Bargain freebie Kadeem Harris sent Sheffield Wednesday to the top of the Championship with his first goal at Hillsborough.
Harris, 26, was surprisingly released by Neil Warnock in the summer following Cardiff's relegation from the Premier League, but he could be the wild card to now get Wednesday there instead.
Luton had bossed the game for 54 minutes when an inexplicable roll by goalkeeper Simon Sluga ended up at Jacob Murphy's feet. He fizzed down the wing and sent a cross to the back post where Steven Fletcher nodded down for Harris to glance in with his thigh.
It was the forward's second goal in Wednesday colours, his first at home, and completed another satisfactory evening for Lee Bullen in this third spell as caretaker-manager.
Luton however will be kicking themselves that another good performance wasn't reflected by the scoreline. They are still searching for their first win in the division having come up from League One and also saw Martin Cranie stretchered off last night.
Wednesday haven't been in the Premier League since 2000 and the recent success of neighbours United has only intensified their desire to return.
Bullen, holding the fort again after the abrupt departure of Steve Bruce to Newcastle, started this season with two wins and reacted to Saturday's defeat at Millwall by making three changes.
Fit-again midfielder Barry Bannan was among those returning but mercurial Italian forward Fernando Forestieri had to settle for a place on the bench.
Luton are managed by Graeme Jones, Roberto Martinez's former assistant at Swansea, Wigan, Everton and Belgium, and the visitors were pleasing on the eye in the opening stages.
Ryan Tunnicliffe and Kazenga Lua Lua went close with early testers and then Harry Cornick threatened to outpace Moses Odubajo before a great recovery from the Wednesday defender.
When Kieran Westwood went walkabouts in the home goal, Andrew Shinnie nearly caught him out with a 30-yard dipper that the 'keeper just managed to scramble over after a furious dash back.
Sensing the Hillsborough crowd needed a lift, Kadeem Harris attempted a curler from 25 yards that Simon Sluga clawed away in the Luton goal.
But it was definitely the visitors who edged the chances. Luton had endured a winless start to the season but they created another good opportunity when skipper Sonny Bradley headed over when unmarked from a corner.
Alex Neil, Sol Campbell and Chris Hughton are among the names linked with the Owls job if it's not given to Bullen on a permanent basis. But the interim was able to celebrate when Harris converted his chance from four yards.
Wednesday also learned they have been given a bye into the second round of the Carabao Cup after their match against Bury was cancelled. The Owls now face Rotherham.
