Having fallen behind to Nahki Wells’ 39th-minute opener, it looked like the Foxes – who had John Lundstram sent off with five minutes to go – had salvaged something from the game when Liam Cullen struck from just outside the box in the 90th minute.

But Luton substitute Callum Marshall struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time to leave Martin reflecting on a fourth defeat in 11 League One games.

Martin said: “We did so well to get ourselves back in the game with 10 men, it’s so disappointing.

“Within a couple of minutes, the feeling can be so different. It can feel like a win almost, down to 10 men, a battling draw, brilliant goal and then we concede a goal and it’s frustration.

“It was the only time they entered our box really, and we gave a goal away.

“We gave away two poor goals today and that’s frustration. We didn’t start the game well, weathered the storm and then just the aggression and fight in our team in the second half was so much better, it gave us a real chance and then we got back in the game.

“We should have had a penalty too, anywhere else on the pitch and that’s a foul, but it is what it is, that’s not why we lost the game today.”

Luton led when Jordan Clark dispossessed Caleb Okoli and found Wells to sweep home before half-time.

And Leicester’s hopes of an equaliser took a hit when Lundstram’s lunging challenge on Isaiah Jones saw him receive a second yellow card in the 85th minute.

Cullen had other ideas, though, as he curled home brilliantly from the edge of the box to seemingly win a point.

But Town won it when Emilio Lawrence’s cross was prodded in by fellow substitute Marshall.

Luton boss Jack Wilshere said: “I want the players and I want everyone to feel it as a big moment.

“Listen, we’re not getting carried away, we want to stay humble, but when you look up at the clock in the 88th minute and you’re playing against 10 men who have just scored, that’s tough.

“You’ve got a decision to make. You can go into your shell and just get a point, but I didn’t feel like that. Everyone was on the front foot, everyone knew we wanted more out of this game.

“So we can review the game tactically, but emotionally and desire and passion, everything we need to be successful in this league, it was there and credit to the players for that.”