Dewsbury-Hall: We were upset not to claim victory against City

Luton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall revealed that the Town dressing room were left ‘upset’ that they hadn’t registered a first home win since early October when held to a 1-1 draw by Birmingham City last night.

The hosts dominated for large periods of the evening, with 16 shots at goal, seven of them on target, only denied by the brilliance of visiting goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, who made some excellent stops, particularly in the second period.

Speaking afterwards, Dewsbury-Hall said: “We’re really, really upset that we haven’t come away with the three points tonight.

“I thought we played really well, we dominated from start to finish, of course there was one or two moments where they had a couple of chances but you are going to get that in a game.

“I thought on the whole, we were much the better team and deserved the three points.

“It is really frustrating that we haven’t come away with the three points but we can be proud of the performance, knowing that we are competing at a really high level against good Championship teams.

"That is going to take us in good step going forward.”

Town had begun well, James Collins glancing an early header wide, before they conceded a 23rd minute penalty when Elliot Lee was penalised for handling Maxime Colin's cross.

Lukas Jutkiewicz, as he always is against Luton, was on target from the spot, however, Luton hit back before the break to level, Matty Pearson on target for the first time since September 2019, an equaliser that Dewsbury-Hall felt was crucial.

He continued: “I thought we started really well, we were on the front foot, we were quick, our passing was really good, it (penalty) was just one of those things, El has tried to block it and it has unfortunately hit his arm.

"Handballs can be frustrating and it was totally against the run of play, but we reacted really well.

"As soon as we went a goal behind, we stayed on the front foot and equalised pretty quickly.

"It was really important to go in at half-time level because we would have been really kicking ourselves if we had gone in one goal down knowing how well we played and how much we dominated.

"We were really optimistic at half-time, we just said 'we need to keep going, continue what we are doing,' because we had the lion’s share of the chances and possession.

"So we knew if we continued, it would carry on.

"In the second half we created a lot of good chances, ones that on another day you score but that’s football.

"We will analyse it and take it going forward on to Saturday. “

The fact that Town didn’t leave with all three points was mainly down to keeper Etheridgem who moved to St Andrew's from Cardiff City in the summer.

The Philippines international made a good stop from Collins early after the break, reserving his best of the night for the 72nd minutes, diving to his left to somehow keep out the forward from a matter of yards.

He also tipped Jordan Clark's attempt over, as Dewsbury-Hall said: “He’s a good keeper, he's played in the Premier League and that’s what he’s paid to do.

"Obviously all the lads completely back Collo to score that but we know that come the end of the season, he is going to bag a lot of them so we’re not worried about that at all.”

Collins' gilt-edged chance had come from a wonderful break by Town that saw Moncur feed Dewsbury-Hall, who delivered the inch-perfect cross for his team-mate.

The on-loan Leicester midfielder had expected the net to ripple, adding: "It’s a classic counter-attack.

"I’ve seen Moncs get the ball and I thought I need to make that darting run.

"I knew Collo was going to be there, so I’ve just put it across and as you say, knowing who Collo is, we’d normally think he would score that.

"But I'm pretty sure he is going to repay us with a lot more goals come the end of the season."