Luton Town remain winless in the new Championship season after a 1-0 defeat to Preston North End.

A first half goal by Will Keane decided the contest for the home side, who picked up a first win of the season and victory in their game under the management of new boss Paul Heckingbottom.

Defeat means that the Hatters have picked up one point from their upcoming three games as they seek to go again following relegation from last season’s Premier League.

The Hatters arrived at Deepdale with a reshuffle, as defender Mark McGuinness made his debut following his midweek arrival from Cardiff while James Shea started in goal in place of the suspended Thomas Kaminski.

Luton had their chances in the first half, as Elijah Adebayo headed over from an early corner before Carlton Morris was denied by Freddie Woodman at another corner and Shandon Baptiste also missed the target with a first half effort.

But having failed to take one, Luton were punished when Preston took the lead in the final ten minutes of the first half. Kaine Kesler-Hayden released Emil Riis, who advanced down the home side’s left flank before cutting back for Keane to control the ball and then place a low shot past Shea.

Woodman made stops early in the second half to deny Adebayo and Jordan Clark, while Alfie Doughty later had one shot blocked and another off target.

But despite making a full roster of five changes, Luton struggled to find opportunities in the final stages to score an equaliser as they slipped to reverse in Lancashire.

The Hatters will seek a first win in an upcoming double-header with QPR, when they play the West London club in the EFL Cup on Tuesday and then the Championship on Friday.