Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth believes referee Oliver Langford ‘hasn’t had the best day’, after Wanderers lost 3-1 at home to Luton.

The Chairboys were 1-0 up through an Anis Mehmeti penalty, but after Josh Knight was sent off just before the hour mark for a challenge on Jordan Clark, Luton piled on the pressure and scored three times in the final 10 minutes to snatch the points.

Each of Luton’s goals were technically very good, as George Moncur equalised with a low free-kick, Kazenga LuaLua scored a thunderbolt from 20-yards, and Elijah Adebayo knocked in a direct and firm header.

READ MORE: 'The ref has got to see that better' - Ainsworth confirms Josh Knight's red card will be appealed

Speaking after the defeat, Ainsworth said: “It was a real blood, guts, and thunder first half and deservedly so as we were on top.

“Luton have tried to ‘out physical’ us and that is not going to happen, so I am really pleased the boys stood up in that challenge.

Both sets of players observed in a two-minute silence for the late Prince Philip (Prime Media)

Both sets of players observed in a two-minute silence for the late Prince Philip (Prime Media)

“If you were a neutral, you would have been raging with the referee as that was a hell of a game at 11 vs 11, as I don’t think Luton had many chances at all, and I thought we had done a good number on them.

“But with 10 men, they were going to pick us apart and to concede two goals from set plays is disappointing, but it is difficult with 10 men.

“We can’t compete in this league at the bottom with 10, as it is already tough with 11, and I thought we would have done it with 11, which would have made us sit six points off safety which would have been fantastic.

The boss also thought that Wycombe, as well as Luton, should have had a penalty each in the contest.

READ MORE: Match report at Adams Park: Wycombe Wanderers 1-3 Luton Town

Moments before Wycombe were awarded a penalty, they did have another claim when Uche Ikpeazu was brought down by Matty Pearson, only for Langford to wave the appeals away.

He continued: “I am not going to sit here like other managers and say ‘it should have been all for us’, as he [the referee] should have given one to Luton in the second half, and we should have had one for Uche.

The goal that broke Wycombe's heart

“There should have been three penalties in the game and no red card.

“So for me, the ref hasn’t had the best day.”

READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers 1-3 Luton Town - As it happened

Finally, on Josh Knight, Ainsworth said: “He has been one of our star performers this season.

“He is a great lad and he is devastated.

“I have told him that these things happen and it is a good learning curve, and when we survive on that last day, we can remind him of this.”

Prior to the Luton match, Langford had only officiated one Wycombe fixture this season – that was the 1-1 draw against Derby County at Pride Park back in November.