Nathan Jones conceded his men were comprehensively despatched by three-goal Brentford, but may have bigger concerns after Rhys Norrington-Davies suffered a hamstring injury which could leave Luton with a full-back crisis.
The left back had played every minute of the campaign, plus some for Wales, until he was withdrawn at the break with a soft tissue problem and now the Hatters must wait on the result of a scan, with Martin Cranie the only recognised fit full-back at the club.
Speaking of Norrington-Davies, Jones said: “He’s picked up an injury, we think, which is a really frustrating one because the kid’s 21 and, at the minute, he’s playing for number of reasons, not just because we keep picking him, but there are a number of reasons that he has to keep playing and that’s frustrating for me.
“It’s fatigue in his hamstring, so we’ll scan it, see how it is and hopefully it’s not a tear or anything. Hopefully it’s just fatigue, but it’s just symptomatic of the amount of games he’s had to play as a 21 year-old.
“I’d loved to have freshened it up but I’ve not got another left back at the club, so that’s difficult. I could’ve played Cranie over there but, at the minute, I’ve not got another right back at the club, so, realistically, that’s the predicament we’re in.
“It’s not just my fault. There’s a lot of things (that have) happened, which could’ve been avoided.”
The news was another blow after losing out to a classy Brentford while never looking like scoring, with just one shot on target. And, if you’re looking for positives, perhaps the best you could say about this one-sided affair was that at least it wasn’t 7-0.
Especially as the signs looked ominous by the half hour mark after Rico Henry and Ivan Toney had found the net, the first from errors all of Town’s own making and the second emphasising the energy-sapping schedule.
Tom Lockyer’s poor clearance was fired back with interest and there was a suspicion that keeper Simon Sluga could’ve done more, though the shot was a stinger.
Then Norrington-Davies, understandably, couldn’t keep pace with Bryan Muembo who put it on a plate for Toney to score his inevitable ninth of the campaign.
The Hatters prevented any further damage until the 76th minute when Marcus Forss confirmed defeat for the hosts, converting a ruthless counter attack.
That was after a spell where Town had seen far more of the ball but created nothing, bar a Kazenga LuaLua shot, comfortably saved by David Raya.
The winger had been introduced soon after the Bees’ second, with centre half Matty Pearson – one of three centre halves that started in a five-man defence – given the hook for tactical reasons.
It didn’t help Town’s creativity, though musical chairs at the back served to at least solidify Luton after the restart, with Glen Rea moved to centre back, Lockyer put out at right back, while Luke Berry came on at defensive midfield.
Yet there was the sense that the Bees had long since taken their foot off the gas and that they could’ve further damaged Luton at will, which they probably should have, but Sluga kept out headers from Emiliano Mercondes and, then rather spectacularly, from Henrik Dalsgaard.
Afterwards, Town manager Jones said: “We have to remember that three years ago we were a League Two side. We’re getting to that level. We’re going to have days like this.
“I could go in, go mental, rant and rave, but we’re going to have days like this because we’re not quite at the level yet.
“Some, in the Premier League, that when they get beaten by Man United or Leicester, they hold their hands up.
“We have game plans and we tried to make it work and if everything goes to plan, we’ll have a good game against Brentford, but when it doesn’t we’ll get punished.
“So, we have to accept that at times. We’re in a decent position at the minute. We’re just above mid-table in the Championship. If we’re still there after ten games, that’s probably a fair position we’re in, and we’re competing well.”
The Bees sold two of their infamous BMW strike force from last term – Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma – but it looked like their quality has not suffered and Jones said: “These are years down the line of their structure. We’re not, so we’re having to get to grips with that.
“We’ve got no time to work because they haven’t trained Thursday or Friday, so it’s a difficult scenario we’re in, coupled with the fact that you can’t make many substitutions, so there’s no freshness.
“It’s just watering down the thing, but we’ve been beaten by a better side today and they’re a very good side and credit to them.
“But, that’s a learning curve for us and where we aspire to be.”
PLAYER RATINGS:
SIMON SLUGA – 4.5
Perhaps should have done better with Brentford’s opener. Kept out headers from Emiliano Marcondes and Henrik Dalsgaard, the latter was a fine flying stop, to keep the score some way respectable.
MARTIN CRANIE – 4.5
Reasonably solid, but not able to offer anything going forward.
SONNY BRADLEY – 4.5
Didn’t do a lot wrong, and saw lots of the ball, but little of his penchant for pushing forward with the ball, due to Brentford’s press.
MATTY PEARSON – 3
Sacrificed on 36 minutes, after Brentford took a 2-0 lead. Replaced by Kazenga LuaLua.
TOM LOCKYER – 4
Poor clearance found its way to Rico Henry to blast in the first goal. Moved to right back in the second half and was twice caught out of position by Sergi Canos, who countered.
RHYS NORRINGTON-DAVIES – 4
Not quick or strong enough to cope with Bryan Mbuemo who got to the byline and put it on a plate for Ivan Toney to double the scoring. Didn’t emerge from the dressing room for the second half as Town will assess a soft tissue hamstring problem. Replaced by Luke Berry.
GLEN REA – 4.5
After unforced, wayward passing in the first half, he was moved to centre back after the break and did relatively well.
KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL – 3.5
He saw plenty of the ball but used it too often to pass backwards and then gave the ball away for Brentford’s third.
JORDAN CLARK – 4.5
One of the livelier performers in an attack starved of the ball in the first half. Replaced on 74 minutes by James Collins.
PELLY-RUDDOCK MPANZU – 4
Anonymous in the first half but not surprising as he was playing in a more forward role for a side that didn’t have a shot on target until the 70th minute. Showed some desire to get Town back into it after the break, but the quality wasn’t there.
DANNY HYLTON – 4
Couldn’t quite direct a Rhys Norrington-Davies free-kick on target in the first half with the scores at 0-0, but he was not given any service other than that. Booked on 54 minutes and still waiting for his first Championship goal.
SUBS:
KAZENGA LUALUA – 4
He can be electrifying or he can be anonymous. Today he was largely the latter, even after coming on in the 37th minute, as a tactical switch for defender Matty Pearson, though he did have Town’s only shot on goal.
LUKE BERRY – 5 (star man)
Replaced Rhys Norrington-Davies at half time and broke up the play more effectively that any midfielder that started that game and that helped Luton get a foothold in the game in the second half, or at least keep it tight.
JAMES COLLINS – 3
Didn’t get a sniff in his 16 minutes on the pitch.
Unused subs: James Shea, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Elliot Lee, Joe Morrell
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