"We were without enough energy and at the end of the game I did not have the sensation that we were close to winning the game.

"We tried but without the quality and the energy it wasn't easy for us.

"In general, it has not been a positive start to the season.

"It's not a question about shape or formation, it's about how to play football, it's about intent.

"We changed at half-time because Luton were playing lots of long balls, so we made the decision to play one more offensive player up to make more damage.

"But it didn't work especially good and, without the basics, it was too complicated to create the positive things and get closer to winning the game.

"A lot of these players have played Premier League football, but you cannot be scared about the game. You cannot lose the game before you start. We need personalities.

"We needed to show more, we needed to create more. There is much to work on."

A quiet first half saw George Baldock head the best chance over for United at the far post.

Luton upped the tempo in the second period, Onyedinma racing through to poke a finish past Wes Foderingham, only to be denied by a raised flag from the referee's assistant.

Allan Campbell fired into the side-netting and Harry Cornick hit the bar from close range, while James Bree flashed a late attempt narrowly wide.

Town boss Nathan Jones was happy with his side's display following a 5-0 defeat to Birmingham last weekend.

He said: "I thought we did enough to win the game, but what I'm really pleased with and what shows what we have here is just how we bounced back from last week.

"We had to take one and the underlying thing is we're constantly punching above our weight at this level, so now and again we're going to take one on the nose and it's about how we react.

"We reacted very well, we bounced back. We don't often go very long without winning and having defeat after defeat and that shows we have massive amounts of character.

"Today we went toe-to-toe with Sheffield United, one of the favourites for the league and they're going to click as they've got some fantastic players, but I thought we were excellent from start to finish.

"We did all the basics well, pressed well, denied them – they had one chance in the first minute, but apart from that, very little.

"We had the better chances, scored a goal which is probably onside, then had another opportunity that the ref's brought back early when Fred's in.

"Harry had a great chance, hit the bar, I really thought it was a good performance from us today.

"I thought we bounced back and I'm proud of the club."