The Hatters’ five-match unbeaten ran came to abrupt end with a heavy defeat at Oakwell.

Having gone three games in League One without conceding the Town were 3-0 down at the break as the hosts threatened to run riot.

Barnsley added a fourth shortly after the hour and a fifth with 15 minutes left to play as the Hatters were left to reflect on a day to forget at a ground in which they had won on their last three visits.

It was a disappointing afternoon that started with the boss Jack Wilshere making three changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Rotherham. Having been away on international duty with Northern Ireland, George Saville returned to the Hatters midfield and started alongside Zack Nelson, who made his first league start since September.

Gideon Kodua was also restored to the starting XI while former Barnsley man Mads Andersen overcame a knock to start in defence.

But the game was only three minutes old when the hosts first threatened when Vimal Yoganathan’s shot struck the crossbar.

The Town then came close in the following attack when Isaiah Jones’ shot was held by Murphy Cooper in the hosts goal.

However, on seven minutes the Hatters fell behind. After losing the ball in midfield, the hosts raced forward, the lively Davis Keillor-Dunn threading the ball through for Reyes Cleary to beat Josh Keeley with a clipped finish.

Behind, the Town rallied and on 15 minutes Nahki Wells came mighty close to restoring parity when rounding Cooper in the penalty area but a combination of Marc Roberts and Jack Shepherd crowded the striker about to pull the trigger with the goal at his mercy.

That would prove to be closest the Hatters would come and Wells’ afternoon ended shortly afterwards when a knock saw him depart and replaced by Jerry Yates.

The hosts should have doubled their lead on 29 minutes when Keillor-Dunn side-footed wide before Yoganathan saw a shot from an acute angle hit the post moments later.

But the Tykes did make their domination count 10 minutes before half-time when Cleary crossed from the byeline to tee-up Patrick Kelly to convert from a yard out.

And it got worse for the Hatters right at the end of the first period when Barnsley skipper Luca Connell curled a fine free-kick past Keeley to add a third for the Tykes.

Wilshere made a triple change at the break in a bid to reverse the Town’s fortunes with Jake Richards, Milli Alli and Hakeem Odoffin introduced.

But it was the hosts that continued to push for a fourth. Marc Roberts headed over from a right-wing corner on 56 minutes before Cleary curled a low shot wide of the target.

A fourth goal for the Tykes did arrive on 62 minutes when the Town failed to deal with a low cross from the left and Kodua inadvertently flicked the ball past Keeley.

Wilshere sent on Lamine Fanne on 71 minutes and the midfielder drilled a shot goalwards with his first touch only to see his drive deflected behind bravely by Adam Phillips.

However, just three minutes later the Tykes added a fifth when Keillor-Dunn latched onto Cleary’s pass to beat Kal Naismith and slot past Keeley.

Barnsley sensed a sixth as time ticked down, Phillips hitting a shot on the half-volley just wide with seven minutes left but it mattered not as the hosts declared at five and condemned the Town to a hugely disappointing defeat.

We’re back at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday as the Hatters aim to bounce back against Huddersfield. See you then.

Town: Keeley, Jones (sub Odoffin 46), Bramall (sub Alli 46), Mengi, Andersen, Naismith, Saville (sub Fanne 71), Walsh, Nelson (sub Richards 46), Kodua, Wells (sub Yates 20).

Subs not used: Shea, Brown.

Attendance: 10,882, including 1,478 shouting for the Town.