Manager Graeme Jones said he could defend goalkeeper Simon Sluga after the Croatian’s two blunders cost Luton in a 2-0 defeat at Derby County.
The club record signing, who joined the Hatters in the summer, let a Matty Pearson backpass under his foot in the 11th minute to give the Rams a breakthrough.
Top scorer James Collins missed a sitter from a few yards out, which should have drawn Town level.
But then, in the second half, the 26-year-old got beaten by Tom Lawrence cross.
Jones said: “I think the game was 1-1 or a 0-0 game, there’s very little difference in shots on target, shots off target. I expected James Collins to tap in, in the first-half but you can’t legislate for individual errors.
“It would be easy for me to blame the goalkeeper in the last however many games but I’m not that kind of person, I’m not that kind of coach.
“Today, I can’t defend him, it’s two goalkeeping errors – that’s the truth, we got beat 2-0 because of two goalkeeping errors that are basics of the game, controlling the ball and defending your near post – not getting shocked and that’s what happened, life of a goalkeeper.”
Asked whether he needs to put an arm around Sluga, Jones said: “I’ve given my opinion at the end of the game because I have 13 other boys to think about who give their heart and soul, who were mentally and physically really consistent with three games in seven days.
“I know we’ve had this sort of period once before, but it’s new to the players in the Championship and you have to take them into consideration when they’ve put that level of effort into the game.
“Our game plan today was exactly where I wanted to be without the errors and when you’re chasing the game at 1-0 down, it’s very different to 0-0 and then one opportunity, it’s just disappointing I think that’s the story of the game, I don’t need to go into detail, I think everyone can see it.”
Hi Please put shea back in goal we havent kept a clean sheet since sluga has been in feel very sad to think we spent over a million on a player who makes mistakes every game. Have been a season ticket holder since the 60s and we have always had good keepers. Ken.