Jones: ‘Tomlin gets his chance and he cuts your throat. That’s the difference’

Graeme Jones admitted Luton lost to Cardiff because of the opportunities they wasted in the first half, while the Bluebirds took their only one.

Lee Tomlin’s strike in the 73^rd minute was the only goal and ensured a 21^st defeat of the Championship season, extending Town’s target for survival to nine points.

But the Hatters had the better of the first half and should’ve had two but Harry Cornick squandered both chances to leave the scores goalless at half time.

Cardiff were improved, if unspectacular after the break, but when Tomlin turned Glen Rea on the edge of the area, he was clinical with his finish and that proved the difference.

Jones said: “The game was won and lost earlier in the first half. (Sky Sports pundit) Alan McInally said in there (post-match TV interview), ‘you should have been 3-0 up’ and we should’ve been, but (it’s) should’ve, could’ve.

“Tomlin gets his chance and he cuts your throat. That’s the difference.

“We created more chances than them, we had more shots on target and, the boys gave absolutely everything but, again, it boils down to two moments where Tomlin doesn’t hope to score, he makes sure to score.

“We had a really good opportunity with Tunni (Ryan Tunnicliffe), an incredible one-v-one with Harry and Collo’s (James Collins) header. You have to take them if you’re going to win the game and we didn’t. That was the difference.

“We can talk about personnel, transfer windows, tactics, effort, attitude; we can talk about everything, but the difference in the game was us not taking our chances and them taking their one.

“There is very little anybody can do about that. The boys gave me everything they’ve got, but I will refuse to let standards drop, no matter what the situation is.

“If we don’t let standards drop, we’ll get results. And that’s the frustration today. I thought the performance was enough to get something from the game, but it’s been the story of the season.”