Clarke hits out at his ‘abysmal’ Pirates

BRISTOL Rovers boss Darrell Clarke branded his side as ‘abysmal’ as they were beaten at Luton.

Andrew Shinnie’s 62nd-minute goal divided the two teams, but the Pirates were indebted to a fine showing from on-loan Brentford keeper Jack Bonham for ensuring they were still in the contest.

Clarke said: “We were absolutely abysmal for 45 minutes and I take responsibility as I always do.

“Every decision I make at the minute is costing us, but I need more from the players.

“I’ve made my feelings known in there and we’ve all got to do better.

“I’m the first one to hold my hands up, but too many of the players are not producing at the moment and they know it. It’s nowhere near good enough.

“For that I am accountable. Players who have come into the club aren’t good enough and I do the recruitment.

“Our club is not going to be a nice happy place for the next few weeks. I won’t tolerate a performance like that.”

Luton had a good chance early on, Matty Pearson heading Jorge Grant’s corner over, while Grant’s close-range header was well saved by Bonham.

Jack Stacey had a goal disallowed, before Bonham denied Elliot Lee, with Grant ballooning the rebound over.

The visiting keeper also twice saved well from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, while Glen Rea’s curler was just inches away, before Luton took the lead.

A free-kick was only half cleared as far as Shinnie, who rifled low beyond Bonham.

Lee then tested Bonham twice, the second one producing a fine save.

Town’s win was soured in the final 10 minutes by what looked a serious leg injury to on-loan Leeds midfielder Eunan O’Kane.

Meanwhile, Luton chief Nathan Jones was delighted with a third successive home win, saying: “We were excellent. First half if we’d have scored, it was as close to perfection as I could have imagined.

“It’s just sad we didn’t take a chance earlier as then who knows what might have happened?

“These are an established League One side and I thought we were totally dominant.”