Stockley felt Hatters deserved more against Shrews

Town were denied on numerous occasions by visiting keeper Jayson Leutwiler on the night as they were left ultimately frustrated.

But Stockley said: “It just goes down to one of those days, we tried and we kept knocking on the door.

“I felt first half we were brilliant, but their back four and keeper had a good performance. They’re a good side, but we more than matched them and I think we deserved the three points.”

Luton were almost off to a flying start only for Jake Howells to hit the base of the post inside the opening five minutes.

Stockley continued: “I was behind him and thought it was in. It would have been a great start for us, but the lads kept going and worked really hard.

“We deserved the win and it would have been great to score that goal for the crowd as they were lifting us the whole game.”

The introduction of Shaun Whalley for the latter stages saw the winger deliver a number of dangerous crosses, two which were almost put through their own net by Shrews defenders.

Stockley said: “I was there for one of them when he sliced it wide and just couldn’t believe how it didn’t go in, it was very unlucky.”

The AFC Bournmeouth frontman was certainly handed a buffering on his debut, as he needed treatment early on after a heavy challenge that he knew was coming.

The striker said: “I knew I was going to get clattered, I knew if I touched the ball I was going to get it, but I had to pass it away and take it for the team.

“It did hurt and took the wind out of me for a bit.”

The Shrews were reduced to 10 men for the last 20 minutes after Nathaniel Knight-Percival was dismissed for two bookings, but Stockley felt that played into their hands slightly.

He added: “The lads had worked extremely hard and not to make the breakthrough was tough.

“Sometimes when a team goes down to 10 men, they can sit back and defend what they’ve got.

“They were only looking for a draw, but I thought we’d done more than enough to get the win.”