Braintree Town manager Alan Devonshire said he was “gutted” to see his players’ efforts go unrewarded against Luton Town.

Having gone 2-0 down after 65 minutes of their Skrill Premier clash at the Amlin Stadium to goals by Paul Benson and Andy Parry, the Iron staged a stirring fightback.

It was led by a long-range goal from Dan Holman soon after Parry’s strike and the Hatters were left clinging on to their slender lead at the end.

The Braintree boss said: “I was gutted to be fair, really frustrated and gutted.

“I feel really sorry for the lads.

“We made it hard for ourselves by giving away sloppy goals, but how can you knock the effort?

“The effort my boys are putting in – both on Saturday (against Newport) and then against Luton – I’m just really proud of them and I feel for them.

“Some of our boys are really good players and they showed it again how good they are.

“I’m frustrated and gutted because we deserved something.”

However, the Iron boss feels his players have to stop giving themselves hills to climb during games by letting “sloppy” goals in.

The one they conceded in their FA Cup draw against Newport County on Saturday came after an error at the back and Devonshire felt there was an element of self-blame against the Hatters.

He said: “I want to see a goal that someone hits from 25 yards that flies into the top corner.

“That would let you hold your hands up and say ‘wow, what a goal that was’ but we don’t see them.

“We have to work hard for our goals and don’t have them given to us, but we’re our own worst enemies sometimes at the other end.

“We lose concentration, end up giving it away and end up giving a goal away, so it’s just frustrating.

“We’ve come a long way in a short time, though, and I’m not going to be too hard on them.

“I’ve had a pop at a few of them, but there is more to come.

“There is more to come from this team and it’s just frustrating to have lost this game.

“I feel sorry for them this time and we are naïve at times, but I’m not going to knock the effort they have given me in these last two games.

“That’s all I can ask of them.”