Luton boss Mike Newell was left lamenting a “killer blow” as his side were beaten for the second time this season by the Canaries - in each case after looking on course for victory.

Luton boss Mike Newell was left lamenting a “killer blow” as his side were beaten for the second time this season by the Canaries - in each case after looking on course for victory.

The Hatters led 2-0 at Carrow Road in August before losing 3-2, and last night they led 1-0 and 2-1 at Kenilworth Road before succumbing by the same scoreline.

“I'm bitterly disappointed. We worked ever so hard and played some good stuff on a pitch that's not conducive to good football,” said Newell. “It's a killer blow, to be quite honest.”

He would not offer an opinion on the free-kick from which Simon Lappin scored City's winner.

But he said: “We played some good football and shot ourselves in the foot in the first half, giving the ball away square, which let them back into the game. But I don't think we deserved that outcome, to be quite honest, for the effort we made and the football we played.”

Asked about the prospect of a Championship relegation fight, he said: “We're already in it. I don't worry about stuff like that. I have concerns but I don't worry, I'm not a worrier.

“To get out of the situation we're in and to stay up we need to win games, not draw them. I think if you keep playing your football and keep going at teams, home or away, you will hopefully win games. A draw is no good to us. That's not in our nature, we try and play football, we try and entertain. We could be dour and get 20-odd draws and be mid-table but I don't think people would be happy with that, to be quite honest with you.”

He admitted his side had been caught by numerous late goals, but said: “What can you do? Do you shut up shop and take the draw? We're not like that, we try and win the game. The decision's gone against us, as it does now and again, and my gut feeling was 'Here we go again' as soon as he awarded the free-kick.”