Sylvain Legwinski (r) celebrates putting Ipswich ahead against Luton

Town, who also hit the woodwork three times, took the lead when Sylvain Legwinski headed home from a corner.

Luton had a Rowan Vine effort ruled out for offside before Jaime Peters made it 2-0 from close range.

Then Lee got in on the act, slotting home into the bottom corner, adding his second goal from a corner and completing his treble from the spot.

Luton came into the game on the back of a six-game unbeaten run in the Championship but the news that Hatters defender Sol Davis had suffered a stroke travelling to the game on Saturday understandably took a lot out of Mike Newell's side.

The home side were on top from the start and could have taken the lead on 10 minutes but teenage striker Billy Clarke skied his shot after good work from Jason De Vos.

Dan Harding also went close for Jim Magilton's side - dragging his shot wide after breaking into the box - before Alex Bruce hit the bar with a header.

Legwinski broke the deadlock when he nodded home at the near post but could have had a second soon afterwards when his low drive clattered against the inside of Marlon Beresford's post.

The Hatters keeper made a superb save before the break to deny Clarke, who then smashed the rebound against the top of the crossbar.

It had been a completely one-sided first half but Luton should have been level after the break.

Warren Feeney sprang open the Ipswich defence and crossed for Vine to slot into an empty net - only to be flagged because he was offside when the move began.

That was as good as it got for Luton and they were soon further behind when Beresford flapped at Harding's cross and Peters was on hand to tap into an empty net.

Lee got his first goal on 66 minutes when he found space on the edge of the area and shot past Beresford into the bottom corner.

The big striker got his second and Ipswich's fourth from a Matt Richards corner 10 minutes later.

And when Kevin Foley was adjudged to have fouled Gary Roberts in the area in the final moments of normal time, Lee stepped up to smash home his third to round off a convincing victory in style.

"Once we got away with a lucky break after the interval we were excellent again. If their disallowed goal had counted it could have changed the game.

"It was a game of basics and we did the simple things very well."

"How crucial it was that we had a goal disallowed for offside after the interval. I don't think it was offside but have had no explanation as yet.

"It would be papering over the cracks to point to one incident but obviously an equaliser would have helped us."

Ipswich: Supple, Wilnis, De Vos (Naylor 70), Bruce, Harding, Peters (Haynes 68), Legwinski, Walton, Richards, Lee, Clarke (Roberts 68).
Subs Not Used: Drobny, Currie.

Booked: Bruce, Legwinski.

Goals: Legwinski 20, Peters 54, Lee 66, 76, 90 pen.

Luton: Beresford, Foley, Keane, Barnett, Emanuel (Brkovic 60), Edwards, Robinson, Bell, Morgan (Perrett 79), Vine, Feeney (Boyd 69).
Subs Not Used: Brill, O'Leary.

Att: 20,975