Free betting tips: Saturday October 13 - Sky Bet League One - Barnsley v Luton
The Sky Bet League One action gets underway as Barnsley take on Luton in front of the Sky Sports cameras. We have two best bets.
Recommended Barnsley v Luton bets
1pt Dimitri Cavare to score anytime at 10/1
1pt George Moncur to score anytime at 9/2
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Barnsley v Luton (Oakwell, 1200 BST, Sky Sports Football)
The international break may signal a pause to the top two divisions in England, but Barnsley's clash with Luton in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off is set to be an entertaining encounter.
Both sit within the top four in the form table for League One, with Luton picking up three wins and two draws in their last five games. Barnsley also boast a decent record over the same period, with two wins and two draws.
The hosts can take confidence in the fact that they are yet to be defeated in front of their own supporters, while Luton's victory over Oxford at the start of the month was their first win away from home.
Given their contrasting home/away form, Barnsley look good for the three points at a general price of even money. It has the potential to be a game with goals in too, Barnsley's goal difference of +16 highlighting how clinical they are in front of goal.
Luton were the EFL's entertainers last season with a remarkable 94 goals scored as they sealed promotion from League Two, and now they've started to find the net after a slow start.
I have Nathan Jones as my pick for the vacant Brentford position given his impact so far at Luton. The Hatters' attacking style of play has reaped the rewards as they knock on the door of the top-six.
It's reflected in the sheer number of goals they scored, and the fact that an 8-2 win over Yeovil, alongside a 7-1 victory against Stevenage and a 7-0 hammering of Cambridge were the highlights of the 2017/18 campaign.
That link also shows the impact he has had at the club since January 2016 when he joined. Barnsley may be one of those games where they have to settle for defeat, although you can guarantee that they will cause some problems throughout the 90 minutes.
Their last three games have seen seven goals in their favour, while they have also conceded five. Over 2.5 goals here is 4/5 across the board which looks fair based on the ability these sides have to find the net.
Kieffer Moore leads the Barnsley scoring charts with seven goals in all competitions, averaging one every 129 minutes. The fact he has 34 shots in total, with 19 hitting the target, highlighting his desire to finish as the division's top scorer.
The 10/1 price on Dimitri Cavare striking anytime has a big appeal to it, despite his position as a right-back for the Tykes. The 23-year-old is a real presence down that side of the pitch and has the ability to find the net from distance, as shown by his effort against Scunthorpe.
He also has three assists and eight shots on goal, he is getting himself at the right end of the pitch and has every chance of finding the net once again here given the high-pressing style of play that Barnsley boss Daniel Stendel has implemented.
Another player worth keeping an eye on is George Moncur, who, like Moore, has amassed a high shot count so far this season. He has 29 in total, switching between the left midfield and attacking midfield roles.
He struck the first goal in last week's 4-0 hammering of Peterborough, grabbing his third goal in all competitions. The issue for him is that he has been battling Mamadou Thiam for a spot in the starting XI.
However, given that convincing victory over a side who will be chasing the title this season, it's difficult to see how Stendel will want to make any changes.
The former Colchester man is a player with an eye for goal and the position he plays allows him plenty of opportunity to do just that. The sheer amount of shots looks even more impressive when you factor in that he has started just five league games this season.
Score prediction: Barnsley 3-1 Luton (Sky Bet odds: 14/1)
Best bet: Dimitri Cavare to score anytime at 10/1
Best bet: George Moncur to score anytime at 9/2
Opta facts
- Although this will be the first league meeting between Barnsley and Luton since the 2006-07 Championship season, Barnsley are without a win in their last four home league matches against the Hatters (D1 L3), after having won 11 of the previous 12 prior to this (D1).
- Just one of the last 15 matches between Barnsley and Luton in all competitions has been drawn (0-0 in March 2004), with Barnsley winning nine to Luton’s five in this time.
- Barnsley have lost just once in their first eleven league games this season (W6 D4), collecting 22 points, their best start to a league season since 1978/79 in the fourth tier (W7 D3 L1).
- Luton secured their first away win of the season last time out against Oxford (2-1); they had managed just one win in their previous 13 away league games prior to that victory.
- Barnsley’s Kieffer Moore has just one goal in his last five league appearances, after scoring six goals in his previous three.
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Odds correct at 1530 BST on 11/10/18