The Hatters turned in a superb performance but fell just short as Ashley Barnes’ 78th minute penalty proved decisive.

Falling to a first Championship defeat in six matches, Edwards was nothing but pleased with what he saw from his team, after taking the Clarets all the way in a battling performance.

“I’m so proud of the lads today,” he insisted. “I thought after getting back about 4am in the morning on Thursday after a tough night in Preston, a quick turnaround and then going up against comfortably the best team in the league and putting on a performance like that, I’m so proud of the lads.

“It’s a pen. I think we can deal with the initial free-kick better that’s all. We’re human beings there is going to be one or two mistakes but there was very few out there today. The lads gave everything, ran so hard, fought so hard.

“We’re never going to turn up here today and give Burnley the game they want, they’re too good for that. They’re too good for us to sit off and say ‘come on you have the ball’, we have to go after them, we have to make it difficult, and I thought the lads were unbelievable today with their energy.”

On Tom Lockyer’s dismissal, the boss added: “There is high emotion out there, both teams desperate to win, big game for both teams and maybe he’s made a couple of errors in judgement, but he has been fantastic for us since we’ve come in the door. He was amazing as well today but we’re going to miss him now for a game.”