Luton Town FC vs Barnsley (5th Apr 2021)

Match Report | Luton Town 1-2 Barnsley

The Hatters fell to a 2-1 defeat to high-flying Barnsley on a disappointing Easter Monday afternoon at Kenilworth Road.

Daryl Dike scored twice for the play off-chasing Tykes before the Hatters pulled one back through James Collins after Simon Sluga’s penalty save, but were unable to force a point late on.

Luton manager made two changes from the defeat at Pride Park on Easter Friday, giving Sam Nombe his first Championship start whilst also bringing in Martin Cranie for James Bree.

With heavy winds swirling around Kenilworth Road, the Hatters had the first attempt on goal through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Barnsley’s clearance from a Jordan Clark cross fell straight to the on-loan Leicester man, whose sweetly struck half-volley was straight at Tykes goalkeeper Brad Collins.

Midway through the opening half the Hatters came close to opening the scoring. Elijah Adebayo was released in behind down the left, firing across goal as Barnsley scrambled to clear, with Ryan Tunnicliffe crossing towards Adeabyo at the back post with the Tykes eventually clearing their lines.

It wasn’t long before Barnsley threatened Simon Sluga’s goal. Callum Styles found Alex Mowatt with a reverse pass from the left, who played in Callum Brittain free on the left of area but his shot was fired straight at Sluga.

Minutes later, Daryl Dike opened the scoring at Kenilworth Road. Romal Palmer won the first header from a Luton goal kick, finding Cauley Woodrow who turned and played a through ball into the path of Dike, successfully holding off Matty Pearson and firing past Sluga to net his sixth of the season.

Luton went into half-time break trailing 1-0 in a half where they struggled to produce any threat in the final third after being stifled by the high defensive line of their opponents.

Nathan Jones made two changes at half-time, introducing Sonny Bradley and Harry Cornick in place of Glen Rea and Sam Nombe, moving Jordan Clark further forward with Kal Naismith slotting in at left-back.

The changes brought increased tempo to the Hatters’ forward play, with Clark being released down the right but being unable to find Tunnicliffe with his pull-back from the by-line.

Just as the Hatters looked to be in the ascendancy, Barnsley doubled their lead with their first opportunity of the half. Woodrow was allowed to drive forwards towards the edge of the box, skipping past the challenge of Bradley and toe-poking towards goal, with Sluga making a rare error that allowed Dike to tap home from close range.

Dike continued to cause problems for the Hatters, winning a penalty with ten minutes remaining after being fouled by Pearson.

Sluga brilliantly saved low to his right before blocking the rebound, with the Hatters breaking down the other end through Kazenga LuaLua, who found fellow substitute James Collins outside of the box, with Luton’s leading scorer finding the far corner to halve the deficit and give the Hatters a fighting chance.

The Hatters were unable steal a late equaliser to draw level despite putting significant pressure on the Barnsley backline in the closing stages, falling to their second consecutive defeat going into Saturday’s game away at Wycombe Wanderers.

Town: Sluga, Cranie (LuaLua 70), Pearson, Naismith, Clark, Rea (C)(Bradley 45), Mpanzu, Tunnicliffe (Berry 78), Dewsbury-Hall, Nombe (Cornick 45), Adebayo (Colline 70).

Goals: Collins (83)

Yellows: Bradley

Subs not used: Isted, Moncur, Bree, Morrell.

Barnsley: Collins, Brittain, Sibbick, Helik, Andersen, Styles, Palmer, Woodrow, Adeboyejo, Dike.

Goals: Dike (27, 59)

Subs not used: Walton, Williams, Chaplin, Odour, Sollbauer, Moon.

Nathan Jones' reaction following defeat against Barnsley

The gaffer spoke post-match after loss against the Tykes...

Manager Nathan Jones insists he will be ‘ruthless’ from now until the end of the season after seeing his team fall to defeat against Barnsley this afternoon.

Barnsley scored in each half through Daryl Dike before James Collins pulled a goal back for the Hatters with eight minutes to play, but an equaliser proved elusive in the end.

It marked back-to-back defeats following the two-week international break and the manager is keen to see more from his players in the remaining seven matches.

“It wasn’t quite enough because we are having to have a grand-stand finish because we have conceded poor goals again and I have said to them, bearing in mind this year with nine games to spare we’re on 50 points you would think you’re in a relatively comfy position. When I came in last year, it was categorically different and they had a real desire to defend, work hard, put their bodies on the line. We have had two games since we have reached 50 points where we haven’t done that and we have been powder-puff both games.

“These (Barnsley) are brutal and credit to them because they’re getting results and there are no complaints whatsoever from that,” Jones continued. “We were sloppy against Derby in the things that we done, not many chances were created and there wasn’t a real seriousness about us. I want us to evolve into a better team and we were using these last nine games to do that and see if we could do certain things.

“But now, I’m going back to basics, I’m going to make sure we finish the season with points because I don’t want to lose games by trying people, seeing if people are good enough.”

https://issuu.com/lutontownfc/docs/barnsley_programme_bcd - programme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly1uCeqqxOA – Nathan Jones interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh57fFNlruQ – match highlights

Dismal Hatters can't prevent Tykes from maintaining play-off charge

Championship: Luton Town 1 Barnsley 2

Luton turned in an insipid performance at Kenilworth Road this afternoon as they were beaten by play-off chasing Barnsley.

Bar a late surge in which keeper Simon Sluga saved a late penalty and sub James Collins immediately found the net with eight minutes to go, setting up a potential grandstand finish, it was largely an encounter to forget for those of a Hatters persuasion, Town well below par for long stages and comfortably second best.

Luton boss Nathan Jones made two changes for the clash following the Good Friday defeat at Derby County, handing Sam Nombe his full Championship debut in place of Harry Cornick, while Martin Cranie replaced James Bree.

It saw Town shuffle their defence, Jordan Clark over to right back, with Cranie left, while Glen Rea started in his more comfortable holding role berth.

After visiting forward Victor Adeboyejo swivelled to shoot wide early on, Town had their first real effort on 14 minutes, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's instinctive volley well gathered by Bradley Collins.

Ex-Luton youngster Cauley Woodrow's angled snapshot flew behind, before a fine run and trickery inside the area from Elijah Adebayo saw Barnsley have to get man back to defend doggedly.

With both sides struggling to turn the game into anything resembling a decent spectacle, the visitors then had a marvellous chance on 25 minutes, Callum Brittain found unmarked in the area, side-footing tamely at the sprawling Sluga.

Barnsley looked to up the tempo, Romal Palmer firing way, way over, but Valerian Ismael's side did lead on 27 minutes, as a low ball from Woodrow found its way to Daryl Dike, the on-loan Orlando City forward holding off Matty Pearson's weak attempts to tackle, burying a low shot beyond Sluga.

Luton still couldn't awake from their slumber, Ryan Tunnicliffe's slicing a hopeful 25-yarder well wide, as Jones' side swapped ends with plenty to do following a horribly pedestrian first half.

The boss made two alterations at the break, bringing on Sonny Bradley and Cornick for Rea and Nombe.

That saw the skipper partnering Pearson in the centre of defence, Naismith left back, Cranie right, with Clark moving forward from his right back berth to an attacking role on the left-hand side.

Clark also popped up on the right, with a good piece of wing-play almost leading to an opening, but the Tykes led 2-0 on the hour with a terrible goal from the hosts point of view.

Woodrow was allowed to pick the ball up from deep, walked past Bradley's challenge and then sent in a shot that Sluga could only fumble back into the danger area when Dike reacted quickest to prod home.

Callum Styles might have had a third, his angled drive turned behind by Sluga, as Luton still couldn't really get going, Clark's toepoke never troubling Collins.

Town threw on both James Collins and Kazenga LuaLua, while they should have had one back on 72 minutes, Naismith's excellent cross finding Cornick at the back post, who didn't get anywhere near enough power on his header.

Dike almost had a third when he motored through the Town defence but could only find the side-netting.

He then had a glorious opportunity to make it 3-0 and complete his hat-trick, when tripped by Pearson in the area with eight minutes to go.

The forward stepped up, only to see Sluga make an excellent low save, with the Croatian's follow up attempt even better, somehow hurling himself in the way of Michael Helik's shot.

Luton then transferred play straight up the other end, as LuaLua found Collins on the edge of the box and he smashed into the corner of the net to make it 2-1 and raise hopes of what had previously looked like an unlikely comeback.

Dewsbury-Hall leathered wildly over at the far post, before his corner was cleared off the line and a follow up cross dropped inches out of the reach of the sliding Bradley.

Barnsley looked to sew the points up through Dominik Frieser, who shot wide, but once Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu had ballooned his effort over from 20 yards, they did just that.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Jordan Clark, Martin Cranie (Kazenga LuaLua 70), Matty Pearson, Kal Naismith, Glen Rea (Sonny Bradley 46), Ryan Tunnicliffe (Luke Berry 78), Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Sam Nombe (Harry Cornick 46), Elijah Adebayo (James Collins 70).

Subs not used: Harry Isted, Joe Morrell, George Moncur, James Bree.

Tykes: Bradley Collins, Callum Styles, Mads Andersen, Callum Brittain, Cauley Woodrow (Dominik Frieser 77), Daryl Dike, Toby Sibbick, Romal Palmer (Aapo Halme 57), Alex Mowatt ©, Victor Adeboyejo (Carlton Morris 57), Michal Helik.

Subs not used: Jack Walton, Jordan Williams, Conor Chaplin, Clarke Oduor, Michael Sollbauer, Jasper Moon.

Booked: Bradley 54.

Referee: Matt Donohue.

Jones hits out at Luton players for 'laid back attitude' after reaching 50 points

Town boss thoroughly disappointed by manner of Barnsley defeat

Luton manager Nathan Jones was highly critical of his players for what he described as a 'laid back attitude' following reaching 50 points as they suffered a second successive defeat against Barnsley this afternoon, going down 2-1 at Kenilworth Road.

An insipid first half display saw the Hatters trailing 1-0 to Daryl Dike’s 27th minute opener, the on-loan Orlando City attacker shrugging off Matty Pearson's challenge to beat Simon Sluga.

He added the second on the hour mark after an error by Sluga, before seeing a late penalty saved by the Croatian which led to James Collins pulling one back for the hosts, which was to prove a consolation.

Jones stayed in the changing rooms for well over half an hour following the conclusion, as speaking afterwards, he said: “I wanted to make sure that I came out here and speak correctly as I think we’ve taken our eye off the ball a little bit in the last two games.

“We beat Preston and have been totally different at Derby (2-0 defeat on Good Friday) and today how we were at Preston and Coventry.

“We got to 50 points and I think a few of them have taken their eye off the ball.

"A few of them have suddenly changed from what we are and we're going to go back to being what we are as we want to get better, but at the end of the day I want us to win football games and to be difficult to beat.

"If we have to just go back to basics a little bit, then we have to do that.

“We’ve had a poor performance today, but I think we've had a poor performance in the last two games as we should have beaten Derby, we've had enough chances to have beaten Derby, but now we're going to go back for a little bit more basics.

“I think there’s been a little bit of a laid back attitude with a couple of them at the minute.

"We've got to 50 points and suddenly they think 'okay we've got nine games to go', but suddenly we’ve got 50 points with seven games to go.

"I don't want to get there with two games to go and we’re still on 50 points, that's not how I want the season to finish.”

After a dismal opening 45 minutes, Jones made two changes at the break, bringing off Sam Nombe and Glen Rea, as Sonny Bradley and Harry Cornick came on, as the Luton boss hoped for a similar reaction from his side during their 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday recently.

However, with an hour gone, it was 2-0, Dike with his second following an error by Sluga, as although Collins pulled one back, Jones added: “I've had to make a few changes at half time in a lot of games and whether that’s because I've got it tactically wrong or what I thought I was going to get from players, I didn't get.

"So I have to keep making the right decisions and I have to evaluate my decisions.

“But I wasn't happy with what we got in the first half and we could have made a number of changes, but we didn’t and we were slightly better second half.

“The goal’s a terrible goal to give away.

"It was out of absolutely nothing, we didn’t defend it well enough, it’s come back off the goalkeeper, didn't react, so many things.

"But they're on the front foot and we’re not and that was pretty much the story for the majority.

“We made changes and we were much better second half, we could have got something out of the game.

"At the end, a little bit more composure, a little bit more quality we could have, as we had two shots that have ended up in Bury Park and that can't happen, so we have to be better.”