- Forest fall to first loss in 11 league matches with 1-0 defeat at Luton
- Kal Naismith penalty secures win over Reds
Head Coach Steve Cooper named one change to the side which beat Birmingham City 2-0 at The City Ground.
Lewis Grabban made his first start since January, replacing Philip Zinckernagel in the starting line-up, playing in a deeper role behind Brennan Johnson and Keinan Davis.
The hosts made a bright st art as Robert Snodgrass delivered a dangerous free-kick from the left which whistled behind for a goal-kick.
In the eighth minute, a long ball found its way through to Fred Onyedinma who saw a close-range effort saved by Brice Samba inside the left channel.
The Reds’ first chance fell the way of Grabban on 13 minutes. Davis showed good strength to turn away inside the Luton half before slipping in Grabban who saw a low effort tipped around the post by James Shea to his right.
Midway through the first half, Luton skipper Sonny Bradley was shown the game’s first yellow card for holding back Davis on halfway as The Reds looked to break.
On the half hour, a patient move resulted in Jack Colback picking out Grabban on the edge of the area but the striker fired high and wide.
In the 36th minute, Luton were awarded a penalty. A long ball forward picked out James Bree on the right flank and as he looked to advance beyond Colback, the ball was adjudged to have hit the latter’s hand by referee James Linington. Kal Naismith stepped up and sent Samba the wrong way from 12 yards to give Luton the lead.
James Garner was the first Forest man booked on the stroke of half-time when he fouled Allan Campbell on halfway.
Grabban ran deep into Luton territory after leading a Forest counter-attack before the break, but was unable to get a shot away before the whistle blew for half-time.
HALF-TIME: Luton 1-0 Forest
Three minutes after the interval, The Reds had the ball in the net when Spence latched onto Yates’ through ball down the right and fired beyond Shea, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.
Naismith was booked for the hosts shortly after for a challenge on Davis inside The Reds’ half.
Forest then had appeals for a penalty waved away as Bradley and Johnson collided inside the area, as The Reds continued to their bright start in the second half.
In the 56th minute, Onyedinma became the third Luton player booked for kicking the ball away after a foul on Yates.
Spence went down inside the area under the challenge of Amari’i Bell a minute later but Linington again waved appeals for a penalty.
Shortly after the hour, a scuffle between Davis and Campbell saw the pair booked along with Reece Burke. Danny Hylton then replaced Harry Cornick in Luton’s first change of the afternoon.
On 65 minutes, a Luton corner found Naismith who headed down into the ground and over the crossbar.
The Reds made their first change in the 67th minute when Scott McKenna made way for Philip Zinckernagel, as Steve Cooper switched to a back four.
Zinckernagel was presented with a great chance with his first touch but could only head straight at Shea from close-range from Johnson’s cross.
As The Reds probed for an equaliser, Yates came close when he swept Spence’s cross over the bar from inside the area. Shea was then booked for timewasting for delaying the resulting goal-kick.
Worrall was booked for upending Onyedinma down the left flank with 17 minutes remaining before Sam Surridge was introduced for Grabban in Forest’s second change.
In the 77th minute, Luton were reduced to ten men. Last man Surridge was taken down by Bradley as the substitute looked to bear down on goal and the Luton captain was shown a second yellow card.
Steve Cooper made his final change with ten minutes left to play as Joe Lolley replaced Colback. Peter Kioso was also introduced for Snodgrass for the visitors.
With six minutes remaining, Forest came close twice in succession. First, Zinckernagel created space before curling an effort off the woodwork from the edge of the area.
With the ball failing to be cleared, Johnson then drove an effort at goal which was saved by Shea before Luton eventually managed to clear the danger.
Having made all their changes, Forest had to play the remaining minutes with ten men after Davis picked up an injury.
Down the other end, Adebayo cut inside and forced a good save out of Samba down low to his right, with eight minutes then signalled to be added on at the end of the second half.
Adebayo made way for Tom Lockyer in stoppage time and was shown a booking for timewasting upon leaving the pitch.
Zinckernagel blazed a left-footed effort high and wide from the edge of the area, before Figueiredo was shown a booking for catching Hylton in the face as the Luton striker looked to begin a counter-attack.
After eight minutes of added time, Lolley's right-footed shot deflected into Shea's gloves before Linington blew for full-time at Kenilworth Road, condemning The Reds to a first defeat in 11 league matches..
FULL-TIME: Luton 1-0 Forest
MATCH STATISTICS
Luton Town (3-5-2): James Shea; Reece Burke, Sonny Bradley (c), Amari’i Bell; James Bree, Allan Campbell, Robert Snodgrass (Peter Kioso 81’), , Kal Naismith, Fred Onyedinma; Elijah Adebayo, Harry Cornick (Danny Hylton 65’)
Substitutes not used: Harry Isted (gk), Dan Potts, Tom Lockyer, Admiral Muskwe, Elliot Thorpe
Goals: Naismith (p) (37’)
Bookings: Bradley (26’), Naismith (49’), Onyedinma (56’), Campbell (63’), Burke (63’), Shea (69’)
Sent-off: Bradley (77’)
Nottingham Forest (3-4-1-2): Brice Samba; Joe Worrall, Tobias Figueiredo, Scott McKenna (Philip Zinckernagel 66’); Djed Spence, Ryan Yates, James Garner, Jack Colback (Joe Lolley 81’); Lewis Grabban (c) (Sam Surridge 75’); Brennan Johnson; Keinan Davis
Substitutes not used: Ethan Horvath (gk), Richie Laryea, Alex Mighten, Cafu
Goals: -
Bookings: Garner (44’), Davis (63’), Worrall (74’), Figueiredo (90')
Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 10,070 including 1,031 Forest supporters
Possession: 38-62
Shots: 7-6
On target: 3-3
Corners: 6-1