Jack Wilshere fumes as Luton lose to wonder goal against 10-man Huddersfield

Luton boss Jack Wilshere was left dismayed by his players’ lack of creativity as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at a Huddersfield side who played for over an hour with 10 men.

Alfie May was shown a straight red card for pulling Kasey Palmer’s hair in the 29th minute, only for Ryan Ledson to score a sensational winning goal from just inside his own half shortly after the break.

Wilshere said: “It was not good enough and it’s hard to take. We have to win the game and we’ve not even taken a point.

“I thought we were the team that were really trying in the first half, and we spoke at half-time about what we needed to do, and to make sure we do the basics really well, but try and create more threat, and we simply didn’t do it.

“I don’t think the problem is a leadership problem. We don’t trust ourselves enough to risk the ball in the final third, which you have to do.

“We didn’t create enough clear-cut opportunities. We were up against a block and, look, there are better teams that have struggled against that this season – but they’re one (player) less so we have to do better.

“When we did create moments, there weren’t enough bodies in the box – and we have to create more moments.

“So it’s frustrating, but it’s on me. My job is to make the players better and make sure they know how to create those clear-cut opportunities.”

Both of Liam Manning’s first two games in charge of Huddersfield have now ended as 1-0 victories having ended the game with 10 men, having done the same against Bradford on Saturday.

The head coach said: “I’d much prefer it to be a lot more straightforward!

“We gave the players probably similar messages from the weekend. I think it probably helped the fact that we had a recent experience of it in terms of lads knowing what to do and staying calm and knowing what system we go to.

“I thought Luton probably started slightly better than us, but the sending off then kind of sharpens a few people up.

“I think the red card is extremely harsh. You look at it and Alfie apologises straight away, which tells you there’s no intent whatsoever.

“I take my hat off to the lads in terms of having to play that long and not be completely deep – we still carried a threat.

“Second half we had some really good moments on the counter, and I thought we had two outstanding opportunities off set pieces, which we should do better on.

“But from everybody, top, top, top performance in terms of attitude, work and defensive organisation.”