LUTON boss Matt Bloomfield was left in disbelief that he side didn't pick up all three points against Middlesbrough - a game he was convinced the Hatters would win.
Luton dominated against Boro in the first half but missed a string of key chances, and while the second half was a lot more even, Bloomfield was still left "incredibly disappointed and frustrated".
Boro didn't manage a single shot on target at Kenilworth Road but are still three points off the top six, with Luton now four points adrift of safety.
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Bloomfield said: “We deserved to win. I was really proud of the performance. I thought some of the football we played, the chance creation, the way we put pressure on our opposition, top opposition as well, by the way, for the league, you know, I thought the boys were excellent, especially first half.
“It was never going to be easy to replicate that second half because of how dominant we were. But I feel incredibly disappointed that I'm not sat here with three points right now. It’s incredibly frustrating. We created numerous opportunities to win the game.
“On another day, we take probably two, three or four of them. They were that good, the opportunities. Some of the football we played, tactically we spoke a lot about how to break our opposition down and the boys implemented it.
“I'm so proud of the way they're going about their work at the moment. We're playing against some real top teams here and we're having a right go. To not take one of them chances is obviously incredibly disappointing and frustrating. But I have to go back to the positives of the performance.
“Defensively, another clean sheet, which is fantastic. When we came in, there was a lot of talk about the goals conceded and another clean sheet. Tactically, again, I thought the boys were excellent. The chance creation is what we should be sat here talking about, but we're not, and I understand the situation and all that. I'm a realist, I understand. But I'm also incredibly proud of the performance the players put into that.”
“Of course we wanted three points of course we did. But there's no point saying that one isn't enough right now when there's eight to play. It's another point on our board. We wanted three. I believe we were going to get three. I absolutely woke up this morning believing that we're going to get all three. And I think on the balance the performance, that was justified faith. But, of course, we want to win our home games and we haven't today, so we can be disappointed about that or we can take the positives, refresh in the international break and come back energized.
“We're playing against the team trying to get promoted out of the division. After that first half, it was going to be extremely tough to replicate that second half, I think, considering the calibre of the opposition. But we still created some clear cut chances. Another day we could take one of them second half just as much as one of the ones in the first half. But yeah, it wasn't to be."
Ex-Boro winger Isaiah Jones came up against his former side for the first time since his January exit and shared the frustrations of his boss.
He said: “I think that was our most complete performance today. We were unlucky not to take the three points, but can take many positives from the game.
"It’s frustrating we couldn’t take our chances when we had them. We have to take the positives because, at least we’re getting into positions to have them chances.
"It was strange for me coming up against Boro, but at the same time, it’s business. When I’m on that pitch, friends or not, I want all three points. My mentality was, yes I’m playing against old mates and team-mates, but I’m here to win and give the Luton fans something to cheer about. We’re disappointed not to win, but we take the positives and move forward to the next one."
