On Oscars weekend, Shrewsbury Town produced another sequel to their away day blues. 

But while the twist in the tale in the shape of the result was all too depressingly familiar, the sub-plot on this occasion was a little different. 

Of all the most cringe-worthy statistics this miserable run on the road has generated, arguably the most damning is that Paul Simpson’s side have managed just two points and three goals from the sextet of trips to the division’s bottom six teams. 

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But whereas performances, at the likes of Grimsby, Bournemouth and Accrington left Town open to criticism, they can at least take some consolation from a much improved display at Kenilworth Road. 

Even amid this horrendous run on their travels and another massive setback with defeat to the Football League’s bottom club, Shrewsbury did enough to earn an ovation from the vast majority of the 480 visiting supporters. 

For 90 per cent of this open encounter, Town did much of what was asked of them. 

But wastefulness in front of goal and the odd defensive error condemned Paul Simpson’s side to a defeat which will no doubt eat further into the levels of confidence and belief away from the Prostar Stadium. 

Town had enough chances, and clear ones at that, to remove the monkey from their back and finally chalk up an away victory after making light of a real pudding of a pitch to regularly threaten the Luton goal. 

But those opportunities were, with one exception, all spurned as leading scorer Grant Holt continued the first frustrating spell of his Town career. 

Holt could and probably should have boosted his current tally of 22 by a further two against Chester on Tuesday. 

And it’s no exaggeration to say he could have left Luton with the match-ball for a hat-trick. 

But it’s not running for Town’s leading scorer at present who will, instead, have to content himself with the fact he continues to get into goal-scoring positions. 

Shrewsbury will also rue the fact that defensive slips were punished to the full by a Luton team still eyeing the greatest of all escapes. 

The first came after just 15 minutes when a lack of communication gifted the hosts a corner, Luke Daniels tipping a deep cross which could do no damage behind. 

Town’s defence then failed to deal with a Rossi Jarvis flag kick as Tom Craddock netted from close range. 

Prior to that, Shrewsbury had started brightly and were deservedly back on terms shortly after following an  excellent move. 

Terry Dunfield’s well-placed through ball was superbly laid off by Richard Walker for Ben Davies to arrive on the burst and slot past Dean Brill. 

Chris Humphrey then thumped a 25-yard effort against the bar but it was to be Luton who regained the advantage on 34 minutes when the otherwise bright Richard Walker lost possession down the Town right. 

The subsequent cross from Davis was mis-judged by Graham Coughlan and Sam Parkin chested the ball down before firing past the helpless Daniels. 

Holt and Ben Davies then hit shots just wide of the target either side of half-time. 

And Town must have been wondering how they were trailing when Holt first fired a one-on-one straight at Brill and then, from the resulting corner, saw a header cleared off the line. 

Shrewsbury’s search for a second leveller continued with Davies flicking the bar with an in-swinging free-kick and Holt almost capitalising on some defensive uncertainty as he flicked the ball just wide of the target. 

But the game was up for Town when Asa Hall’s 20 yard shot on 70 minutes was accurately placed into the bottom corner and Daniels couldn’t get down quick enough as the ball ricocheted in off the post. 

Some of the spark disappeared from the Shrewsbury performance after that, although Luton required some desperate defending to keep out shots from Davies and substitute Steve Leslie. 

This was an improved display on the road. But the fact is it’s now 15 League games without an away win.