Luton v Barnet preview: League Two clash live on Sky Sports Football
Watch live on Sky Sports Football or Main Event from 5pm on Saturday
Saturday 24 March 2018 17:56, UK
Promotion-chasing Luton must do without midfielders Flynn Downes and Luke Gambin, who are on international duty, for the Sky Bet League Two match against bottom club Barnet, live on Sky Sports Football from 5pm on Saturday.
Downes, on loan from Ipswich, is away with the England Under-19s, while Gambin has joined up with Malta. Midfielder Alan McCormack could be in contention again after making a comeback from his calf injury and recovery from a hernia operation as a late substitute in the 1-1 draw at Newport last weekend. Lawson D'Ath continues his rehabilitation from a knee problem.
New Barnet boss Martin Allen has reduced the squad to just 21 players after returning to the north London club for a fifth time in charge to replace Graham Westley. The Bees, seven points from safety, have sent Tin Plavotic back to parent club Bristol City, while defender Matthew Briggs has been released and Jordan Nicholson made available for loan, but midfielder Simeon Akinola is part of Allen's plans.
Mauro Vilhete, though, looks set for an operation on an unspecified injury, which is expected to rule him out for the rest of the campaign, while midfielder Fuad Sule is sidelined by an ankle problem.
Goalkeeper Jamie Stephens (knee) also continues his recovery. Defender Harry Taylor is still out with a broken metatarsal, while Elliott Johnson and Dave Tarpey (both knee) are long-term absentees.
Opta stats
These sides met at Kenilworth Road earlier this season, a 1-1 draw in the Football League Trophy with Luton winning 4-3 on penalties.
The Bees have lost all three of their Football League trips to Kenilworth Road.
The Hatters have drawn four of their last five league games, losing the other. They haven't gone longer without a win in the EFL since a run of seven games in April 2015.
Live EFL
Barnet have managed just three away league wins in 19 matches this season - only Forest Green Rovers and Chesterfield (both two) have won fewer.
James Collins has been directly involved in six goals in his last six league appearances (five goals, one assist), as many as his previous 14 combined.
Prutton's prediction
It's five games without a win for Luton now. It seemed as though they were strolling to the title a few weeks ago but now they've been overtaken by Accrington at the top and are starting to look over their shoulders a little.
Barnet are rock bottom and they've rolled the dice again by bringing back Martin Allen. He'll fancy a crack at Luton in their current form and I fancy this to be a draw.
David Prutton predicts: 2-2 with James Collins to score first (55/1 with Sky Bet)
