Bruised, battered but unbowed.

Steve Burr joked someone must have run over a black cat as the club deals with the worst run of luck since being re-formed four years ago.

Injuries – primarily in defensive areas – have ripped through a thin squad to leave the Blues having to make do and mend against Skrill Premier leaders Luton Town on Saturday (3pm).

Paul Linwood (shin), Craig Mahon (shoulder) and Matty Brown (broken nose) have joined Ross Killock (hamstring), Kevin McIntyre (groin), George Horan (ankle) and Danny Harrison (hip) in the treatment room.

A five-game unbeaten run gave the Blues some breathing space but two defeats and a draw have left them hovering above the relegation zone.

But the character and resolve shown in the 2-2 draw with Southport on Tuesday proved the players are in no mood to give up the ghost.

Burr said: “There are no questions about the effort and commitment of the players whatsoever but the luck that we are not having is unbelievable.

“I felt for them on Tuesday night that they hadn't got the three points but I can't ask for any more effort and commitment.

“There are a few tough games coming up and it's a case of us getting players out there.”

Craig Hobson and Danny Carlton have arrived to help offset the loss of loan star Matty Taylor and Burr now needs to bring in defensive reinforcements.

But the manager has little room for manoeuvre and must operate in the free agent and loan markets to strengthen his squad for the run in.

Luton are up next and the Blues will have to be wary of a backlash from the Hatters.

John Still’s side suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Woking on Monday night, bringing the Kenilworth Road club’s 27-game unbeaten run to an end.

Burr said: “There is no tougher place to go but I'm more concerned about getting players on the park and getting people fit.

“That'll will be a big job over the next few days.”

Luton are 11 points clear at the top of the table and have scored 83 goals with league top scorer Andre Gray bagging 25 times.

Gray found the back of the net in the return fixture at the Swansway Chester Stadium in November but Gareth Seddon earned the Blues a point with a superb strike.

Woking were the first team to claim maximum points at Kenilworth Road this season and the Hatters have conceded only 12 goals at home.

With a near 7,000-crowd expected the Blues will be facing  a cauldron atmosphere but with big crowds come big expectations and Burr knows few will give his side much chance and could look to turn that to his advantage.