Stevenage scored two dubious goals and Jack Wilshere saw red as Luton slumped to defeat against their nearest neighbours as their woeful run in this part of Hertfordshire continued.
The Hatters have not won at the newly named SPORTA Arena for 12 years and here they simply couldn’t match their hosts, let alone beat them at their own game as as the boss had preached the day before.
That is cause enough for concern, but what they also did not need was referee Andrew Humphries’ disasterclass to give the hosts a helping hand.
Liam Walsh was held back by Dan Phillips, the official saw nothing wrong with that and Dan Kemp took the ball and blasted from 20 yards. Keeper Josh Keeley’s attempt to save might be the cause of some nightmares, but the foul angered Wilshere so much that his dissent saw him sent to the stands for the first time in his managerial career. Some homecoming.
Because of his red card, assistant manager Chris Powell had to conduct the post-match duties and asked if it was a foul on Walsh, he said: “Well, it is. Everyone in the whole stadium is expecting the referee to blow.
“I know you shouldn’t stop, I get that. It’s as blatant as that. You’re hoping that the officials spot it and they work together and they make the correct decision.
“It’s quite clear what happened. You could see it live. You see the replays and it just confirmed what we saw.”
But Town soon benefitted from a bizarre decision. Keeley raced out of his area and badly missed a long, bouncing ball, leaving Kemp an empty net to roll the ball into, but before he could get to it Hakeem Odoffin clumsily clattered him from behind.
Humphries didn’t even see it as a foul, let alone a red card.
Despite that fortune, Town were firmly second best and though they hoarded the ball after the break, they made if comfortable for Stevenage, with ponderous passing and little penetration.
Joe Johnson — back in the starting line-up after two games outside of the squad — and Isaiah Jones were both utilised as wing backs, and both seemed reluctant to push forward.
And so, having had 87 per cent possession at one early point in the second period, which must have been spread evenly among three centre halves, it was the hosts that extended their lead.
Ben Broggio burst into the box on the counter but at the point that he centred the ball, Josh Magennis was offside. And to make matters worse, the ball crashed off Keeley and hit the striker, who knew little about it on the goal-line. They all count. Seemingly, on this occasion, even when they shouldn’t.
“The second goal was offside,” said Powell, adding: “I get it — officials have a tough job. But surely there is an argument for VAR at this level, because it can cost teams points. It can cost people jobs.
“It’s clear offside. So they’ve scored two goals, they’ve won a game when actually they’ve had a helping hand.”
Town can be rightly aggrieved at the goals, but they offered so little going forwards, that it was a surprise when substitute Kasey Palmer volleyed Jake Richards’ cross against the backs of Mads Andersen’s legs and the ricochet deceived Tommy Setford to settle in the goal.
That was five minutes after Boro’s second and with 15 minutes or regular time left to play, plus seven added minutes, that should have been the cue for an onslaught. Instead, Luton opted to pass frustratingly around at the back.
It was something that had seemed to be eradicated at the end of last term, but it came flooding back at one of the venues of their worst away days from last season. The worry will be that, even at this early stage of the campaign, Town are slipping back to those bad old days.
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