LUTON TOWN 1 (Showumni 66)

BARNSLEY 3 (Shuker 32, 35; Chopra 41)

A BATTLING display marked by moments of real quality gave the Reds a deserved victory over table-topping Luton Town at Kenilworth Road.

Reds caretaker manager Andy Ritchie made two changes to the side that were held by MK Dons at Oakwell last Saturday with Antony Kay and leading scorer Michael Chopra returning from suspension. Robbie Williams and Daniel Nardiello dropped to the subs bench as Barnsley looked to resurrect their feint play off dreams over the Easter period in front of the SKY cameras.

Luton had former Oakwell favourite Marlon Beresford in goal as they looked to extend their advantage at the top of the table with Hull City not in action until Saturday lunchtime.

Neither side settled into any early rhythm although Steve Howard managed to get a header at Scott Flinders on four minutes from Keith Keane's cross. A minute later Kevin Nicholls went close with a volley from a corner as the home side pressed on.

Another Paul Underwood corner caused problems on six minutes and this time Chris Coyne managed to get his head on the ball only for Kay to clear off the line.

Barnsley almost grabbed a goal against the run of play on ten minutes as skipper Stephen McPhail sent a wonderful cross over from the left and Kay rose highest but his header cannoned away off the foot of the post.

Howard combined well with Rowan Vine on 14 minutes to put the Reds under pressure but the Portsmouth striker's volley was comfortable for Flinders.

The Reds really should have been in front on 15 minutes as Chopra forced his way through the middle before finding Wroe but the youngster volleyed wide of an open goal with Beresford stranded. At the other end Enoch Showumni fired straight at Flinders two minutes later after strong play on the edge of the area before Underwood shot high over the top after a powerful run through midfield minutes later.

Sol Davis became the first player cautioned on 24 minutes after a cynical foul on Chris Shuker on the right wing before Coyne somehow escaped with just a lecture for tripping Simon Johnson as the Leeds Unites star turned through on goal.

The opening goal came on 32 minutes as Shuker managed to combine well with Johnson and Jacob Burns in the area before Chopra brought the best out of Beresford from close range. The ball fell to Shuker again and the winger lashed it home from six yards.

Luton responded with Nicholls forced Flinders into a save on 35 minutes before the Reds grabbed a second just minutes later.

The goal came after McPhail showed a moment of real quality to dissect the Hatters defence and give Chopra a run on goal. The striker took his time to find Shuker again in space and this time the winger drilled the ball past Beresford albeit with the help of a massive deflection.

Again the home side came on strong with skipper Nicholls dragging his team along but the powerful midfielder could not find a finish after bursting into the box on 39 minutes.

It was three on 41 minutes as Curtis Davies made a complete mess of going for McPhail's through ball and allowed Chopra the simple task of finishing past Beresford from 12 yards.

Luton almost grabbed one back as the referee allowed the home side to take a free kick despite Chopra requiring treatment and Howard almost forced the ball home as he clattered into Flinders. The Reds keeper did well to divert the ball away for a corner.

The home side started the second half strongly with a dressing down from manager Mike Newell still ringing in their ears and Showumni, Howard and Nicholls all went close in a scramble on 49 minutes. Less than a minute later Howard brought a fine save out of Flinders with a header from Vine's cross.

Wroe was inches away from his first of the season on 51 minutes as he fired in from the edge of the area only for Coyne to deflect the ball just wide of the target.

Shuker almost got his hat trick on 54 minutes as he took hold of another short corner before firing inches the wrong side of the upright. McPhail was next to try his luck after tricking his way through the middle but shot straight at Beresford.

Luton finally got a goal back on 66 minutes as the Reds failed to clear a Nicholls pass into the area and Showumni managed to find space before shooting low past Flinders' despairing dive.

The afternoon got even better for the Reds on 72 minutes as Coyne's clumsy challenge brought Chopra down as the striker raced clear on goal. Coyne did get something on the ball but came in from behind and was shown a straight red card.

Luton felt they should have had a penalty on 76 minutes as Underwood went to ground under Shuker's challenge but the referee waved away the Town players' protests.

An injury to Tom Williams on 77 minutes caused disgraceful scenes as first the Town players looked to intimidate the official into forcing physio Rick Holden to rush treatment on the field and then the Reds full back was subject to a torrent of abuse from the stands as he hobbled up the tunnel.

Chopra should have really killed the game off on 81 minutes as Davies sent him tumbling in the area. Chopra stepped up to take the penalty but shot straight at Beresford from the spot.

Chopra yet again got the better of Davies on 87 minutes but this time could only volley high over the top from the edge of the area. Shuker then should have had his third on 90 minutes as he picked up Chopra's raking pass in the area but was denied by Beresford's great low save.

LUTON TOWN: Beresford, Underwood, Nicholls, Vine, Coyne, Showumni (Andrew 71), Howard, Davies, Keane, Davis, Holmes (Leary 55).

Subs: Perrett, Mansell, Seremet.

BARNSLEY: Flinders, Hassell, T. Williams (R. Williams 78), Burns, Chopra, McPhail, Kay, Wroe, Shuker, Tonge, Johnson (Nardiello 75)

Subs: Austin, Baker, Scarsella.