LUTON TOWN PREVIEW

4 April 2021

The Reds have an Easter Monday road-trip south to take on the Hatters.

With very little time to prepare for this one, after Friday night's 1-1 draw with Reading at Oakwell, supporters will no doubt be hoping for a perfect end to their bank holiday weekend as their side look to stay strong in their pursuit of a playoff place.

In what was one of the most entertaining of drawn games just two days ago, Barnsley had to fight back for a point against a Reading outfit just behind them in the race for a top six finish.

Skipper, Alex Mowatt slotted home a second half penalty to cancel out Ovi Ejaria's well-taken Royals opener in the first 45.

Whilst the Reds were handed a let-off when Lucas Joao contrived to miss an open goal, they'll feel they did enough on the night to take all three points in a game they dominated, but for the woodwork and another decision by the officials to disallow a Barnsley goal.

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MATCHDAY RECAP: READING (H) w/music

Our bitesized review of the Reds' meeting with the Royals - featuring an instrumental backing track.

Reds striker Daryl Dike was once again adjudged to have fouled the goalkeeper from a corner kick, as Michał Helik bundled home what he thought was the winning goal.

That is the third instance of Barnsley scoring goals this season at Oakwell that have been dubiously chalked off. It was only in the previous game where again Dike was supposedly fouling the Sheffield Wednesday 'keeper, despite being nowhere near him as he failed to hold a cross that was swept home by Cauley Woodrow.

And the Reds' number 9 himself had a strike ruled out in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City earlier this year, where he himself was the one fouled.

Along with the handball shouts ignored/unseen by officials that have also cost Barnsley this term, and the wrongful dismissal of Mowatt a few weeks ago, it must mean the Reds are due a lot of favourable decisions, if indeed the old 'levelling out' theory rings true. We aren't holding our breath.

Next up then is the long trip south to Bedfordshire and Kenilworth Road to take on a Luton Town side who've had quite the season themselves.

After joining the Reds in securing safety on the final day last year, the Hatters - under Nathan Jones - have also kicked on magnificently this season and sit comfortably in mid-table ahead of this one.

They're 13th at present on 50 points and have won two of their last three games. They were defeated away at Wayne Rooney's Derby County on Good Friday.

The Hatters came out on top in the reverse fixture right at the start of the season, at Oakwell. A cracking James Collins strike on 71 minutes clinched the points for Luton.

Town are unbeaten in four, in this fixture. But they haven't beaten the Reds in the league at Kenilworth Road for 28 years.

Amongst the Hatters squad remain a number of former Barnsley players, such as Martin Cranie, Matty Pearson, James Bree, George Moncur, Luke Berry, Jordan Clark and Ryan Tunnicliffe.

Club News

IFOLLOW VS LUTON

4 April 2021

We have live coverage via iFollow Barnsley of this Easter Monday clash, as Matt Bailey is joined once again on the mic by ex-Red Wayne Goodison.

Match Reports

REDS EARN EASTER MONDAY VICTORY

5 April 2021

The Reds made history in Bedfordshire this afternoon with a 2-1 victory; their sixth successive away win!

A Daryl Dike brace saw the Reds back to winning ways at Kenilworth Road.

Goals in either half from the USMNT international were enough for Valérien Ismaël's side who remain fifth in the Sky Bet Championship table.

Whilst kicking off on the front foot, constantly pressing and dominating the ball, the Reds weren't able to create a clear-cut opening in the first 10 minutes.

It was the hosts who had the first effort of note, with around 14 minutes played as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall hit a sweet volley from 20 yards out that was well held, low down by Brad Collins.

Cauley Woodrow tried his luck soon after, from just outside the box and to the left but his bending effort was a yard away from the top corner.

The Reds were beginning to show their quality midway through the half but some of the technical elements of their play were letting them down and denying them when in good attacking positions.

But Callum Brittain forced Simon Sluga into a save with an effort from 12 yards out before the breakthrough arrived on 27 minutes.

Great interplay from Victor Adeboyejo and Woodrow in the final third saw the latter release the on-running Daryl Dike and the American international powered forward and finished with aplomb from just inside the box to give the Reds a deserved lead heading into the break.

HALF-TIME: Luton 0-1 Barnsley

The early stages of the second period were rather stale but things became livelier with the introduction of two Reds subs, as Aapo Halme (Romal Palmer) and Carlton Morris (Adeboyejo) took to the pitch.

Just a couple of minutes later the lead was doubled as a lovely jinking Woodrow run towards the box ended with his shot being only parried by Sluga and there was Dike to grab his second of the game from close range.

Callum Styles then drove an effort into the far corner that Sluga turned around the posts in spectacular fashion as the Reds continued to dominate in the April sunshine.

After a sterling shift up top and involvement in both goals, Woodrow made way for Austrian forward Dominik Frieser as the Reds looked to see out the win.

The Reds should have gone 3-0 up when Dike was felled in the box, but ended up conceding.

The striker opted to take it himself looking for a hat-trick but Sluga saved low down and the Hatters went straight up the other end and substitute James Collins rattled home for the hosts to make it 2-1.

Luton piled forward in the closing stages trying everything for an equaliser but Ismaël's men saw out the onslaught and recorded their 10th away win of the season, to move onto 68 points and maintain their charge for a playoff place in May.

FULL-TIME: Luton 1-2 Barnsley

Collins, Brittain, Sibbick, Helik, Andersen, Styles, Mowatt, Palmer (Halme), Woodrow (Frieser), Dike, Adeboyejo (Morris).

Unused: Walton, Oduor, J.Williams, Sollbauer, Chaplin.