Ten man Wrexham lose to Luton Town

By wrecsam am byth
November 16 2003

Hector Sam fired the visitors ahead and Emmerson Boyce's own goal just before the interval doubled the lead. But Adrian Forbes pulled one back straight from the restart and after the break Steve Robinson and Lee Mansell put Luton ahead to Wrexhams dispair.

Wrexham manager Denis Smith wasn't the happiest of men at the end of Saturdays game away to Luton Town, some of his anger aimed at his own players for letting a two-goal lead slip away, but mainly it was directed at referee Trevor Kettle, who had an indifferent afternoon. Ending it with a straight red card shown to skipper Darren Ferguson for his challenge on Adrian Forbes, after seemingly being fouled by the same player. Smith told the official site

“We were two-nil and should have been cruising, but let then straight back in just before half time and then didn’t get started in the second half.

“A few of the lads were carrying injuries going into the game and then to lose Chris Llewellyn meant we seemed to lose of our energies.

“This allowed the ball to come back at us a little too easily, but they got their second from a set piece which we had even talked about at the interval, so that’s frustrating.

“The third was a fluke, a cross that has gone straight in, which doesn’t make you feel particularly good.

“On top of this we have also had Darren sent off, which from my position looked like a situation that was six of one and half a dozen of the other. We will have to look at the video and if it was warranted then he will be fined, if not, then we will appeal.

“It’s frustrating all round, as right at the end we looked as those we might even have got something, but Hector Sam was denied by a great save.

“While I won’t criticise my lads for any lack of commitment or effort, there are times when they have to put their brains into gear.

“If you ask me whether I thought the result was right over the 90 minutes, then I have to say - no!

“Before the game I would have settled for a point here and four points from these two away games, but when you do go two-up, then I expect us to go on and get the win.

“I don’t like losing when we are two-up and I don’t like the way Darren was dealt with. If he has done something wrong, then fair enough, but I don’t think the official has had the best of games – we’ll leave at that…”