The Reds had the best chance of the match in the ninth minute but Cauley Woodrow missed a one-on-one then they were restricted to long-range efforts while Luton were on top in the second half without carving out many big opportunities.
The result leaves Barnsley still in fourth, six points behind second-placed Luton who have played a game more. The Reds are now unbeaten in five games all against fellow top ten sides, winning three of them.
Head coach Daniel Stendel made two changes from the side who beat Charlton Athletic 2-1 three days previously. Dani Pinillos was injured after the red card tackle on him by Charlton’s Chris Solly on Saturday so was replaced at left-back by Ben Williams. Kenny Dougall came back in for the benched Mike Bahre and played alongside Alex Mowatt as defensive midfielders with Cameron McGeehan in front of them in a 4-2-3-1.
Woodrow, who began his career at Luton, should have put the visitors ahead when he was put clean through by Mamadou Thiam following a good move and he chipped the goalkeeper but the ball sailed wide of the left post.
That began a period of heavy pressure on the home side who withstood it with the only effort being a long-range shot by former Hatter McGeehan which was easily saved.
Luton almost took the lead in the 30th minute but Adam Davies got down to his right to claw Alan McCormack’s shot out of his bottom right corner after it came through a forest of legs.
Andrew Shinnie had two long-range shots, one wide and one straight at Davies, as the final section of the first half was more even with both sides attacking without really threatening.
The Reds began the second half on top with Thiam shots from outside the box going straight at the goalkeeper then narrowly wide either side of a Brad Potts effort which deflected just wide of the top right corner.
Luton striker Danny Hylton – who netted against the Reds for Oxford in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final for Oxford at Wembley in 2016 – had two headed chances but sent them both wide under pressure from defenders.
Luton, who began to dominate after the hour-mark, had a succession of free-kicks and corners which James Justin sent into the box but headers from Hylton and Sonny Bradley were off target.
Shinnie once again fired wide from long range then Davies got down well to his right to keep out a shot by his former Oakwell team-mate Elliot Lee from 25 yards.
Mowatt and Woodrow both fired wide from long-range in injury-time but the match finished as a goalless draw.
Luton (4-4-2 diamond): Shea; Stacey, Bradley, Pearson, Justin; Shinnie (Lua Lua 90+6), McCormack, Mpanzu, Lee (Cornick 87mins (Berry90)); Collins Hilton. Unused: Grant, Jones, Isted, Sheehan. Yellow cards: Shinnie.
Barnsley (4-2-3-1): Davies; Cavare, Pinnock, Lindsay, B Williams; Dougall (Bahre 64mins), Mowatt, Potts (Adeboyejo 89), McGeehan, Thiam (Brown 75); Woodrow 6. Subs: Greatorex, Jackson, Hedges, Moncur.
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