Barnsley 0-1 Luton Town: Early Amari'i Bell goal goal sneaks win for Hatters

Luton players celebrate Amari'i Bell's first goal for the club — Amari'i Bell scored his first goal for Luton following his move from Blackburn in the summer

Luton Town won at Barnsley for the third Championship season in a row thanks to an early Amari'i Bell strike.

Bell fired in his first goal for the club after four minutes to leave the home crowd at Oakwell stunned.

Barnsley dominated possession and created numerous chances, but were left frustrated.

A minute's applause was held before kick-off to remember former Tykes chairman and Manchester United director Maurice Watkins who died on Monday.

Luton had scored seven goals in three games in all competitions and their attack again looked sharp when Cameron Jerome's ball picked out wing-back Bell.

The Jamaica international coolly swept home from just outside the box.

Barnsley hit back with Callum Styles having a shot blocked before midfielder Romal Palmer's effort from a tight angle was smothered by visiting goalkeeper Simon Sluga.

Come the hour mark, the hosts were enjoying 70% possession, but still unable to break down Nathan Jones' side.

Right-back Callum Brittain fizzed an effort agonisingly wide before Josh Benson volleyed over after expertly controlling the ball.

Luton defended well as Styles then blazed over from close range.

Devante Cole came off the bench for his Tykes league debut, but the striker was kept quiet as the Hatters held on to win at Oakwell for the fifth time in six games in all competitions - a run stretching 17 years.

Luton manager Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"It's a difficult place to come, they are a difficult side, they cause you problems.

"It was a tight game, a difficult game, we worked and dug in late on.

"We had a tough lesson on Saturday but they have bounced back absolutely magnificently."

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Barnsley

Formation 3-4-3

40Collins
20Sibbick
30HelikBooked at 37mins
5Kitching
7Brittain
21PalmerSubstituted forHalmeat 90'minutes
10Benson
4Styles
22OduorSubstituted forColeat 56'minutes
9Woodrow
28FrieserSubstituted forAdeboyejoat 75'minutes

Substitutes

1Walton
3Williams
15Moon
24Halme
25Miller
29Adeboyejo
44Cole

Luton

Formation 3-4-1-2

12Sluga
20Kioso
15LockyerSubstituted forOshoat 88'minutes
4Naismith
2Bree
17Mpanzu
23LansburyBooked at 57mins
29Bell
26MuskweBooked at 41minsSubstituted forReaat 90'minutes
35JeromeSubstituted forCornickat 69'minutesBooked at 90mins
11AdebayoBooked at 45mins

Substitutes

6Rea
7Cornick
10Lee
14Mendes Gomes
21Isted
22Campbell
32Osho

Referee:: Oliver Langford
Attendance:: 12,999

Match Stats

Home TeamBarnsleyAway TeamLuton

Possession: Home70%; Away30%

Shots: Home10; Away7

Shots on Target: Home3; Away4

Corners: Home4; Away4

Fouls: Home13; Away13

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Barnsley 0, Luton Town 1.
90'+6'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Barnsley 0, Luton Town 1.

90'+5'
Post update
Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Peter Kioso.
90'+2'
Booking
Harry Cornick (Luton Town) is shown the yellow card.
90'+2'
Post update
Josh Benson (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Harry Cornick (Luton Town).
90'+2'
Post update
Josh Benson (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town).
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Aapo Halme (Barnsley).
90'+1'
Post update
Henri Lansbury (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'
Post update
Callum Brittain (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'
Post update
Foul by Harry Cornick (Luton Town).
90'
Substitution
Substitution, Barnsley. Aapo Halme replaces Romal Palmer.
90'
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Glen Rea replaces Admiral Muskwe.
89'
Post update
Foul by Josh Benson (Barnsley).
89'
Post update
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Gabriel Osho replaces Tom Lockyer because of an injury.
87'
Post update
Attempt missed. Callum Styles (Barnsley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.
85'
Post update
Foul by Cauley Woodrow (Barnsley).
85'
Post update
Peter Kioso (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Fulham	3	2	1	0	8	3	5	7
2	Stoke	3	2	1	0	6	3	3	7

3	Luton	3	2	0	1	6	3	3	6
4	Coventry	3	2	0	1	3	2	1	6
5	Cardiff	3	1	2	0	5	3	2	5
6	QPR	2	1	1	0	4	1	3	4

7	West Brom	2	1	1	0	5	4	1	4
8	Bournemouth	2	1	1	0	4	3	1	4
9	Blackburn	2	1	1	0	3	2	1	4
10	Middlesbrough	2	1	1	0	3	2	1	4
11	Birmingham	2	1	1	0	1	0	1	4
12	Bristol City	3	1	1	1	5	5	0	4
13	Barnsley	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	4
14	Peterborough	3	1	1	1	4	6	-2	4
15	Huddersfield	3	1	1	1	3	6	-3	4
16	Hull	2	1	0	1	4	4	0	3
17	Reading	3	1	0	2	6	7	-1	3
18	Millwall	3	0	2	1	3	4	-1	2
19	Derby	2	0	1	1	2	3	-1	1
20	Sheff Utd	2	0	1	1	0	1	-1	1
21	Swansea	3	0	1	2	2	5	-3	1

22	Blackpool	3	0	1	2	1	4	-3	1
23	Nottm Forest	2	0	0	2	2	4	-2	0
24	Preston	3	0	0	3	2	7	-5	0

Team

Pts

-2

-3

-1

-1

-1

-1

-3

-3

-2

-5

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Comments

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42 comments

Comment posted by Redbrook Red, at 10:49 18 Aug 2021
Fair play to Luton got the goal and defended brilliantly ,we probably deserved a draw but that's football,we got away with it Saturday when we didn't deserve anything.Hope Luton do well this season ,proper club just like us
Comment posted by farmerthorne, at 23:06 17 Aug 2021
Great start to the season for the Hatters! Survival remains the priority!
Reply posted by D1669808705008, at 12:10 18 Aug 2021
D1669808705008 replied:
I reckon that their aim should be more than that now. Love Nathan Jones as a manager.
Comment posted by chris, at 23:08 17 Aug 2021
Brilliant defending from Luton but Barnsley deserved at least a point. Happy with the 3 points but not the performance, we couldn't string more than 3 passes together and kept smashing the ball upfield hoping for something special. Uncharacteristic performance from Luton but delighted with the 3 points.
Reply posted by JT of Worcestershire, at 23:13 17 Aug 2021
JT of Worcestershire replied:
Barnsley were significantly better than us last season, more than pleased with that performance and result. 100% all over the pitch.
Comment posted by Take me Tats Mum, at 09:47 18 Aug 2021
The most difficult and testing league to get promotion.
Good start by LT and confidence builder which is a massive factor.
It will be tight as always.
Comment posted by CastorTroy, at 19:10 18 Aug 2021
Nathan Jones is working wonders at Luton Town, punching well above their weight on a very limited budget. Good football too.
Comment posted by Untold Reality, at 23:22 17 Aug 2021
Imagine Luton getting into the premiership...😯 I have family that live there and that ground is a throwback to 80/90s football
Reply posted by the ghost of tom joad, at 08:27 18 Aug 2021
the ghost of tom joad replied:
You do mean 1880/90s I assume?
Comment posted by Coventry , at 22:49 17 Aug 2021
That's the way it goes.
All that possession and 13 fouls.
Well battled but didn't win the game!!
Mugged off by Luton and Cov allegidley get a goal by the arm/hand of Victor.
Strange game this football and what can happen in 4 days.
#PUSB
Reply posted by nosher, at 07:38 18 Aug 2021
nosher replied:
Yes barnsley got their reward after saturday Pusb
Comment posted by Dr Foxtrot, at 08:33 18 Aug 2021
If ever a team needed a proven goalscorer it's Barnsley, unless one isn't found soon last season will just be a distant dream😬
Comment posted by SLR, at 23:20 17 Aug 2021
That would be a nice glass of Bells for him tonight, hopefully neat?
Comment posted by nosher, at 07:40 18 Aug 2021
For all your comments from Saturday.. you got your reward PUSB
Comment posted by nosher, at 10:55 18 Aug 2021
Calm down you've already lost one supporter
Comment posted by ray123, at 23:16 17 Aug 2021
Barnsley lucky to get beaten by a bigger score they look relegation material already.
Reply posted by boyland, at 23:44 17 Aug 2021
boyland replied:
Not sure what game you were watching?!? Barnsley mugged off tonight and mugged off Coventry on Saturday, that’s football. We’ll do ok this season, mid table, certainly not relegation material.
Comment posted by Sams Town, at 02:50 18 Aug 2021
Luton as away team got an early goal, then defended for 87 minutes with no ambition & dived or feigned injury continually. Its not just luton this seems to be the way it is for many championship teams playing away, awful to watch.
Reply posted by nosher, at 07:36 18 Aug 2021
nosher replied:
Didn't thee do that saturday..
Comment posted by Andrew JG_8921, at 00:42 18 Aug 2021
Luton Town are just as tinpot as Barnsley are. Both tiny clubs in the Championship lol
Reply posted by Wolston27, at 04:04 18 Aug 2021
Wolston27 replied:
Like the brain in your head 😄😄😄 (tiny tinpot 🤭🤭🤭)