Luton manager Mike Newell was furious after his team's 2-2 draw at QPR in the FA Cup third round.

Shabazz Baidoo's controversial equaliser for Rangers forced a replay after Luton had dominated the second half.

Baidoo appeared to bundle the ball in with his hands but referee Tony Bates allowed the goal to stand after consulting his assistant.

Newell said: "It was handball. I don't know why the referee couldn't see it and his assistant couldn't see it, but everyone else in the ground could.

"We should have won that game. We should have put it beyond QPR with the 15-minute spell we had after half-time.

"It was a good performance but this is the FA Cup and what matters most is not the performance but getting to the next round.

"We should have won and didn't, but it's hard to swallow when you know that their goal was handball."

Newell admitted that the last thing that his injury-hit side need is a cup replay.

"We weren't looking for another game with the injuries we've got," he said.

"We're down to the bare bones at the moment so a replay really is not ideal."

Luton battled back after Dexter Blackstock headed Rangers ahead from Lee Cook's 32nd-minute corner.

Rowan Vine levelled with a right-footed effort on the stroke of half-time and a minute after the interval Warren Feeney headed home after Rangers keeper Simon Royce fumbled Ahmet Brkovic's cross.

But the home side were denied by Baidoo's 76th-minute goal, which even QPR manager John Gregory conceded should have been disallowed.

"It wasn't just one hand - the ball hit both of them," said Gregory.

"He put his arms up to protect himself from a clearance and the ball hit him and ended up in the net.

"After that, I think we should have gone on to win it with the pressure we had. But it was a game of mishaps and mistakes and the rain made things tough.

"We were firmly in control before Luton equalised but we went from a position of strength to being behind.

"What we need to do in the replay is try and replicate the way we played in the first 44 minutes."

Rangers have not won an FA Cup game since 2001 but Gregory is hopeful they can finally land a place in the fourth round.

He said: "The last time QPR won in the FA Cup was a replay against Luton, so let's hope history repeats itself.

"We're in the draw on Monday for the next round and that's all that matters. Let's hope we get a good draw and then win that match at their place."