Kasey Palmer on target as Luton maintain play-off push with win at AFC Wimbledon

Luton kept alive their Sky Bet League One play-off hopes with a 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon at Cherry Red Records Stadium.

Kasey Palmer’s 12th-minute strike and second-half goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Jake Richards left the Hatters three points outside the top six.

Luton manager Jack Wilshire watched on from the stands as he served a one-game touchline ban, but would have been pleased with what he saw from his side as they extended their unbeaten run to six games.

Nakhi Wells should have opened the scoring after four minutes but shot wide from close range before Palmer put the visitors in front with a powerful strike into the top corner.

Wimbledon were forced to make two changes to their defence in the opening half-hour when Joe Lewis and Patrick Bauer limped off and Emilio Lawrence almost doubled his side’s lead with a shot that fizzed wide on the stroke of half-time.

Luton continued to dominate after the restart with Palmer’s shot after a driving run pushed away by Nathan Bishop moments before substitute Al-Hamadi added the second on the hour mark with a smart finish.

Richards slotted the ball into the bottom corner in the 79th minute after good work from the impressive Palmer to wrap up a comfortable win.

The Dons, who are still not completely assured of safety, created little to trouble the Luton defence and have now picked up just one point from their last six games as they sank to a third straight defeat.