Barnsley 0 Luton 1: Collins cracker gets Town off to a flying start

James Collins smashes in the winner against Barnsley
James Collins smashes in the winner against Barnsley. Photo by Liam Smith

James Collins scored a 71st minute blockbuster to hand the Hatters an opening day victory in the Championship at Barnsley.

It had been a cagey affair against a Tykes team that, like Luton, had pulled off a final day of the season Great Escape, but Collins had a first half chance to open the scoring, he just couldn’t convert Harry Cornick’s teasing cross.

The striker wouldn’t err again and, following little in the way of goalmouth action, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s header dropped into his path and he larruped it into the roof of the net for his fourth goal in two games.

Soon after the opener, Town saw substitute Dominik Frieser miss a sitter at the back post, but other than that looked a very organised side at the back and a clean sheet, one-goal, away-day triumph is about as good as it gets. For starters at least.