Luton Town 1 Carlisle United 1: Ten-man Carlisle United held on for a point against promotion rivals Luton after Michael Raynes saw red in the second half.

The centre-back was dismissed for what appeared to be deemed an elbow on Danny Hylton in the 83rd minute at Kenilworth Road.

Manager Keith Curle said he would review footage before deciding whether to appeal the decision which will rule Raynes out of the next three games.

After his dismissal, the Blues survived late pressure in 10 added minutes to claim a battling draw as they remained second in League Two.

Jason Kennedy had given United the perfect start with a fifth-minute goal at Luton before Hylton quickly hit back.

The Blues then lost both Mike Jones and Danny Grainger to injury on a draining afternoon in Bedfordshire.

Midfielder Kennedy followed in to score from close range after keeper Christian Walton had parried a Shaun Miller header.

But United's early lead did not last long, as Jack Marriott's low cross in the 10th minute found Hylton, who fired home on the turn.

That was the end of the scoring but not the action in an absorbing first half at Kenilworth Road.

Luton were denied a penalty when Hylton went down under Raynes' challenge, while at the other end Nicky Adams was denied at the near post by keeper Christian Walton.

Marriott then wasted a good chance when he headed a cross into the ground, allowing Mark Gillespie to complete the save.

Hylton and Isaac Vassell failed with further attempts before Blues lost midfielder Jones to an injury he had failed to run off during the first half.

On 32 minutes he was replaced by winger Reggie Lambe as Kennedy moved into central midfield.

Marriott then went close with a curling attempt and Hylton had a shot blocked by Grainger, with a handful of Adams crosses marginally going unrewarded before the break.

Shaun Miller had a shot deflected wide after the break, as Adams was targeted for booing by home fans who felt he had exaggerated a challenge.

With former United man Alex Gilliead coming on for the Hatters, Scott Cuthbert flashed a header narrowly wide for the hosts.

That came after Grainger had been forced off with an injury that saw Macaulay Gillesphey come on at left-back.

Raynes was himself denied a penalty when Cuthbert appeared to pull his shirt in the Luton box.

But the afternoon then ended controversially for the defender, as his challenge on Hylton, which ref Heywood missed, was penalised by one of his assistants.

Heywood then showed Raynes a straight red, while United coach Simon Tracey was also sent from the dugout for his protests.

With home fans continuing to vent their anger at the number of times Blues players stayed down for treatment, the game went deep into injury-time.

Adams could have dramatically won it for Carlisle but his shot, when picked out by Lyke Joyce, was saved by Walton.

McGeehan then fired the final chance of the game into the stand as the game finally ended in the 100th minute.

Plymouth returned to the top of League Two after beating Doncaster, with Carlisle two points behind the Pilgrims.

United: Gillespie, T Miller, Grainger (Gillesphey 70), Raynes, Brisley, Jones (Lambe 32), Joyce, Kennedy, Adams, S Miller (Devitt 81), Wyke. Subs: Crocombe, Ellis, Asamoah, McQueen.

Luton: Walton, O'Donnell, Potts, Mullins, Cuthbert, Sheehan (Gilliead 62), Rea, McGeehan, Vassell (Cook 90), Hylton, Marriott (Mpanzu 66). Not used: King, Smith, Lee, McQuoid.