Hatters boss Mick Harford believes that the heavy midweek Carling Cup defeat at Reading will not have an adverse affect on his players.

Harford's charges were completely outplayed by Steve Coppell's Championship outfit bu the former Town frontman thinks they will be fine for the weekend's trip to Exeter.

He said: "It was a difficult game for us, we didn't really perform.

"It was disappointing the way we conceded the goals but the lads have come in in high spirits.

"I'm not going to say we're concentrating on the league, that old adage, because if you're winning games it's good for confidence.

"But it hasn't been a knock. I think we can learn something from the way Reading played their football.

"It's my job to come in and lift the players for the weekend which is a tricky away game at Exeter."

Newly-promoted Exeter, who gained promotion via the Blue Square Premier play-offs in May, have an identical record to the Hatters - one win, one draw and one defeat from three games - and Harford believes it will be a tough assignment.

He added: "We believe we can go down there and come back with three points.

"They're renowned for playing decent football. They had a good victory against Cambridge in the play-off final and they've started the season very well.

"They play in a certain manner which is a kind of attractive attacking football."

Harford will be picking from a virtually full-strength squad for the visit to St James' Park but one player who will not be featuring is Dean Morgan who is in the process of finalising a loan deal to League One side Leyton Orient.

Morgan's departure sould open up funds for the arrival of more players before the end of the transfer window, a situation Harford is keen to see arrive.

He continued: "Dean (Morgan) is at Leyton Orient having a medical. He'll be out on loan, maybe until the end of January.

"We will need to bring players in to boost the squad. Hopefully in the next two or three days we'll be able to make some permanent signings.

"I was at three games yesterday - Ipswich at 1pm, Charlton at 4pm then West Ham to watch Macclesfield - looking at players.

"We've made a lot of enquiries."