James just homes in
JAMES COLLINS was the Hatters’ hero again as he kept up his scoring spree with a stunner that boss Nathan Jones hailed as “wonderful’’.
The striker, whose penalty in a 3-2 home win over Blackburn helped Luton to final-day survival last season, struck on 71 minutes to give them a winning start to the new Championship season.
Jones said: “When you have a scorer like James who gets an opportunity and puts it away like that, it’s all you need. It was a wonderful finish.
“I’m really proud of my team. We were excellent. Apart from the chance Barnsley had it was probably as good an away performance as you are likely to see.’’
These sides began second successive seasons in the second tier with their Houdini-style escapes from relegation.
Barnsley lost forward Jacob Brown this week when he made a £2million move to Stoke, and boss Gerhard Struber placed his faith in former FC United of
Manchester striker Elliot Simoes, who spent his early days with Benfica and Sporting Lisbon in his native Portugal.
One-time Luton rookie Cauley Woodrow threatened in the fourth minute when he broke down the right before pulling his finish wide.
But Collins, who also grabbed a hat-trick in Luton’s 3-1 Carabao Cup home victory over Norwich last weekend, wasted a much better chance on 18 minutes, lifting Harry Cornick’s cross over the bar.
Visiting midfielder Luke Berry flashed an effort from distance high and wide on half-time.
Collins picked up a needless yellow card early in the second half for a late challenge on keeper Jack Walton.
But he was at his clinical best as he lashed Luton ahead with a vicious strike into the roof of Walton’s net on the end of Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s header.
New Barnsley midfielder Dominik Frieser, signed from LASK Linz in his native Austria, had the opportunity to level, but nodded wide.
Struber admitted: “The aggression and physical advantage of the opposition meant we had problems finding our way in the game.
“It’s a big lesson for us, we need more physical players. Luton played long balls and it was successful for them.’’
Walton 6, Sollbauer 6, Andersen 6, Williams 6, Ludewig 6, Mowatt 5, Styles 7, Ritzmaier 5 (Palmer 58, 5), Simoes 5 (Frieser 53, 5), Woodrow 6, Chaplin 5 (Schmidt 77).
Subs not used: Collins, Helik, Thomas, Adeboyejo.
LUTON TOWN: Sluga 7, Cranie 6, Pearson 6, Bradley 6, Norrington-Davies 6, Berry 6, Mpanzu 6, Rea 5, Cornick 6 (Bree 81), Collins 7 (Hylton 90), Lee 5 (Lualua 62, 6).
Shea, Tunnicliffe, Moncur, Clark.
James Collins. Missed a good chance early on but made amends
in style.
REFEREE: Jarred Gillett 6.