Luton Town were comprehensively beaten 5-2 by Mansfield Town in a League One fixture on Sunday, a result that manager Jack Wilshere labelled unacceptable. The heavy defeat at the One Call Stadium ended the Hatters' unbeaten league run dating back to March and came just days after a Carabao Cup loss at Chelsea.
Mansfield Town dominated the contest, scoring five times before the hour mark had passed. Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Jon Russell each netted a brace for the Stags, with Louis Reed adding a fifth. Luton managed a penalty and a late consolation goal, but the damage was already severe. The match report was first published by the Mansfield and Ashfield Chad.
This result leaves Luton Town seventh in the League One table with four points from their opening two games, a record of one win and one draw. They have scored six goals but conceded five, giving them a +1 goal difference. The Hatters now sit three points behind early leaders Blackpool.
The Luton boss was forthright in his assessment. "We are not going to win every game but we cannot accept that, not if we have ambition," Wilshere stated. He directed his frustration inward and towards the club's travelling support. "I would like to apologise to the fans. Their anger should be at me, that’s fine."
The loss followed a 2-0 defeat at Premier League side Chelsea in the Carabao Cup on Thursday night at Stamford Bridge. Two tough away trips in quick succession have provided a stern early-season test for a squad widely tipped for promotion.
Despite the setback, Luton are still considered among the favourites for an automatic promotion place to the Championship. Interestingly, Mansfield manager Nigel Clough has publicly backed Wilshere's side to be top competitors for a top-two finish this season. The immediate challenge is to respond quickly.
Luton's next match is a key home fixture against high-flying Stockport County on Wednesday. Stockport currently sit third in the table, making this an early six-pointer.
The priority is a rapid response at Kenilworth Road. The players must regroup and address the defensive issues that were so starkly exposed in Nottinghamshire. The squad has quality, but consistency will be key over a long campaign. This week provides a chance to reset before a busy period of games.
Focus now shifts entirely to preparing for Stockport County. A win would lift Luton back towards the early pace-setters and provide a much-needed boost after a difficult few days on the road. The team's attacking output, with six goals scored, remains a positive to build upon as they look to tighten up at the back.
