Luton suffered another hugely disappointing trip to Stevenage on Thursday night, going down to a 2-1 defeat.
The hosts took the lead through Dan Kemp’s controversial goal in the first half, before an offside Josh Magennis doubled the advantage in the second period. Although Mads Andersen pulled one back, Town couldn’t find a leveller, and to find out how the Hatters players rated, see below.
9. Gideon Kodua: 4
Having had such an impressive impact against Orient last weekend when replacing Palmer, the hope was that he could replicate that level of performance in some entirely different surroundings, and the early signs were good, twisting his man in the area and firing in a shot that Setford parried inside the opening minutes. Sadly, that was the final time the home keeper was ever tested, although the attacker almost had an assist to his name when nipping forward to find Marshall for another opportunity that flew narrowly wide. From there, he was engulfed by his Boro opponents, who were able to snuff out any attacking threats from the Hatters, replaced just before the hour mark. Photo: David Rogers
10. Jamie Donley: 4.5
With Town having an excellent opening five minutes, it looked like the Spurs loanee would be able to make a real imprint on proceedings, showing some lovely footwork and vision, threading a pass through to Kodua to test Setford, with another forceful run ending in a booking for Phillips. Cracked another effort over the top himself, but once Boro began to get men around him, he saw his influence start to wane, sending one free kick from a tight angle wastefully into the stands. Still put in plenty of effort, although struggled to find the space needed in a congested midfield, and was taken off as part of a double substitution with an hour gone. Photo: Andy Fitzsimons
11. Callum Marshall: 5
Looked lively in the opening stages as he needed no second invitation to shoot, collecting Kodua's pass, getting it out of his feet and then arrowing inches wide of the bottom corner on that trusted left foot of his. After the interval, he was the only visiting player ever really trying to have a go, putting one attempt wide and then another over the top when being released by Johnston's ball over the top. Not given a lot to work with up against some imposing Boro defenders, still managed to have the joint most shots on the evening, as the boos from the away end when he was replaced with 25 minutes to play, despite Town trailing and in need of a goal, told its own story. Photo: David Horn
12. Kasey Palmer (SUB): 4.5
Surprisingly left on the bench for the second game running, the Jamaican international was introduced as part of a double change with Richards just before the hour mark. Attempted to help his side restore parity by trying to get on the ball as much as possible, and did help them make it 2-1 when his volley hit Andersen to beat Setford and give Town a glimmer of hope. Looked to knock it wide and burst forward at times, getting too much on his header from Johnson's left-wing cross, the only real opportunity Luton had in the latter stages. Few stepovers when inside the area, but the Stevenage defenders didn't fall for his tricks, as he appeared thoroughly cheesed off after the final whistle. Photo: David Rogers