Luton Town v Barnsley - Gerhard Struber targets timely survival boost in order to remain in SkyBet Championship

There may be four games still remaining after this crunch meeting of the division’s bottom two at Kenilworth Road (6pm), but it possesses the trappings of a ‘cup final’ in all but name.

A loss for either would represent a potentially fatal blow in their respective quests to avoid the drop to League One, particularly as it would arrive on the back of a psychologically damaging defeat on Saturday.

While Barnsley produced a lamentable, mistake-ridden performance in a grim 4-0 loss at Stoke City, Luton suffered a brutal 5-0 home reverse to Yakou Meite-inspired Reading – with the Hatters falling to their heaviest home loss in just over 13 years.

The fillip of victory this evening would serve as a timely boost for both strugglers on an occasion when a draw would only suit their relegation rivals.

Head coach Struber said: “It is important we have a big attitude and high intensity and high aggression on the field.

“We must be unstoppable and it is a key game and everyone will be ready for a big relegation fight.

“This is a big game, maybe the key game.

“But we (also) have to pick up points in the next games. This is our job and goal.

“After mistakes, we have to be critical with ourselves and this is the same with the players, like the staff. It is our responsibility and duty that in this next game, everyone is at their personal limit and not thinking about relegation but staying in this league and what are our responsibilities in every game and second.

“It is a fight for our fans. They are so close behind us. Now, they are not at the stadium, but we feel the energy from the fans. We have to show a big fight and it is what our supporters will see.

“We will make mistakes, but we have to fight from the first second until the last and I think this is a big duel.”

Barnsley’s mini-renaissance came to a shuddering halt in the Potteries as they suffered their first loss on football’s resumption after taking seven points from a possible nine.

Luton’s drop-off also made a mockery of their recent form, with Saturday’s thrashing ending a six-match unbeaten sequence for them.

Spectators may not be present this evening, but the tension will be palpable on a high-stakes occasion, with Struber confident that his senior players will instigate the right response after Saturday’s abysmal showing at Stoke.

Struber, whose side welcome Wigan Athletic at the weekend, added: “We know we have not so many players in our squad with big leadership.

“But we have many talents who show they can give a professional performance and we also have (Alex) Mowatt, (Michael) Sollbauer, Cauley Woodrow and Mads Andersen, who has taken a lot of responsibility in the last games.

“I trust my boys and leaders. This is our big chance.

“In the last four games, we have had three clean sheets and good performances and we had a crash-game against Stoke.

“The other (weekend) results were a little bit helpful for us, but the biggest impact is always our performance and focus.

“This is clear for me and my boys. We need points and victories.”

Barnsley are one of four Yorkshire clubs who are presently pitted in a survival fight with Middlesbrough, Hull City and Huddersfield Town also in the same boat.

Supporters of all those other teams will have a vested interest in developments in Bedfordshire this evening, with a draw being one that would be the desired outcome for Boro, Hull and Town.

Now in the colours of Barnsley, ex-Terriers defender Jordan Williams admits his ideal scenario is for the Reds and his hometown club to stave off the drop and be celebrating late on July 22.

Meltham-raised Williams, said: “My girlfriend’s dad is a Town fan and her family are, so I am always getting a bit of stick from them that it is going to be us or them (going down).

“But it’s just a bit of banter. You take it on the chin and move on. It is always good to have a Yorkshire derby and hopefully it will be in the Championship again (next season).

“But we just need to concentrate on ourselves and if Huddersfield go down, they go down and if we stay up, so be it.”

On Barnsley channelling their hurt after a wretched weekend showing at Stoke, he added: “Definitely. It was a horrible game.

“But that is in the past now and we have got to think towards Tuesday which is a massive game and the boys have got to show a reaction.

“We are all ready and confident that we will put in a performance at Luton.”

Last six games: Luton DDDWDL; Barnsley LLWDWL.

Referee: D Whitestone (Northants).

Last time: Luton 0 Barnsley 0, January 1, 2019; League One.

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