James Collins strikes for Luton Town and deepens Barnet woes

The suggestion is unlikely to prick Martin Allen’s self-belief but this, surely, is a “mission impossible” too far. His fifth spell managing Barnet began with hints of his influence but they finished well beaten and patently lacking quality. Goals from Danny Hylton and James Collins put the home team back on top of League Two; Barnet will be relegated from it if they cannot bridge a deficit of at least seven points and another Allen-inspired miracle seems some way off.

Allen had spent the week reducing a 43-strong squad by more than half. The 11 who made it out on to the pitch looked purpose-moulded to his image: in comparison to their opponents Barnet resembled giants, Allen’s four changes seemingly motivated by the need to bludgeon any kind of path towards survival.

An early concession would have put their appetite to the test but after Craig Ross, the goalkeeper, bundled a Dan Potts header away from goal they settled well. Luton, skittish after seeing a five-game winless run ask questions of their promotion credentials, were drawn into a scrap that cared little for the purring football that has won them so many admirers.

Barnet could call upon a bustling outlet in John Akinde, who almost found a route to goal before a timely challenge by Alan Sheehan, but broadly their defence’s priority on receiving possession was that anywhere would do. It meant the game careered from one end to another with nobody evincing the ability – or, in Barnet’s case, willingness – to apply a handbrake.

Ross clutched another Potts header and parried an effort from Luke Berry but Barnet had glimpses too. When Akinde, who had earlier angered Alan McCormack by leaving a high boot in as the midfielder stooped to clear, seized upon a sloppy Potts pass and shot marginally wide it was an accurate comment on how Luton’s half had passed.

They had not found any kind of rhythm, efforts to do so hardly aided by Barnet’s lengthy deliberations over throw-ins and goal-kicks, and Allen paced down the tunnel to reflect on a gameplan well executed.

His thoughts will have darkened, then, when they committed the cardinal sin of switching off straight after half-time. Hylton’s goal, heading into a half-empty net after Potts directed a Sheehan free-kick across the six-yard box, was his first since 6 January and maddeningly simple from a Barnet perspective.

As much as it undid their good work it had the effect of liberating the home team. One flowing move, which ended with Collins dummying and Andrew Shinnie’s shot deflecting wide, was reminiscent of their prolific pre-Christmas form; Ross then spectacularly punched a Berry curler over and the sense grew that Allen would need a stroke of magic from beyond the usual playbook.

Instead Collins ensured the spell was shattered, setting his sights near the right edge of the penalty area and finding the corner with a drive that, while well struck, should have been repelled by Ross.

“You’re getting sacked in the morning‚“ was the home support’s chant. It is true that Allen tends to join the Bees for a good time rather than a long time; the odds against the former, though, look insurmountable on this occasion.