Charlton slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday evening, despite taking an early lead.
Lee Bowyer played three central defenders and his game plan was to use Jonathan Leko’s seering pace against Luton’s pedestrian back line.
It started well -Leko put the Addicks ahead after just seven minutes – but goals from Pelly-Ruddock. Mpanzu and Izzy Brown stood the game on it’s head.
There were question marks over both goals however. James Collins – standing in an offside position – was in Dillon Phillips’ line of vision for the first.
Charlton skipper, Jason Pearce, protested long and hard but after speaking to his assistant, Darren England let the goal stand.
The Addicks gifted possession for the second, but Bowyer felt Izzy Brown handled the ball in the build up to the goal.
On a wretched night for Bowyer’s team. Conor Gallagher picked up a fifth yellow card and will miss Saturday’s clash with Sheffield Wednesday at The Valley.
The defeat saw Charlton slip to 14th in the table, still nine points above the drop zone, though Middlesbrough do have a game in hand.
This is what Bowyer had to say after the game:
”We took the lead and then they got a goal shortly after which was offside and I feel for my players, because it’s tough on them at the moment.
“We’ve got so many things going against us, they’re giving everything and tonight I feel for them as they’ve lost a game from two decisions which they didn’t deserve that from the efforts they put in.
“It’s handball, he (Brown) took the ball in the path, unfortunately for him, it’s hit a bobble and then bounced up, and he didn’t use his knee to put it into his path.
“I’ve seen it, it was his arm and I understand the game moves so quickly, but it’s handball, not only the first goal when the fella’s (James Collins) falling over our goalkeeper as the ball goes past him.
“Both those goals would have not stood if we had VAR in our division, but it’s not, so I feel for my players, because they’ve given everything and we’ve come away with nothing.”
Charlton: Phillips, Solly, Lockyer, Pearce, Sarr (Doughty 59), Purrington (Davison 85); Pratley, Morgan, Gallagher Leko; Bonne.
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Matthews, Oshilaja, Vennings.
Goal: Leko 7.
Booked: Gallagher 35 (foul).
Luton: Shea; Bree, Pearson, Bradley, Potts; Shinnie, Mpanzu, Brown, Tunnicliffe (Bolton 79); Cornick, Collins.
Subs (not used): McManaman, Sluga, Galloway, LuaLua, Jones, Butterfield.
Goals: Mpanzu 19, Brown 53.
Booked: Brown 59 (foul), Shinnie 89 (dissent), Mpanzu 90 (foul).
Referee: Darren England .
Attn: 10,004 (1,032 Charlton).