LUTON Town midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu has denied claims that he told Newport County AFC players he had dived to win the controversial deciding penalty during last night’s League Two contest at Kenilworth Road.

The 23-year-old burst into the area in the 95th minute and hit the deck before a challenge from Jamie Turley.

Referee Charles Breakspear pointed to the spot and Cameron McGeehan scored his second penalty of the match to condemn County to defeat.

The Exiles players and management were convinced it was a dive and the video evidence appears to back up that view.

Warren Feeney even told reporters that the player had admitted diving but Mpanzu denied that when he spoke to the Luton News.

“I thought it was a penalty straight away,” said the ex-West Ham United youngster.

“I felt a bit of contact so I’m going to go down, it’s how the ref viewed it and thankfully he gave a penalty to us.

“I can’t speak for their players, but I never said anything to them,” he added.

“If that’s what they said, that’s what they said, I can’t control what they’re going to say, so that’s their views.

“I’ll keep my cool, I’ve got to focus on our players, focus on what the manager says, so whatever they say can’t harm you as they’re not my players.

“Our players said get away from them, we kept calm, thanked the fans and walked off the pitch calmly.”

On whether he felt it was a penalty in the first place, Mpanzu continued: “Yes, I’ve driven into the box, I felt contact and gone down.

“I had one before and the ref didn’t give it, so if the ref gives it it’s a penalty and Cam’s (McGeehan) got to put the ball in the back of the net and thankfully he did.

“They were saying that I dived and that I’m a cheating guy, so I said ‘there’s contact, you’ve got to talk to the referee about it’.

“I’ve kept a calm head, Cam’s kept a calm head, they were saying he’s going to miss, and he’s thankfully put the ball in the back of the net.

“It was a bit difficult, but you’ve got to keep your composure, you react and the ref gives a red card to you, then what are you, suspended for three games, so you’ve got to keep your composure and thankfully our players did.

“Obviously they’re not going to be happy with the ref giving us a penalty and they’ve lost the game, but we’ve got to keep our heads, keep focused on the game and thankfully we did that and came away with three points.”