Manager Nathan Jones admitted that some of his Luton players have taken their eye off the ball after their abject defeat to promotion-chasing Barnsley ensured back-to-back slumps following the international break.
A victory at Preston before that had notched Town’s 50th point, which was a huge milestone towards their continued participation in the Championship for a third year. But they have been way off the pace since, with social media flush with suggestion that the team has one foot on the beach.
Today they saw the very best and worst of goalkeeper Simon Sluga, but even though a world-class double stop triggered a six-minute kitchen-sink-throwing finale, unsuccessfully chasing a draw they didn’t deserve, it could not mask an end of season malaise.
“I think we’ve taken our eye off the ball in the last two games,” said Jones, adding: “We’ve been totally different at Derby and today than we were at Preston and Coventry.
z“We got to 50 points and a few of them have taken their eye off the ball. A few of them suddenly changed from what we are. We’ve got to go back to being what we are.
“I want us to evolve, I want us to get better but, at the end of the day, I want us to win football games and to be difficult to beat. And if we have to just go back to basics a little bit, then we’re going to do that.
“I think there’s been a little bit of a laidback attitude with a couple of them at the minute, because we’ve got to 50 points. Suddenly they think, (after Preston) there’s nine games to go. But, suddenly they’re on 50 points with seven games to go and I don’t want to get there with two games to go and we’re still on 50 points. That’s not how I want this season to finish.”
These two teams survived by the skin of their teeth on the final day of the Championship last term and though both have evolved this season, the Hatters looked distinctly more neanderthal in their primitive quality against a Barnsley outfit that performed even great miracles last summer and are now firmly in the play-off picture.
There have been some noises out of Kenilworth Road about mounting a late challenge for the top six, but this laid bare that such notions are as dead as the dodo.
For 84 minutes they exhibited the abilities of a team still battling the drop, as Daryl Dike bullied Matty Pearson, bagging a brace.
For the second Sluga fatally fumbled Cauley Woodrow’s seemingly comfortable long ranger and the American was lively to force the rebound over the line.
The goal is a terrible goal to give away. Out of absolutely nothing, we didn’t defend it well enough,” said Jones.
“It came back off the goalkeeper, we didn’t react. So many things have gone wrong, but they’re on the front foot and we’re not and that was pretty much the story for pretty much the majority of the game.”
After hooking off the Sam Nombe and Glen Rea at the break, the manager added: “I’ve had to make a few changes at half time in a lot of games. Whether that’s because I’ve got it tactically wrong, or what I thought I was going to get from players I didn’t get.
“So, I have to keep making the right decisions. I have to evaluate my decisions, but I wasn’t happy with what we got in the first half.
“We could’ve made a number of changes at half time, but we didn’t. We were slightly better in the second half.”
Dike should’ve had a hat-trick after former Tyke Pearson tripped him but Sluga, who had made other fine saves either side of his return to the bad old days, pulled off a world-class double stop.
The Croatian international guessed right to deny Dike from the spot but then reacted with sensational speed and agility to keep out Michal Helik, who’s eyes lit up.
And, from there, Luton steamed up the other end and somehow snatched a lifeline. Top scorer James Collins had to watch on from the bench again as Sam Nombe was given the nod for his first ineffectual Championship start, but he showed his finishing ability when he lashed in low from the edge of the area for his 11th of the campaign.
Town threw all their big men top and peppered the visitors’ box with crosses to try to win an unlikely point, but after the preceding 84 minutes it was more in blind hope than expectation.
The quality that had so eluded them before, continued until the final whistle, which confirmed what they deserved. Nothing.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Simon Sluga – 4
Had little chance with Daryl Dike’s opener, but was then culpable for the American’s second, fumbling Cauley Woodrow’s shot and getting beaten to the loose ball. Kept it at 2-0 soon after with a good save to keep out Callum Styles, but bettered that with a stunning double stop to deny Daryl Dike from claiming his hat-trick from the spot and Michal Helik with the rebound.
Jordan Clark – 4
Moved over to the right but was pegged back in the first half. Made a good burst into the box after the break but couldn’t pick a killer pass and Barnsley went up the other end and doubled their lead. He was Town’s best attacking outlet in the second period.
Kal Naismith – 3
Got completely taken out by Cauley Woodrow’s ball through for Daryl Dike’s goal, which highlighted his inexperience at centre half, despite recent good performances. He moved to left back once Sonny Bradley came on at half time.
Matty Pearson – 1
A poor afternoon all round. His distribution was a frustration but he was fatally slow for Daryl Dike’s opener, not for the first time against the Barnsley goalscorer. He then somehow tripped him to concede a penalty, having already won the ball.
Martin Cranie – 2
Lasted until the 70th minute and then replaced by Kazenga LuaLua.
Glen Rea – 2
Back in his preferred defensive midfield role, but the stand-in skipper was unfortunately not back in swing of things. Made a few fouls and was replaced at half time by Sonny Bradley.
Ryan Tunnicliffe – 3
Effort aplenty, but lacking in quality. Replaced by Luke Berry in the 78th minute.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu – 2
One of those games that just passes him by.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 3
Had the first shot on target with a long range volley and tried to give Town some forward momentum in the second half, to no avail, until James Collins’ goal.
Sam Nombe – 2
Looked a bit lost against Barnsley’s back three on his first Championship start for Luton. Replaced at the break by Harry Cornick.
Elijah Adebayo – 3
Great feet when he got in behind to dig out a dangerous cross to exactly where he’d liked to have been lurking, but too often he was asked to chase aimless punts upfield. Replaced by James Collins in the 70th minute.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
Harry Cornick – 2
Instantly into the spirit of the Luton’s attacking contribution by getting flagged offside. Had a decent chance to finally break his duck, but he didn’t judge Kal Naismith’s cross and headed harmlessly wide. Never going to score this season, is he?
Sonny Bradley – 2
Booked for a foul on Daryl Dike and then didn’t get to grips with Cauley Woodrow for the second goal.
Kazenga LuaLua – 3
Claimed an assist by picking out James Collins to halve the deficit.
James Collins – 5 (star man)
Town’s top scorer came off the bench and smashed in from the edge of the area to give Town hope, straight after Simon Sluga’s double stop from the penalty spot. Before that, Town were dead and buried.
Luke Berry – 2
Couldn’t make any impact.
UNUSED SUBS: Harry Isted, George Moncur, James Bree, Joe Morrell.
For me Kal Naismith has been our best buy for over 12 months. Today there was no cohesion, an absolute shambles. Players at this level should be able to motivate themselves for every game. Today, they didn’t.
Sluga was man of the match despite his fumble. The defence was terrible and should have bailed him out for the second shot. He also shouldn’t have had to make a second save after the pen. Lazy defending again. This weekend definitely had an air of “on the beach” about it, so maybe they know something more concrete about the easing of foreign travel than we do?!
With a significant number out of contract players there’s an interesting dilemma facing Jones. How many of them are worthy of new deals? And if we shift a lot of them on, can we avoid doing a Grimsby (who are going down in part cos they got rid of too many players last summer)? Potts aside I’m not convinced many of them can move us forward. I don’t think we can afford Collo and if someone offers him a lot of money he deserves a chance to take it given his age. But can we get that many better players in one window and have them gel quickly? I’m not sure about that.