A Jack Marriott strike on the stroke of half time has given Luton Town a shock 1-0 lead against Bristol City in their League Cup first-round clash at Kenilworth Road.

The visitors were quickest off the starting blocks as Luke Ayling crossed into the middle four minutes in, with Steve McNulty's attempted clearance sending the ball cannoning off the top of the bar.

Luton continued to struggle as Derrick Williams, Callum Robinson and Ryan Fredericks all weighed in with chances before the quarter-hour mark.

Fredericks was next to threaten as he galloped down the touchline again and searched for Aaron Wilbraham in the box, but Luke Wilkinson managed to deny City a tap-in with a timely block.

Mark Tyler was impervious for Luton, producing a great one-handed save to stop Robinson's fierce shot from 18 yards just before the half-hour mark.

The hosts would have to wait until the 30-minute mark before registering their first chance on goal, Marriott gathering Dan Potts's flick and firing straight at Ben Hamer.

Nevertheless the League Two side had the last laugh in the first half as Marriott marauded down the left, cut inside onto his right and hit a low shot in off the post.