Analysis of Barnsley's 2-1 loss at Luton Town on Saturday. After conceding a penalty, the Reds levelled through Adam Phillips before Luton scored a late goal.

FANS STILL PARTYING DESPITE DROP TO 15TH

‘LEAGUE One again’ chanted the Super Marios, Peaky Blinders, Teletubbies and bananas from the away end as, for most of them who will not be at Northampton on Tuesday, another season of travelling Barnsley around the country came to an end.

Some of the outfits may have been rather uncomfortable on one of the warmer days of the year so far as many of the thousand-strong away end dressed up as usual at this time of season.

They provided noisy backing for their team but could not help voicing frustration, when losing late on, about being in the third tier for a fifth straight season next year.

It has not been an easy campaign to follow the Reds who have won five of 22 away games and collected 23 points, after winning at least ten on the road in each of the last three seasons.

Despite a decent performance at a strong side, the Reds slipped down to 15th in League One with a 16th defeat of season while they had won one of 11 and taken 40 points from their last 37 games.

Those who travel to Sixfields on Tuesday for a rearranged game must surely be rewarded with a win at the relegated bottom side who have lost their last ten.

REDS COMPETE WELL BUT EDGED OUT BY PROMOTION-CHASERS

There was not too much more Conor Hourihane could have done in this game at the start of his final week as Barnsley head coach.

Jack Shepherd and Marc Roberts were dropped after their nightmare evening at Stevenage and Barnsley played what is currently their best back four of Corey O’Keeffe, Mael de Gevigney, Eoghan O’Connell and Josh Earl. They stopped playing sloppy passes out from the back as they went longer.

Luton had the better chances in the first half but it was a competitive game and Barnsley started the second half the better.

Again Hourihane made sensible changes on 55 minutes with Earl - on a booking and lacking pace against Luton’s fast wingers - replaced by Georgie Gent at left-back while fit-again David McGoldrick came on for the exhausted Tom Bradshaw up front.

Hourihane had to bring on Kelechi Nwakali, who he has agreed with the club to use in the final games, and he was at fault for the winner, while he took off his most dangerous player Adam Phillips late on.

The hosts - with their strong bench and everything to play for - ground out the win against the tiring visitors who never really looked like making it 2-2.

Overall the Reds fought hard, played some decent football but were undone by poor defending as usual.

Luton were unbeaten in nine league games with six wins while they had only lost one of 16 league games at Kenilworth Road and they looked to avenge a 5-0 loss at Oakwell in November.

Luton needed to win to have a realistic chance of the top six going into the final day and there was some tension with home captain Kal Naismith telling one of his own fans to ‘shut the **** up’ during a heated first half argument while the ball was in play. But the hosts got the win through Kasey Palmer - one of the best opponents Barnsley have faced this season - and can move up from seventh into the play-offs if others slip up on the last day.

TWO MORE POOR GOALS CONCEDED

Barnsley conceded two poor goals, both from set pieces, which took them to 96 let in in all competitions and 70 in the third division which is the joint most with Tuesday’s hosts Northampton. The first goal saw a corner from the right - after de Gevigney miscued a clearance - reach Hakeem Odoffin at the back post and he was tripped by Luca Connell who appeared to arrive late. The penalty was given and there were few real complaints from the Reds captain who was close to joining Luton in the January transfer window. Nakhi Wells beat Owen Goodman from the spot.

No side in League One has let in as many goals from penalties this season as Barnsley’s eight, with all of them being converted.

The build-up to the second goal was sloppy. Nwakali stopped a counter-attack with a foul on Palmer who then took a quick free-kick, with Barnsley very slow to react, to Gideon Kodua who charged down the empty left flank and won a corner. After two were headed behind by defenders, the third corner on the left by Liam Walsh was nodded across goal by Mads Andersen, who outjumped Mael de Gevigney, to Palmer who had lost his marker Nwakali and smashed in from close range. Eoghan O’Connell had gone to ground after contact from Shayden Morris.

PHILLIPS GOAL RECORD OUTSTANDING

Adam Phillips reached double figures for goals for a fourth successive season - the first Barnsley player to do so since Neil Redfearn in the 1990s.

He was a real nuisance for the home defence all game, drifting in from the right wing or going behind the Hatters backline - creating chances for himself and others.

He appealed for a penalty when he rounded the goalkeeper and tangled with Hakeem Odoffin but nothing was given. It would have been a soft spot-kick.

Phillips - who replaced Scott Banks for this game - has ten goals despite often being benched or played in deeper roles by Hourihane.

He headed in a few yards out after goalkeeper Josh Keeley saved Reyes Cleary’s shot following a bursting run from Patrick Kelly after a clever Earl pass.

Cleary and Kelly had some eye-catching moments but lacked end product. Jono Bland admitted he struggled in the first half but felt more involved after the break while Connell grew into the match after the penalty.

Tom Bradshaw was dominated by Andersen who made a remarkable 20 clearances then McGoldrick was more dangerous but missed a few half-chances.

Barnsley’s full-backs had a tough time against Luton’s wingers who found themselves in good positions but often lacked end product. Centre-backs O’Connell and de Gevigney were fairly solid but will be disappointed with two set piece goals. Owen Goodman again made some decent saves.