First goal proving crucial as Hatters lose again

Luton Town on their way to defeat at Newport on Saturday

It’s now 28 games since Hatters tasted victory after going a goal down, as they last beat Forest Green Rovers 4-1 at Kenilworth Road on Monday, April 21, 2014, once Jan Klukowski had opened the scoring for the visitors with a 34th minute penalty.

Then, Andre Gray (2), Cameron McGeehan and Mark Cullen turned the game around, but since that match, Luton have picked up just eight points from a possible 84 after falling behind, with eight draws and 20 defeats.

There was a sense of horrible inevitability that the points would be staying in Wales at the weekend once sub Oliver McBurnie escaped Town’s defence to prod the hosts in front just after the hour mark.

It turned out to be the case, although centre back Luke Wilkinson insisted the players always retain belief they can turn round a losing situation, as he said: “If we go 1-0 down we always believe we can get back in it, because we’ve got the players to do that.

“At the minute it just doesn’t seem to be quite happening for us at one end or the other.

“We just have to keep working hard in training and hopefully things will turn round.”

Meanwhile, when asked if his side’s inability to turn around a losing situation was a concern, boss John Still added: “Is it a worry? Yes probably. I mean, I think the worry for me at the moment is when we concede, we concede again.

“That’s probably a worry, and normally comes out of an error, someone making a mistake, I would say that would concern me a little bit.”