Town skipper explains his spat with Luton fan during Barnsley win

Hatters captain Kal Naismith has explained the reasons behind the spat he had with a Luton supporter during the 2-1 victory over Barnsley at Kenilworth Road on Saturday.

The Town skipper was part of a home side who went into the game on the back of a nine-game unbeaten third tier run, with six wins in that time, as they had given themselves every chance of reaching the play-offs. Knowing top six rivals Stevenage had drawn and Stockport County had won ahead of kick-off, the hosts knew they had to triumph to give themselves any realistic chance of getting above the dotted line in their penultimate game of the campaign, and took the lead early on when Nahki Wells netted from the penalty spot.

Adam Phillips then drew Barnsley level on 26 minutes, as the visitors were seemingly intent on ending the Hatters’ bid to extend their season, looking a far better side than their position of 15th would suggest. Later in the half, and with Town attempting to find a way through, one fan in the home stands wasn’t happy with the speed in which they were doing so, letting the skipper know what he thought of the hosts’ efforts with a verbal volley.

Having heard the comments, then having moved the ball to one of his team-mates to set up an angle to attack on the other side of the pitch, Naismith spent a good 30 seconds having a heated discussion with the supporter, asking him to get behind the side rather than against them, with those around him in the ground quick applaud the defender.

Still chuntering as the game went on, the exchange carried on when the half time whistle was blown by referee Harry Wager, as Naismith went straight back over to speak to the fan again, before heading down the tunnel. Town eventually got the goal required to prolong their campaign, securing the vital three points after the interval thanks to Kasey Palmer’s late winner, as asked just what went on, speaking to the club’s official website, the 34-year-old said: “I’ve said it before, the Luton fans are passionate. I know the Luton way is they want to get it forward and smash, bang, wallop and get goals, that’s what they’ve been so used to seeing.

"Listen, I’ve been guilty at times when it has been on to play forward and I have played backwards this year, so I take that on the chin as well, but sometimes in football when you come down one side, you then need to go back to attack the other side quickly. We’ve not got that profile, six foot four, six foot five striker, and he was just in my ear every time I went backwards and he was frustrating me. I should just let him have his moment shouting to be fair, but I thought the fans were tremendous.

“It’s funny as you hear that one bit of negativity and I feel everyone else is positive and so on our side. The atmosphere was incredible today, but I did enjoy it when I heard a few people putting him in his place. We’re one each in the biggest game of the season, come and support the lads. If you think it’s on to play forward, I see it different. I’m on the pitch, I’m a professional footballer and again I do make mistakes, 100 percent, but I just wanted him to be a little bit more positive and smile.”

With Town getting the result that keeps their season alive and made it 11 unbeaten in all competitions, having beaten Stockport to lift the Vertu Trophy at Wembley, on being able to pick up the three points that were so desperately needed, Naismith added: “We were always looking at the bigger picture and if we win these three, four games where will we be?

"We’ve just gone game by game and then the cup final helped that as you just need a massive focus on that. Barnsley are a really good side with really good players. I know they’ve not got much to play for, but you see them in possession, they’re a really good side. We turned up, got the win, Kasey Palmer just knows where he needs to be to get the winner, so I’m delighted.”