Palmer scores late winner as Luton set up final day play-off decider

A late winner by that man Kasey Palmer means Luton Town’s hopes of reaching the play-offs will go down to the final game of the season as they defeated Barnsley 2-1 at Kenilworth Road this afternoon.

The Hatters had gone into the clash knowing just what was required of them, with Stockport County having beaten Peterborough United in the early kick-off Stevenage drawing 1-1 at Doncaster Rovers, as it meant a draw would be enough to prolong the campaign, but victory would see the gap to Boro cut to a point.

With that in mind, boss Jack Wilshere made two changes from the 2-0 win at Rotherham United, as Izzy Jones and Mads Andersen returned for Nigel Lonwijk and Joe Johnson. Knowing how vital a success was, Luton made a fast start, almost ahead inside 90 seconds, Palmer sliding in combatively to win the ball back well which set Shayden Morris away. He sprinted forward and found the unmarked Emilio Lawrence to his left, the Manchester City’s loanee’s blast turned behind by Owen Goodman.

Luton pressed again on eight minutes, Palmer the architect this time, as he played Nahki Wells through, the striker squaring for Davy van den Berg whose woes in front of goal continued, not getting anywhere near enough on his effort. Barnsley had come to play though, make no mistake about, as a long ball almost saw the dangerous Adam Phillips away, only for a vital Kal Naismith intervention as the Tykes midfielder then put a scorching half volley wide via a deflection, getting up to head the resulting corner narrowly over.

Town were given a great chance on 16 minutes, when a corner saw Hakeem Odoffin get to the ball ahead of Luca Connell, with referee Harry Wager pointing to the spot, which allowed Wells, who had missed his last two efforts earlier in the campaign, to send Goodman the wrong way and notch his 10th of the season.

The Hatters weren’t ahead for long though as a break through the centre saw Barnsley restore parity, Reyes Cleary’s curling shot drawing a fine save from Keeley, but no-one had tracked Phillips, who was able to nod into the empty net. Luton looked to respond, Lawrence sending one attempt into orbit, before on the half hour he raced on to a brilliantly cheeky pass through the legs of his opponent by Palmer that he toepoked over the bar.

He was then freed again by another fine Palmer pass on the flank as this time the Scotland U21 international looked up and whipped in a wonderful cross that Wells could only guide wide of the target at the back post. Jones was starting to get forward from right back, seeing one cross-shot cleared and another parried by Goodman, with the visiting defence able to get the ball away.

Just before the break, Odoffin took matters into his own hands with a 25-yard blast that was well gathered at his near post by Goodman. After the interval, Town were almost caught out when Connell’s shot was diverted narrowly over the bar by Phillips, as the Tykes definitely made the brighter beginning to proceedings.

They brought experienced forward David McGoldrick on with 56 minutes gone, as he shanked wide, before Jones on the hour mark made a terrific block on Cleary, also getting up to win the free kick. Somehow the Tykes didn't get a penalty on 62 minutes when a long ball saw Phillips left alone centrally as he got round Keeley before appearing to be bundled over by Odoffin with the goal gaping, but referee Wager fortunately waved away the appeals.

Town made a triple change midway through the half, but still couldn’t get the forward momentum they needed to really ever threaten a winner. That was until the 79th minute when they won three corners in quick succession, as their deadball prowess finally paid off, Walsh swinging the ball in, Andersen climbing well for Palmer to half volley into the roof of the net for his fourth in three games and eighth of the campaign.

Now knowing they had given themselves every chance of finishing above the dotted line next weekend, it was a case of holding on, and Luton were able to do that fairly comfortably, McGoldrick off target twice in the final stages. It all means that Town will head to a Trotters side who have now confirmed their place in the top six, knowing a win could see them extend their campaign into late May.

Hatters: Josh Keeley, Izzy Jones, Hakeem Odoffin, Mads Andersen, Kal Naismith (C), Shayden Morris (Nigel Lonwijk 90), Liam Walsh, Davy van den Berg (Jake Richards 64), Kasey Palmer (George Saville 86), Emilio Lawrence (Gideon Kodua 64), Nahki Wells (Devante Cole 64). Subs not used: James Shea, Ali Al-Hamadi.

Tykes: Owen Goodman, Mael de Gevigney, Corey O’Keeffe, Adam Phillips (Leo Farfell 70), Tom Bradshaw (David McGoldrick 55). Eoghan O’Connell, Reyes Cleary (Scott Banks 70), Patrick Kelly, Jonathan Bland (Kelechi Nwakali 70), Josh Earl (Georgie Gent 55), Luca Connell ©. Subs not used: Kieran Flavell, Jack Shepherd, Leo Farfell. Booked: O’Keefe 45, Earl 45, Bland 67, O’Connell 90. Referee: Harry Wager. Attendance: 11,781.