The Lions scored a goal in each half and inflicted a second straight defeat on the Hatters, who dropped down to 10th position after losing at The Den.

Speaking pitchside after the match, Nathan said: “We weren’t brave enough, we didn’t compete well enough. We know they put balls in the box and it’s a real threat and we struggled with that.

“We felt that the goal was well over time in the first half and we just wanted to get to half time and re-group because we didn’t play well first half at all.

"We weren’t brave enough in possession, we gave the ball away and then we go long and to be honest, they can cause you problems because they have big, strong players.

“That’s what we didn’t do well. Second half I thought we were much better, I thought we were in control of the game without really penetrating, because that’s the disappointing thing.

“All the work we do, we didn’t penetrate at all, and then the goal came at the wrong time but if I’m honest, I’m not sure we really looked like scoring tonight anyway.

“We’ve got James Collins out, Harry Cornick out, Potts out, Bree out. There is a lot missing and that is showing because a lot of players are having to do a lot of big shifts at the minute, and that is taking a lot away from us.”