NEIL Warnock has called on his side to be nastier as another second half collapse saw them comfortably beaten 3-1 by Luton Town.

Boro conceded three goals in five minutes in the second period with a Sonny Bradley header and finishes from Elijah Adebayo and Harry Cornick inflicting the damage.

Boro had taken the lead in the game through Josh Coburn but in truth, it was a comfortable night for the Hatters.

Some of the goals were caused by Boro’s own doing which was a big bug bare for the manager.

Warnock said: “It is annoying. Matt Crooks knows what he’s done. He left (Aden) Flint when he nearly scored at Cardiff so we’ll have to look at that won’t we, about who marks who.

“You can’t have a free header like that, deary me. It’s like schoolboys isn’t it.”

Once Boro conceded the goals, they became toothless in attack, which was a mirror image of their second half showing against Birmingham City at the weekend, where they conceded two goals in three minutes.

When asked about the players mentality, Warnock said: “You’ve got to look at the players that are out there on the pitch.

“We haven’t got that nastiness that they’ve got, that little bit of what you need in the Championship. We’re quite a nice team if I’m honest.

“Play decent football, should have won the game tonight but when you’ve got to be physical and you’ve got to defend and you’ve got to have that mentality, we haven’t got enough of that.

“I thought Sol (Bamba) were super again. I thought Isaiah (Jones) and Josh (Coburn) were amazing in the circumstances tonight so I’m pleased with a lot of it but we have got what we’ve got.

“If anybody can pick a better team at the moment, they’ll do well I think.”

Boro had two penalty shouts in both halves when Isaiah Jones appeared to be brought down. One challenge in the box wasn’t given but the other was adjudged to be a free-kick as referee Tim Robinson pointed just outside the area as Jones was brought down by Fred Onyedinma.

Warnock said: “I think the linesman overruled the referee on one on Isaiah Jones.

“Then in the second half, I think it’s a penalty. He’s outside the box and he gives it which is an easy kop out really but he gives Isaiah advantage. So the advantage takes you into the box and then he’s fouled. So it’s a penalty. But we didn’t seem to get any rub of the green tonight you know.

“The linesman over the far side who didn’t give the Isaiah Jones penalty, I don’t think he’s ever given us anything when I’ve seen him. I’ll not miss him when I retire.”