Jack Wilshere has told Harrison Ashby he must learn to control his emotions after the defender's red card marred Luton Town's 1-0 defeat to Bradford City. The Newcastle United loanee was dismissed in stoppage time for kicking out at Corey O'Keeffe, a moment of frustration that compounded a disappointing afternoon at Kenilworth Road.
The 24-year-old, who spent six months on loan at Bradford last season, was one of Luton's few attacking outlets in a poor second half. He was fouled three times while trying to burst forward on the right flank, with Antoni Sarcevic booked for one challenge. Ashby himself received a yellow for a foul on Ibou Touray late on.
A costly reaction
Matters boiled over in added time. After a clash with O'Keeffe, which referee Ross Martin judged a Bradford throw-in, Ashby kicked out at the Bantams player while both were on the floor. Martin showed a second yellow, followed by a red, forcing the defender down the tunnel. It was Luton's first sending-off since Liam Walsh's dismissal against Coventry City in April 2025, which was later rescinded on appeal.
Wilshere, who was serving a one-match touchline ban himself after being sent off in the 2-1 defeat at Stevenage, stressed the need for composure. "I’ve been there as a player and this is what I’m talking about when I say about Bradford being good at it, at not winding players up, but the way they delay the game, the way they see a game out," the manager said.
He acknowledged the added emotion for Ashby facing his former club but was clear on the standard required. "It frustrates you as a player sometimes, but we have to keep emotions under control, we have to stay calm," Wilshere said. "We have to keep going and probably a little bit of emotion added for Ashby as well, because he was at Bradford last season, but he’ll know that he’ll have to react better than that."
The defeat leaves Luton 16th in the League One table with eight points from seven games. Bobby Pointon's fourth-minute goal for the visitors proved decisive, a result that means Luton are now seven points behind leaders Bradford.
Ashby had only just returned to the side after missing the Stevenage match with a groin injury. His suspension will now rule him out of the next match, a home fixture against 21st-placed Doncaster Rovers on October 3. Check the club's upcoming fixtures for the full schedule. The focus turns to halting a run of two consecutive defeats and finding a way past a Doncaster side also struggling near the foot of the table.
Read the full report at Luton Today
