Carrick insists Luton winner against Boro was 'never a penalty'

Michael Carrick felt Luton's match-winning penalty should not have been given as Middlesbrough lost 2-1 to their play-off rivals at Kenilworth Road last night. 

The visitors took a first-half lead through Cameron Archer but the Hatters hit back after the break, with Tom Lockyer heading in and then Carlton Morris converting after being brought down by Zack Steffen. 

Yet Carrick claimed the spot-kick should not have been awarded by referee Graham Scott. 

The Boro boss, 41, said: "A penalty like that, luckily we can laugh it off in some ways. 

"But I do wonder, with the referees being in the Premier League and used to VAR and then not having it, I think it gives them a bit of insurance. 

"This is not directly to the referee tonight, it's something in general to look at. 

"Tonight didn't count for too much in the end but it could be a crucial decision at some point. 

"Whether it's this season or next, it's very different for referees coming down when you haven't got the security for the big, big decisions. 

"I'm not moaning about tonight, it is what it is.

"It was never a penalty, of course it wasn't, but it's something to think about moving forward."

After Matt Crooks fired over the top in the first half, the midfielder's pass released Archer on 40 minutes, who beat the tame efforts of home keeper Ethan Horvath and walked the ball into the net. 

Luton were level four minutes after the interval when Lockyer headed home Alfie Doughty's corner. 

Morris scored his controversial penalty midway through the second half and although Boro pressed for a leveller, the hosts dug in to see the victory out. 

On the penalty, Hatters boss Rob Edwards said: "There's some contact there on Carlton. 

"We’ve watched it back a few times, you need a certain angle, there is contact so he's gone down. 

"If I was in their position, you'd be disappointed. But from the angle I’ve seen, there's contact, he's gone down, penalty."