Sonny Bradley described defeat against Bristol City as a 'wake-up call' after the team performed well below their usual high standards.
The home side were fast out the blocks and their fifth minute lead was doubled by the half-hour mark, leaving Bradley and his team-mates with a mountain to climb.
Even after Bristol City were reduced to 10 men following Mark Sykes’ dismissal the Hatters rarely troubled Daniel Bentley in between the sticks and therefore suffered a second successive defeat in the Sky Bet Championship.
After the game, captain Bradley admitted: “I can’t put a finger on it right now and give you too much of an explanation for what happened in that first half but I think the gaffer probably touched on it then, that’s not good enough for this football club.
“The way we have conceded the goals is pretty sloppy. We couldn’t get to grips with their midfield, couldn’t seem to hold the ball up top and there was too much space in between the lines today. We usually pride ourselves on doing the basics well but tonight, especially first half, we didn’t do that.
“Going forward, when they went down to 10 men, I don’t think we’ve created enough clear-cut chances. The chances that we do have I think Jordan had a chance on the edge of the box, one fell to Gabe and we’re just lashing at things, we’re not showing that composure and ruthlessness at the minute and it’s costing us.”
But equally, now four games into the season, the 30-year-old is adamant that performances will turn sooner rather than later.
“For the first three games I think we’ve performed to a decent standard and just not got the goals. Tonight is just a wake up call and a reminder that if we fall below those standards then it’s going to be very hard to pick up points.
“I don’t see it as much of a concern to be honest. You look at the last games before this in the league, we have performed to a high standard. Burnley we conceded one half-chance and they scored, Preston couple of balls in the box and they scored a goal.
“First game against Birmingham I feel like we should have won that so we’re not getting carried away, we’re not too concerned but tonight, like I say, is a wake up call. If you don’t perform to the standards you have set then it is going to be hard to pick up points.
“We have been in this position before in the last few years where we have gone through a bit of a sticky patch, but we always seem to come through it. With the group that we’ve got, with the manager we’ve got and the staff that we’ve got, I promise fans we are giving 100 per cent. The effort is there, but just man for man we haven’t been good enough tonight and it has cost us the game.”