Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first-half penalty saw Everton extend their unbeaten run to four matches in a 1-1 draw against a Luton Town side fighting for their Premier League lives at Kenilworth Road.

Having secured their top-flight status the previous week, there was no sign of the Blues taking an early holiday as Sean Dyche’s side showed the fight needed to come away from Bedfordshire with a well-earned draw.

Calvert-Lewin bagged his fourth goal in five matches with a 24^th-minute penalty after Jarrad Branthwaite had been pulled down in the area by Gabriel Osho.

The home side responded seven minutes later through their target man Elijah Adebayo, but a balanced contest finished all-square as Everton bid to end their home campaign with a fifth straight victory against Sheffield United next Saturday.

The Blues made one change to the side that saw off Brentford 1-0 six days earlier – a third win in a week to secure their Premier League status – with Calvert-Lewin recovering from illness and a minor knock to replace Youssef Chermiti in attack.

Idrissa Gana Gueye, who hit the winner against the Bees at Goodison, was handed his 150^th Premier League start for the Toffees, while Seamus Coleman (groin) and Lewis Dobbin (ankle) recovered from their respective injuries to take their place among the substitutes.

In a game vital to Luton’s hopes of playing Everton in the top-flight again next season, the hosts made a lively start, Tahith Chong proving a menace down the left flank and forcing Jordan Pickford off his line with five minutes on the clock as he chased a through ball that zipped behind for a goal-kick.

The Blues’ first chance came on 15 minutes as Ashley Young’s through ball down the left touchline found Calvert-Lewin whose pass inside released Dwight McNeil into the area. The winger went down following a tussle with Fred Onyedinma but, following a VAR check, play was waved on.

That clicked Everton into gear and it was nearly 1-0 three minutes later when McNeil’s wicked left-wing delivery deflected off Teden Mengi and needed a reaction save from Thomas Kaminski before Abdoulaye Doucoure’s rebound was blocked.

There was no denying Sean Dyche’s side moments later as McNeil’s corner was cleared but, VAR intervention spotted Jarrad Branthwaite had been man-handled by Mengi trying to spin his marker. Referee Tim Robinson was called over to the screen and awarded the spot-kick, which Calvert-Lewin slotted down the middle to give the Toffees a 24^th-minute lead.

Out of nowhere, though, Luton levelled just past the half-hour mark. Everton surrendered possession too easily down their right, Lokonga smashed a cross to the back post which Adebayo – making his first start since February from injury – chested down and blasted a finish beyond Pickford.

The Blues responded with plenty of slick passing, the in-form Gana at the heart of moves down both flanks.

They were next to threaten, too, McNeil’s lofted free-kick from the halfway line finding James Tarkowski at the back post as the skipper exchanged passes with centre-back partner Branthwaite only to be squeezed out as he attempted a low finish.

Six minutes of first-half added-time enabled Luton to create one more opportunity, Carlton Morris being picked out at the far post from the left wing and, as he nodded across goal, Adebayo’s goalbound header was cleared away by Ben Godfrey.

The hosts threatened first after the interval, too, Gana’s foul on Chong allowing Alfie Doughty to whip in a free-kick from 25 yards out that Mengi headed over.

Dyche took little time to make changes with 55 minutes gone, Amadou Onana and Andre Gomes replacing Doucoure and James Garner.

Coleman was the next to be introduced on 68 minutes for Young as Everton were forced to deal with a barrage of crosses and corners from the left by Doughty.

The Blues had been limited since the restart but almost found a second moments later when quick-thinking from Harrison saw him attempt a shot from the edge of the area that looped off the foot of Osho and needed Kaminski to tip around the post.

The Luton keeper was back in action with 13 minutes remaining as a fine move which started with Coleman and Calvert-Lewin ended with Harrison’s deep cross being headed across goal for the Blues’ No.9 to nod a finish that Kaminski turned over.

Dyche made his final changes soon after, the Portuguese forward duo of Beto and Chermiti coming on for Calvert-Lewin and Gana.

Chermiti – impressive on his first league start against Brentford last week – took little time to catch the eye, superbly controlling Tarkowski’s lofted ball to break forward before being blocked as he looked to find space in the area.

And the 19-year-old was back at it two minutes later, his pinpoint pass setting Beto in a one-v-one chase with Osho that saw the striker look to find a clear path in on goal, only to fall over at the key moment.

Six minutes of added-time were signalled as Luton looked to breathe fresh life into their bid for survival.

And they so nearly nicked it with seconds left as substitute Cauley Woodrow’s bicycle kick from a corner looked to be creeping in, only for Harrison to make a crucial deflection before Branthwaite turned away former Blue Andros Townsend’s low drive with the final action of the match.