Luton’s away day struggles continued as they were dire in Devon for the second straight road trip, this time getting well beaten at Plymouth, despite the scoreline.
And since thumping the then League One leaders Stockport County 3-0 on the road on November 8, the Hatters have taken one point from 15, while not scoring in consecutive south-west trips to Exeter’s St James’ Park and now Home Park.
Former Hatter Brendan Galloway bagged the winner to claim all three points for Plymouth with a victory that could easily have been heavier on another afternoon.
The Hatters dominated possession but did very little with it, in a pattern seen against the Grecians earlier this month where they lost by the same scoreline. Then they failed to register a single shot on target, but against the Pilgrims they at least did better on that front, only marginally, but they struggled to impose themselves for long spells.
Plymouth, in contrast, created the clearer chances, repeatedly exposing Luton in transition and with panic-inducing balls into the visitors’ penalty box.
Only a Nigel Lonwijk goal-line clearance, a glaring miss from former Hatter Bim Pepple and a fingertip save from Josh Keeley prevented the hosts from handing out a heavier beating, while misses from Nahki Wells and Jordan Clark, with the last kick of the game, proved costly.
The decisive moment came late in first half stoppage time when Plymouth broke quickly and finished clinically, a goal that Town boss Jack Wilshere felt might have been scrutinised more closely on another day, but which capped a dominant spell from the home side.
Plymouth continued to look the more likely to score after the break, even as Luton – slightly improved but still without a discovering ruthless edge – pushed higher in search of an equaliser. New loan signing Kasey Palmer stung the palms of Conor Hazard, but then Wells was sent clean through. His dink over the keeper was partially blocked and the striker watched as his effort was cleared before reaching the goal-line.
Then, in the final action, Clark’s eyes lit up as he crept unmarked in at the back post but could not get a decent connection, with Hazard doing enough to smuggle the ball out of play. The very next whistle was the final one and a chance to steal something they scarcely deserved had gone begging.
Despite that, the Hatters manager insisted his side had done enough to take something from the game instead of slumping to a third straight defeat on the road.
“[I’m] Frustrated with the result because I felt like we’d done enough to at least get a point out of the game. We created enough moments,” Wilshere said.
Wilshere acknowledged that the contest never suited Luton’s preferred style but felt his players matched Plymouth physically in the opening period.
“I thought in the first half the players showed that it wasn’t probably a game where we were going to have success doing the things we want, but we were going to have to compete,” he said. “We were going to have to win duels, defend our box and win that fight, and I felt like we did. We conceded a bad goal, which I think on another day could have been ruled out.”
That goal came from a swift Plymouth transition following a Luton set-piece, something Wilshere highlighted as a key failing.
“How did they arrive in that position? I think it came from our free-kick,” he said told LTFC+. “We have to do better. We have to stop their transition.
“Part of playing away from home is game management. Can you make a foul in our half and avoid a booking? Small things like that where we have to learn quickly.”
Luton did see more of the ball in the second half and found some space out wide, but genuine chances were limited – they only managed three shots on target the whole game – and Plymouth continued to look dangerous on the break, wasting opportunities that should have put the game to bed.
Wilshere, though, felt his side carried more threat than in some recent away performances.
“We created enough moments,” the Town boss said. “It didn’t feel like one of those games where we didn’t create enough threat. It felt like we were attacking in the right areas, creating some moments.
“Then we just have to put the ball in the net and that changes the game. We just couldn’t quite find that moment.”
Attention now turns quickly to Tuesday night’s trip to Huddersfield, with Wilshere admitting Luton’s away form must improve if they are to stay in the promotion conversation, after the sixth placed Terriers beat Bradford to open up a three point gap.
“We have to turn it around quick,” Wilshere said. “We have to find some form and confidence away from home. If we want to be serious about promotion, we have to improve our away form.”
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