly before the break.
The Town started well enough, Elijah Adebayo heading narrowly over from an Alfie Doughty corner in the fourth minute.
The Hatters continued their dominance when Shandon Baptiste danced through the home defence but was unable to find Tahith Chong in the centre of the box.
Home keeper Freddie Woodman then kept the score level, tipping a header from Carlton Morris over the bar on 36 minutes.
But the home side took the lead seven minutes before from the break, Keane scoring past James Shea, in for the suspended Thomas Kaminski, following a cross from Emil Riis.
The Hatters started the second half on the front foot, Jordan Clark finding Adebayo on the edge of the box who fired straight at the keeper four minutes into the second period.
Preston keeper Woodman then did well to prevent Clark’s low shot on 57 minutes from creeping home and on the hour the Town felt they should have had a penalty when Adebayo went down under a challenge only for referee Whitestone to deem the offence to take place outside the area.
As the Hatters continued to press, Doughty’s low shot was blocked with 20 minutes to go before Teden Mengi’s piledriver was deflected over.
Yet the Town, for all their possession, could not force a leveller. Doughty slammed a right-foot shot high and wide when placed with 14 minutes left - the pick of their half-chances in the closing stages.
As time ticked down the Hatters – who brought on Liam Walsh for his debut, one of five substitutes sent on in the second period – tried in vain to find a late leveller.
But despite their best efforts one would not come, and Preston held on to their first league victory at the eighth attempt.
The Hatters return to work on Tuesday at QPR in the Carabao Cup. We’ll see you there.
Town: Shea; Ogbene (sub Walsh 67), Doughty, Mengi, McGuinness, Bell; Clark (sib Woodrow 78), Baptiste (sub Nelson 85), Chong (sub Walters 67); Morris (sub Taylor 78), Adebayo.
Subs: Horlick, Andersen, Burke, Mpanzu.
Report by James Logan.
