Barnsley vs Luton Town FC (13th Oct 2018)

BARNSLEY 3 LUTON TOWN 2

Collins nets twice but the Hatters are beaten by the odd goal in five

The Hatters' five-match unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One came to a halt in the lunchtime kick-off as highly-fancied Barnsley won 3-2 at Oakwell.

James Collins scored in each half to take his recent run to four goals in as many matches - the first a penalty on the stroke of half-time to make it 2-1, with his second coming five minutes from time after the Tykes had restored their two-goal advantage.

As manager Nathan Jones conceded afterwards, the side relegated from the Championship last season were worthy of their victory, midfielder Brad Potts, former Hatter Cameron McGeehan and substitute Mamadou Thiam scoring their goals.

But the game could have changed on two big decisions, firstly when Collins put the ball in the net with Barnsley leading 1-0, only for a linesman's offside flag to incorrectly, as TV replays showed, rule it out.

Then, with the Town back in the game at 3-2 in the closing stages, substitute Danny Hylton - back after an injury lay-off stretching back to August 25th - was dragged to the ground by Liam Lindsay in the box, but referee Ross Joyce waved appeals for a second penalty away and the hosts, as impressive a side as we've come up against this season, took the points.

Jones made one change from last week's win over Scunthorpe, with Elliot Lee missing out through injury and James Justin coming into a reshuffled midfield in his place.

That meant goalkeeper James Shea was behind a back four of Jack Stacey, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley and Dan Potts, with captain Glen Rea anchoring the midfield alongside Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Justin and Jorge Grant, and Harry Cornick and Collins up front.

Barnsley took the lead in the fifth minute when, seconds after Pearson had been penalised for a foul on home keeper Jack Walton from a first corner that swirled in the wind, Potts broke clear of a group of players midway inside the Town half and drove an effor past Shea from 20 yards.

The hosts were well on top in the early stages and almost doubled their lead when Dimitri Cavare fired into the side-netting on 13 minutes, with Bradley's sliding challenge deflecting it wide, before George Moncur shooting over from the resulting corner.

The chances kept coming for the Tykes, Jacob Brown heading over on 18 minutes before Moncur shot straight at Shea a minute later.

The Town grew into the game, however, and Walton was called into action in the 20th minute when Justin was played into the right edge of the area by Stacey, and his fierce cross-shot from a tight angle tipped over the bar by the home keeper.

The ball was in the back of the Barnsley net in the 21st minute when Walton couldn't hold a 25-yarder from Mpanzu, and Collins was there to follow up - a linesman's flag ruling it out for offside, incorrectly as TV replays showed the striker was level when the shot was hit.

Double punishment was dished out in the 26th minute when McGeehan arrived at the perfect time to meet Moncur's low cross with a side-foot finish into the bottom corner, to make it 2-0.

Town responded positively, Bradley's 29th-minute flicked header drifting just wide of the far post from Grant's free-kick, after Mpanzu fouled wide on the left.

Grant went closer still in the 41st minute when his free-kick from the left angle of the area beat the wall, but uunfortunately not the woodwork, as it clipped the outside of Walton's right post and went behind for a goal-kick.

Barnsley looked like finishing the half as they started, well on the front foot, with the ever dangerous Moncur crossing dangerously across the face of goal on 43 minutes, before fashioning space on the edge of the area to fire another good effort just wide with 45 minutes on the clock.

The Town were right back in it with two minutes of added time played, when Cornick was tripped by Ben Williams just inside the area on the right, and Collins stepped up to net from the spot.

With neither manager making a change at half-time, McGeehan had the first two attempts of the second period, the first a shot from 20 yards that was off target, before a far post header hit the bar and flew skywards, with Shea reacting well to push the dropping ball over the bar as Brown looked to pounce.

Jones made his first substitution in the 56th minute when Alan McCormack came on for Grant, slotting into midfield alongside Rea, with Mpanzu and Justin pushed further on to a form a three with Cornick just behind Collins as the point.

Shea was in the right place to drop on another shot from Brad Potts in the 69th minute when the Tykes midfielder got an effort away following a six-yard box scramble, shortly before Jones introduced Kazenga LuaLua for Cornick on 72 and Hylton for Rea seven minutes later.

The striker hadn't even had chance to have a touch before Tykes substitute Thiam fired a bullet into the top corner of Shea's net in the 80th minute to virtually kill the game off.

Bradley rose highest to meet a free-kick from Justin moments later, but his header was well wide of Walton's left post.

Then, with five minutes to go, the Town had a lifeline as LuaLua's deep cross from the left came back off the inside of the post and landed right in front of Collins, who gobbled up his second of the game by volleying in from close range.

Bar the lateb penalty shout for the foul on Hylton, however, that was as close as the Hatters came to taking something back to Bedfordshire, where Walsall are next up in a week's time at the Kenny.

TOWN: Shea, Stacey, Pearson, Bradley, Potts, Rea (Hylton 79), Mpanzu, Justin, Grant (McCormack 56), Cornick (LuaLua 72), Collins. Subs: Isted, Shinnie, Jarvis, Sheehan.

Goals: Collins (pen) 45+3, 85

Yellows: McCormack (EDIT and LuaLua)

BARNSLEY: Walton, Cavare, Pinnock (c), Lindsay, Williams (Pinillos 73), Potts, McGeehan, Mowatt, Moncur (Hedges 83), Brown, Bahre (Thiam 68). Subs: Kendrick, Bird, Jackson, Adeboyejo

Goals: Potts 5, McGeehan 26, Thiam 80

Yellows: Brown

REFEREE: Ross Joyce

ATT: 12,688 (807 away)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkfSVhPZ-IQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGVmzyKjnAU

NATHAN JONES ON THE 3-2 DEFEAT TO BARNSLEY

Town boss Nathan Jones was disappointed with the manner in which his side conceded against Barnsley this afternoon, but overall felt the hosts were a little better than the Hatters on the day.

Brad Potts opened the scoring with a low effort into the bottom left corner just five minutes in, before former Hatter Cameron McGeehan found the same spot 20 minutes later when he passed the ball into the back of the net from George Moncur's cross.

James Collins wrongly had a goal ruled out for offside before he found the back of the net from the penalty spot after Harry Cornick had been tripped in the box late on in the first half.

Mamadou Thiam's rocket from just inside the box with ten minutes to play all but sealed the three points for the Tykes, but James Collins' volley late on gave the Town hope, but they were unable to grab a last gasp equaliser.

Jones said: "I thought they were better then us today. I thought they had more aggression than us, especially first half. They won the first ball and got onto the second, it causes problems. They played with a bit more intensity which isn't the case normally, full credit to them.

"We were way off our levels in terms of our ball retention, in terms of playing with intensity and fluidity, we were nowhere near. I could chastise my players for that or I could say Barnsley curtailed us. They are a good side, we knew that, but we knew we needed to be brave, we needed to win our battles and we didn't do that first half.

"The goals from their point of view, they'll be pleased. But we lost a header, he ran straight through the middle and shot and it's pretty much what happened at Doncaster, so we're not learning.

"The goals are really, really disappointing, but overall I thought Barnsley deserved their win, I cant stand here and say we should have [won it]. In reality we should have [got something from the game], there's an onside goal and then we should have a penalty late on for a pull back, he's got his arm around his neck.

"The big decisions have gone against us, but they were a little bit better than us today."

Collins notches twice but Hatters fall to Tykes defeat

League One: Barnsley 3 Luton Town 2

Luton saw their six game unbeaten run in all competitions ended by an excellent Barnsley side this afternoon, who showcased their undoubted promotion credentials.

The defeat was however tinged with a real element of controversy, Town having a perfectly good goal ruled out for offside at 1-1, and then denied a late penalty when sub Danny Hylton was wrestled to the ground.

With the game live on Sky, Hatters were given a boost, able to name Hylton on the teamsheet for the first time since August 25, the striker on the bench, while James Justin came in for Elliot Lee.

In the Barnsley line-up was former Luton favourite Cameron McGeehan, who made over 100 appearances for the club before heading north.

The hosts made the perfect start, as with just five minutes on the clock, Brad Potts picked the ball and unleashed a low drive from 20 yards beyond James Shea and into the corner.

Barnsley's impressive array of midfield riches set up an opportunity for the overlapping Dimitri Cavare, as found by Alex Mowatt, his effort was finger-tipped behind by Shea.

George Moncur whizzed one over the top from 20 yards, while Jacob Brown glanced wide, Moncur's second effort easy for Shea.

Town thought they had a leveller out of the blue on 20 minutes, when Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's 25-yarder was fumbled by Jack Walton, James Collins netting the rebound, but he was adjudged offside and the goal didn't count.

TV replays were to show afterwards the forward was level with the hosts back-line and to make matters worse for Jones' side, they swiftly conceded a second goal on 26 minutes.

The game's stand-out player Moncur beat the sliding challenge of Glen Rea and pickedhe perfect moment to play in McGeehan, who as he had done so may times for Luton, arrived on cue to sidefoot home.

Sonny Bradley's flick from Jorge Grant's free kick was inches wide as Luton looked to halve the deficit immediately.

Grant then went for goal just two minutes before half time, his effort had keeper Jack Walton sprawling, hitting the outside of the post on its way behind.

Barnsley were inches away from a third on the stroke of half time, Moncur rounding Pearson, his cross just beyond the stretching Potts, with Moncur going alone from 22 yards, not missing by much.

Luton gave themselves a lifeline on the stroke of half time when Cornick was tripped in the box by Ben Williams for a penalty.

Collins, who had missed his last two efforts, made no mistake this time, confidently beating Walton straight down the middle.

Any thoughts though the Hatters would be boosted by halving the deficit, readying themselves for an onslaught on the home goal after the break were to prove false though, as they never really looked capable of an equaliser.

McGeehan whacked an attempt wide, before meeting a deep free kick at the far post, heading against the woodwork, Shea tipping the rebound over.

The keeper had to collect Potts' low effort as Town struggled to clear a corner, the game turning into something of a masterclass from the hosts in how to hold on to a lead.

Jones rang the changes, bringing on Alan McCormack, Kazenga LuaLua and then Hylton, but just as Luton looked primed to try and get something from the game, they were 3-1 down with 11 minutes to go.

There was no denying the quality of the strike too, as on the angle, substitute Mamadou Thiam rifled into the top corner, leaving Shea with little chance.

Bradley put a header wide, but just as Luton looked dead and buried, they had a glimmer of hope, LuaLua's cross cannoning off the inside of the post and Collins was there to finish the rebound with an excellent volley for his second of the afternoon.

Jack Stacey's crucial block prevented Jacob Brown notching a fourth for the Tykes, while Hatters felt they had claims for a penalty in stoppage time, Hylton manhandled to the ground by Liam Lindsay, but referee Ross Joyce gave nothing as the visitors left empty-handed.

Tykes: Jack Walton, Dimitri Cavare, Ethan Pinnock (C), Liam Lindsay, Ben Williams (Daniel Pinillos 74), Jacob Brown, Brad Potts, George Moncur (Ryan Hedges 83), Mike Bahre (Mamadou Thiam 68), Cameron McGeehan, Alex Mowatt.

Subs not used: Henry Kendrick, Jared Bird, Adam Jackson, Victor Adeboyejo.

Hatters: James Shea, James Justin, Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley, Matty Pearson, Glen Rea (C Danny Hylton 78), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, James Justin, Jorge Grant (Alan McCormack 56), James Collins, Harry Cornick (Kazenga LuaLua 73).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Alan Sheehan, Aaron Jarvis, Andrew Shinnie.

Booked: McCormack 88, Brown 90, LuaLua 90.

Referee: Ross Joyce.

Attendance: 12,688.

Jones frustrated as key decisions go against his side

Luton boss Nathan Jones was left bitterly disappointed as two key decisions went against his side during their 3-2 defeat at Barnsley this afternoon.

With the Hatters trailing 1-0 to Brad Potts' early goal, they were then denied what appeared a perfectly good equaliser when James Collins was adjudged offside from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu's shot that was fumbled by home keeper Jack Walton.

Then when 3-2 behind in stoppage time, sub Danny Hylton was hauled down by defender Jack Lindsay, as Jones said of the disallowed goal: "It was a critical time and then 1-1 means they don't go down the other end and score two minutes later to make it 2-0, so it's a big, big decision.

"I can't say that we would have gone on and won the game, because Barnsley edged the game today, they were better than us today, but when you're the away side you just need the correct decision to be given and then it could have been a different outcome.

"We've had it, we didn't play well at Peterborough and then a massive decision, a wrong decision go against us, which could have changed things, so all these are points that means we climb the table.

"I'm disappointed and I spoke to the referee, I'm going to see the referee as he said 'never a pen', but it's a clear penalty, Linsday has his arms around Danny's neck, granted it's only one arm, but he pulls him over with that around his neck, if it was in a nightclub, it's hand on his neck.

"I can't criticise them too much, I'll go in and say, 'two big decisions went against us that were real big ones and I'm very, very disappointed.

"Straight after they scored, Harry Cornick was played in and he's given offside for that and he wasn't, that wasn't a big decision, but it's a decision we could have got a chance from.

"So they've made decisions that have gone against us, but I'll have to dissect the performance as well as we weren't at or levels today and that's a credit to Barnsley."

Despite his annoyance at the officials, Jones did concede his side were second best on the day, adding: "I thought they were better then us today.

"I thought they had more aggression than us, especially first half. They won the first ball and got on to the second, and that caused us problems.

"They played with a bit more intensity which isn’t the case normally, full credit to them. We were way off our levels in terms of our ball retention, in terms of playing with intensity and fluidity, we were nowhere near.