Luton claimed their first Championship win of the season with a barnstorming first half blitz at Barnsley, started by Jacob Butterfield on 82 seconds.
James Collins bagged his second of the season in the fourth minute and Harry Cornick completed the rout just after the half hour mark.
The Tykes had gone 29 games unbeaten at Oakwell in the league before this contest of last term’s League One champions and runners up, so they put Town under the pump after the break.
Luton ended their three-game penchant for conceding early after the restart, but did concede a soft consolation when Mallik Wilks was left alone to stroke from close range in the 72nd minute.
It was so harsh on keeper Simon Sluga who so deserved a clean sheet for his magnificent performance in the second period, twice thwarting Mamadou Thiam when the hosts were on top.
But in the end it was Luton’s lightning start that did the damage in a first half, where they altered their play-out-from-the-back style somewhat, taking a more direct approach to distributing to the outstanding Kazenga LuaLua and Cornick.
But the winger’s had barely touched the ball before the Hatters were ahead. With their first attack the ball feel loose to Butterfield and he opened his account for the club with a big blast into the bottom corner.
Collins then bundled in a quick-fire second and Cornick did his best Butterfield impersonation, bashing in just after the half hour mark with Town completely dominant.
While winger LuaLua terrorised both Barnsley full back as he and Cornick swapped flanks throughout, Andrew Shinnie was involved in the build-up to all three goals.
And the half time scoreline flattered the hosts because twice keeper Simon Radlinger provided instinctive reaction saves at close quarters, first sticking out a leg to deny Collins and then to hook the ball away from the striker after stopping Matty Pearson’s drive.
But the Tykes number one was a virtual spectator after the break as his side rallied and put Town under real pressure.
The hosts singled out right back Luke Bolton – making his full Luton league debut – and after twice missing the ball on the halfway line, but getting away with it, the Manchester City loanee couldn’t cut out a low cross that saw Wilks stroke in from close range.
Sluga was furious, as his search for a clean sheet goes on, but the Croatian international had twice pulled off important saves, thwarting the lively Mamadou Thiam with a block and flyer to deny a pile-driver.
It wasn’t to be the perfect afternoon, but it was as near to it as possible with Town finally announcing their return to the Championship.
The visiting fans sang “Luton are back,” and, with an air of revenge for the 3-2 reverse at Oakwell last term, it felt like the League One champions had finally found their mojo.
