Diabolical Hatters suffer humiliating 5-0 defeat at Barnsley

Luton’s recent upturn in form came to a crashing end in utterly humiliating fashion this afternoon as they produced an absolutely diabolical performance when being hammered 5-0, yes 5-0, by Barnsley at Oakwell.

Town had gone into the fixture looking to make it six without defeat and carry on the fine sequence of results under new manager Jack Wilshere, but it began to look like those performances have simply and worryingly just papered over the cracks of the problems he faces, after a chastening 90 minutes that demonstrated to the ex-Arsenal star in no uncertain terms that life in football management was far from a simple one.

The Hatters had made three changes from the goalless draw against Rotherham United, as George Saville came back from suspension and international duty, while Gideon Kodua and Zack Nelson were in too, Jerry Yates, Lamine Fanne and Jake Richards dropping to the bench. After a bore draw the previous weekend, there was more excitement in the opening 10 minutes than there had been in the entire 90 against the Millers, Vimail Yoganathan taking a clever touch to break into the box and get his shot off, hammering against the top of the bar.

Town then had an opportunity of their own when Kal Naismith spied the run of Jones, chipping a lovely ball into his team-mate, the winger controlling on his chest but unable to get the power needed behind his shot, Murphy Cooper saving easily. Having started well, Luton then found themselves behind with a goal that was unfortunately of their own doing on seven minutes, as building nicely, they made their way up the left, before Nelson cut inside and saw his pass go straight to Davis Keillor-Dunn.

He was able to transfer the ball over the head of Teden Mengi for Reyes Cleary to burst away and lob the oncoming Josh Keeley with Town’s centre half unable to get back in time and clear off the line, as Luton conceded a goal for the first time in just over 300 minutes. Luton had a great chance to level shortly afterwards when the hosts made a mess of a back header which saw Nahki Wells in, the forward rounding Cooper, but before he could stick the ball in the net, defenders Marc Roberts and Jack Shepherd both slid in to put the ball behind.

That was Wells’ last action of the contest though, unable to continue following treatment, Yates coming on in his place with 20 minutes gone, preferred over former Tykes forward Jacob Brown. Patrick Kelly fired over for the hosts as the visitors struggled to create any further chances, and should have fallen further behind on the half hour when the dangerous Cleary rolled a cross in for unmarked top scorer Keillor-Dunn who could only sidefoot wide from around 12 yards out.

Town were then undone again though with another goal that started with an error on 35 minutes, Keeley’s pass picked off by Yoganathan who found Cleary on the left and he was able to stand up Jones, sending over a low cross that Kelly got in front of Naismith to tap in. With Wilshere’s side dominating possession, but unable to muster any kind of threat, the odd times they looked like pulling one back, their final ball was lacking, Kodua getting into a decent position to cross but for the second time opted for power over accuracy when he had team-mates well placed, drilling out for a throw.

Despite it being an eerily quiet Oakwell, Luton were then hit again as they conceded a third on the stroke of half time when the Tykes were awarded a free kick after Liam Walsh clipped the heels of Keillor-Dunn just outside the box and Luca Connell curled the resulting free kick over the wall and beyond a helpless Keeley. Walsh was lucky not to be sent off after another cynical foul just before the break, with referee Thomas Parsons luckily opting to keep his cards in his pocket, meaning it was something of a surprise that the midfielder stayed on for the second period, although Wilshere did ring the changes, Richards, Milli Alli and Hakeem Odoffin on for Nelson, Jones and Cohen Bramall.

There were no signs of any kind of fightback though, Roberts glancing over from a corner as a fourth arrived on 62 minutes, that man Cleary picking up the ball on the left again. He sent in another low cross which was met by Keillor-Dunn with Keeley saving well with his legs only to see Kodua divert the loose ball over the line. Fanne then came on for Saville with 19 minutes and almost grabbed a consolation with his first touch, when Walsh’s corner was cleared out to him, but the Tykes defence was able to charge his attempt down.

There was no stopping Barnsley or top scorer Keillor-Dunn on 75 minutes though, as played through with just Naismith for company, he easily tricked his way past Town’s skipper before sending Keeley the wrong way to add an embarrassing fifth. The Tykes could have notched again, Adam Phillips’ angled volley bouncing wide, while Town’s efforts in the final third were summed up when Walsh and Richards cleverly worked the ball to Yates who skewed woefully off target.

Walsh then had an even worse attempt from 25 yards as Luton’s players were jeered off by their supporters who had remained in the away end, suffering their worst defeat outside the top two divisions since a 5-1 loss at Carlisle United in the Conference on April 6, 2013, with only a few days to rebuild their confidence before hosting Huddersfield Town on Tuesday evening.

Tykes: Murphy Cooper, Marc Roberts, Jack Shepherd (Mael de Gevigney 78), Reyes Cleary (Caylan Vickers 78), Patrick Kelly (Adam Phillips 49), Tennai Watson, Jonathan Bland, Josh Earl (Nathanael Ogbeta 60), Davis Keillor-Dunn (David McGoldrick 78), Vimal Yoganathan, Luca Connell ©. Subs not used: Kieren Flavell, Adam Phillips, Neil Farrugia.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Mads Andersen, Teden Mengi, Kal Naismith (C), Izzy Jones (Hakeem Odoffin 46), George Saville (Lamine Fanne 71), Liam Walsh, Zack Nelson (Jake Richards 46), Cohen Bramall (Milli Alli 46), Gideon Kodua, Nahki Wells (Jerry Yates 20). Subs not used: James Shea, Jacob Brown. Booked: Saville 16, Cleary 39, Walsh 43, Bland 62. Referee: Thomas Parsons. Attendance: 10,882 (1,478 Hatters).