Tom Lockyer said the overall feeling after defeat against Middlesbrough was ‘disappointment’ after the home side came from behind to win in added time.
Jordan Clark’s sensational strike had given manager Rob Edwards a dream start but Chuba Akpom quickly replied and Matt Crooks came off the bench to snatch all three points.
It was a late sucker punch that was a harsh blow for the Hatters, who had defended valiantly particularly after going down to ten men following Amari’i Bell’s dismissal.
Speaking pitchside after the match, Lockyer admitted: “To concede so late on is very frustrating and there are a few down lads in there. I think after the sending off it was a ‘back against the wall’ job and we would have been happy to take the point in the end, I don’t feel like we deserved to lose like that but sometimes you don’t always get what you deserve in football.
Continuing, the Welshman said: “It’s frustrating. I feel like I’ve said that word a lot and that’s the overall feeling because we would have liked to have started the new manager’s campaign with a win but it wasn’t to be. Even if we did win today, we wouldn’t have been getting carried away, we still have our goals that we’ve set and a loss doesn’t change that.”
Losing Amari’i Bell to a one-game suspension also gives manager Rob Edwards a conundrum in defence looking ahead to Millwall with injuries continuing to plague his side as well.
“When you look back I thought the break came at a great time for us and for some reason the injuries are even longer than the break. It’s a bit annoying that the gaffer didn’t have a full selection to choose from, now with Amari’i missing as well we’re quite light at the back again so hopefully we can have a few reinforcements and hopefully the boys aren’t too far away.”
Finally, like the manager, the 28-year-old wanted to express his thanks to the travelling supporters who made the long journey to the Riverside Stadium on a bitterly cold December afternoon.
“The fans today were fantastic. I wouldn’t normally say this about the travelling fans because I know what they can do but I was shocked to see how many of them turned up today, especially with the England game on today. Massive credit to them, we thank them so much.
“I know what the Luton fans can do. To see so many of them here today, and the messages I got when I went to the World Cup as well were fantastic. We’re going to need them moving forward now because there is a real togetherness in this squad and the fans as well.”