A fine effort from Rhys Oates and a converted penalty from Tyler Roberts inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Hatters in Jack Wilshere’s first game in charge.

Wilshere named his first Luton Town lineup, making three changes from the side that was defeated at Stevenage with Nahki Wells, Jordan Clark and Millenic Alli replacing Lasse Nordås, Jake Richards and Cohen Bramall from the off.

Mansfield came close to taking an early lead in the fourth minute. Roberts found himself unmarked on the right-hand side of the Luton area but his low-driven effort was well-saved by Josh Keeley.

Nathan Moriah-Welsh, also down the right-hand side, was next to have an effort for the Stags. His effort was fired well wide of the post.

Wells’ high press forced Mansfield keeper Liam Roberts into clearing the ball straight out of play, which was subsequently followed up by a loud cheer from the Hatters fans.

The Town saw their first chance of the afternoon, just shy of the 20th minute when Clark had his effort blocked by Adedeji Oshilaja, resulting in the Town’s first corner of the match.

With little under 15 minutes remaining of the first half, Clark looked certain to have given the home side the lead. A curled effort on his right foot was miraculously tipped onto the post by Roberts.

Just moments later, a show of dazzling feet from the Luton midfielder saw him advance into the area, where he was brought to the ground by Kyle Knoyle and the Town was awarded a penalty. Wells was the man to step up but his effort was kept out by Roberts to keep the score 0-0.

Oates then curled the away side into the lead with five minutes remaining of the first 45 with an unstoppable effort on his left foot flying past Keeley.

Will Evans ought to have doubled the lead just before the break but he fired an effort well over the bar from eight yards out.

The away side started the second half the better and, after Roberts hit the bar with a shot from an acute angle, the hosts were awarded a penalty when referee Ross Joyce pointed to the spot for a handball on Mads Andersen. Roberts cooly converted into the bottom-right corner to double the Stags’ lead.

Zack Nelson, fresh off the bench, won the Town’s first corner of the second-half after some positive work down the left, but the corner was comfortably dealt with.

There were spells in the closing stages of the game for the Hatters, but they wasn’t able to create any real goalscoring opportunities against a compact Mansfield defence.

Town: Keeley, Makosso, Andersen, Mengi (sub Nordås 80), Naismith, Saville, Fanne (sub Nelsom 61), Alli, Clark, Kodua (sub 72 Bramall), Wells (sub Yates 60).

Subs not used: Shea, Richards, Nakamba.

Attendance: 11,784, including 1,308 from Mansfield.

Report by Owen Williams