Match Previews

MATCH PREVIEW | BARNSLEY V LUTON TOWN

The Hatters head to Oakwell tomorrow afternoon as they look to make it six Sky Bet League One games unbeaten as they take on Barnsley.

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The Tykes are the fifth side the Town have faced who are currently in the top seven, the other two are Nathan Jones' side's next two opponents after tomorrow – Walsall and Accrington Stanley.

Town have been in brilliant form of late, having not suffered defeat in their last five outings, picking up three wins.

That has fired them up the form table, only tomorrow's hosts and Portsmouth bettering the Hatters' return from their last eight games.

They also ended their winless run on the road in their last away outing, defeating Oxford United 2-1 at Grenoble Road.

The Oakwell based outfit are flying though – just two points off second place and they've won six of their 11 games in the third tier so far this campaign.

Their goal difference is five better than any other team in League One, on plus-16. A win could lift them as high as second, whilst a win for the Hatters could move them up to fourth – although they would have to better Barnsley's goal difference, which is considerably better.

THE GAFFER SAYS:

On Danny Hylton's fitness: "He's back in contention now. We're happy up to right now, so providing nothing happens in the days coming then he's available for selection and we're delighted to have him back.

"We have been very conservative in terms of bringing him back. A year ago he would have been back in earlier than now, but what we've done is make sure that when he comes back in mentally he's right, physically he's right, that we're happy that we're doing all the processes. He's ready to go, whether he is ready for a full 90 is another thing. He's important to what we do, so we will see."

On Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel: "He's not somebody I have come across before, but obviously from the outset, going into Barnsley who I think signed superb players when they were in the Championship, maybe not top Championship players, but there was sense behind it that if they ever did come back down, they'd have one heck of a squad to get promoted back up.

"I think they've been very good in their recruitment and what they have done. Going in at a club is never easy, going in at a relegated club, there's no guarantees you're going to go back up, regardless of budget or size, so I think he has done an excellent job and you can see that they have got a way of playing, a structure and that's all you can do as a manager."

YOU CAN NOW WATCH NATHAN JONES' PRE-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE ON IFOLLOW HATTERS FREEVIEW BY CLICKING HERE

WHO?

One of the favourites to go back up at the first time of asking, Barnsley are going about it the right way and find themselves just outside the automatic promotion places. A 4-0 victory at Peterborough United last Saturday only personified their credentials as a top side in the division, having only suffered one defeat all season.

Manager Daniel Stendel arrived in the summer after a difficult campaign last season as the Tykes were relegated from the Championship. They've managed to keep the core group that went down, with Kieffer Moore and Brad Potts bagging 11 goals between them so far. They're an impressive defensive force as well, having kept five clean sheets in 11 games.

WHEN AND WHERE?

Kick-off is at 12pm on Saturday 13th October at Oakwell.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for tomorrow's game at Barnsley are still on sale from the LTFC Ticket Office until 2pm today. There is a big increase for tickets purchased on the day, so please ensure you purchase in advance!

MAN IN THE MIDDLE?

Tomorrow afternoon's game will be refereed by Ross Joyce, who has overseen 13 games so far this campaign, dishing out 46 yellow cards and one red card.

PLAYED BEFORE?

Of our 57 meetings, we have won 23, drawn eight and lost 26. Our most recent was January 2007 in the Championship, in which the Hatters were defeated 2-0.

FOLLOW THE ACTION

The main blow-by-blow account of the action from Kenilworth Road will be provided via the Match Centre on the club website, which you can access by clicking here. (*Please note that the club's Live Text will appear only by accessing through an internet browser, users of the Luton Town FC app will receive updates from Opta...the EFL Digital team assure us they are working on a fix to get club updates onto the app)

The main moments from the game will appear on the Hatters' social media feeds:

Twitter – @LutonTownFacebook – www.facebook.com/LutonTown/Instagram – www.instagram.com/ltfc_official/

And of course Simon Pitts will be on hand to provide commentary for iFollow Hatters which you can subscribe to by clicking here.

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