Hatters to deal with ref justice

Hailed by the home journalists and many inside the ground as the ‘best refereeing performance of the season,’ Newcastle official Scott Duncan struggled to keep control of an encounter that simmered with needle and bite throughout, according to the visitors.

All three players who entered the referee’s notebook on the night were Hatters, but Keith Keane and manager Gary Brabin were united in their belief that Luton need to be ready to overcome such adversity.

The returning Keane said: “When you come to places like this they are up for it and go into challenges full-blooded.

“The ref isn’t helping us out so when you aren’t getting the fouls for dangerous tackles it winds you up.

“When you feel like you aren’t getting protected sometimes you want to take it into your own hands, but obviously you can’t.

“The next time we play away at a ground like this we need to be ready for it.”

Andre Boucaud seemed to be felled by an off the ball incident which was followed by one of a number of melees that marred the game as Town eventually had to withdraw their new signing.

Brabin added: “That’s another thing we are disappointed about.

“But I keep saying we’ve got to rise above decisions that go against us and rise above weather and stuff like that.

“It hasn’t been given so we move on.

“I don’t think decisions went our way.

“I thought it was illegal to do a two-footed tackle but he hasn’t given it and I’m obviously disappointed.

“Boucaud got sent off here for York so whether that’s carried on from that game I don’t know.

“He seemed to be singled out for some treatment.

“In the end we’ve taken him off as a precaution.”