Barnsley battle to extend unbeaten run against tough Luton Town

The two sides put on a show for the TV cameras, with an exhilarating battle that the Reds, without key players Adam Davies, Kieffer Moore and Kenny Dougall, just edged. 

The 3-2 win lifts Barnsley, for now, into an automatic promotion place, and carries on the team’s best start to a season since 1978/79 under Allan Clarke. Barnsley started the game in high-energy fashion, putting pressure on the Luton Town midfield and forcing them into mistakes.

Brad Potts got the Reds off to a flyer, his fifth-minute strike coming from some good pressing in midfield.

Alex Mowatt won the ball well in the centre circle, nudging it through to Jacob Brown who fed Brad Potts.

Potts ran with the ball before firing it into the bottom left corner from just outside the box.

Dimitri Cavare almost made it two ten minutes later, running onto a touch from Alex Mowatt and hitting a powerful side-foot shot towards the near post, but couldn’t squeeze it past James Shea.

George Moncur, who was a constant threat cutting inside from the left, did well to get a shot off after an excellent sliding tackle and pass from Cameron McGeehan, but hit it straight at the keeper.

Luton, who arrived to Oakwell unbeaten in five, were determined to press high up the pitch, and sticking to their game plan almost gave them an equaliser, but James Collins was caught offside as he attempted to follow up a shot by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu.

Cameron McGeehan, handed his chance after Kenny Dougall was called up to the Australia side, worked hard in a holding midfield parternship with Alex Mowatt.

Both players sat deep, but it was McGeehan’s willingness to make long forward runs that led to the second Barnsley goal. 

George Moncur drifted inside the box from the left once more, and McGeehan was waiting in the middle to guide his low cross into the bottom corner and score against his former club.

Luton continued to threaten and had a number of chances, and right on the stroke of half time they were gifted a chance when 19-year-old full back Ben Williams, making his Oakwell debut, brought down Harry Cornick on the left of the box. James Collins dispatched the resulting penalty.

Williams, who impressed against Peterborough, did not have the best of games - confident going forward, he formed a good partnership with Moncur on the left, but defensively he made a number of mistakes.

Luton started the second half as they finished the first, pressing high up the pitch, and they particularly targeted Williams on the left flank.

The next goal could have come from either side, but it was Barnsley who struck, when substitute Mamadou Thiam worked some space in the box and powered the ball into the top corner.

Luton continued to throw men forward, and Barnsley conceded an unfortunate second when Kazenga Lua-Lua’s cross, aided by the blustery conditions, looped over Jack Walton and came off the post, before James Collins hit it into an open goal.

Ethan Pinnock, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of Adam Davies and Kieffer Moore, was the oldest player in the starting lineup at 25 and gave an assured performance. 

Moore’s injury meant a start for 20-year-old Jacob Brown, who replaced him in the 4-0 win at Peterborough, and he again showed his tireless attitude, dropping deep to win the ball and pressuring the Luton backline.