Nottingham Forest managed to throw away two points and a two-goal lead, drawing 2-2 at home against newly promoted luton Town. George Edwards reports from the City Ground
Fans of both sides would not have anticipated a Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Luton Town until very recently. On the flooded banks of the River Trent, the most recent Championship play-off champions faced off; the Reds were seeking their first victory against the Hatters since 2019.
Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is sidelined for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury, was forced to be replaced by Anthony Elanga after Steve Cooper was forced to make only one change from the draw at Selhurst Park. Alfie Doughty, a set-piece expert, and Carlton Morris, a striker, were in the lineup for Luton Town, which was going for its second straight away victory.
Forest got the ball rolling with purpose, especially from Elanga, who consistently bombed down the left side. The first significant opportunity for Forest came via his connection with Toffolo down that side in minute six. The left-back’s cross found Chris Wood, whose left-footed shot was weak and fell to Kaminski in the Luton goal.
Two minutes after the first Forest pressure, Luton created a chance of their own, but no one in white was able to take advantage of Chiedozie Ogbene’s deadly pass from the right side that flashed across the goal. However, Forest was unfazed and kept up their optimistic style of play, not hesitating to lob the ball in from wide areas, which wrecked havoc all game long.
In the middle, Toffolo was unable to touch in a pass that Morgan Gibbs-White put in from the right wing because of the horde of people blocking him. Luton failed to clear the ball. After a quick start, Forest slowed down for ten to fifteen minutes, with just a few long shots troubling either goaltender.
Five minutes before halftime, Forest picked up the pace once again and produced a few solid opportunities that could have given them a lead at the break.
Wood was the highest-rising player when Serge Aurier nipped in a pass from the right in the opening minute of stoppage time. The four-yard header attempt by the New Zealand international connected but was not successful in going under the crossbar.
A deliberate start was made by Forest, notably by Elanga, who frequently bombed down the left side. In minute six, Forest’s first meaningful opportunity came from his link with Toffolo down that side. The ball from the left back was intercepted by Chris Wood, whose feeble left-footed effort found Kaminski in the Luton goal.
After two minutes of initial Forest pressure, Luton produced an opportunity of their own, but Chiedozie Ogbene’s lethal ball from the right side that flashed across the goal was not exploited by anyone wearing white. However, Forest remained undeterred and continued to play with a positive attitude. They didn’t hesitate to lob the ball in from wide areas, which caused mayhem the entire game.
As many people were still finishing their halftime beers, Forest seized the lead, demonstrating the sophistication of their attacking trio. On the halfway mark, Gibbs-White caught the ball and sent Elanga sprinting ahead. While Elanga was not aware of the approaching Wood behind them, the two Luton defenders headed his way. Wood was sent in on goal by the Swede’s first-time pass, and after taking a touch on the pitch, he finished coolly from just inside the box, sending the ball past Kaminski with his left boot.
Wood scored his second goal of the season after scoring during the international break, igniting the fans for the first time during the game.
Forest took the lead as many spectators were still sipping their halftime drinks, showcasing the skill of their attacking three. Gibbs-White grabbed the ball around the midway point, causing Elanga to run ahead. The two Luton defenders were moving in Elanga’s direction, but he was unaware of the coming Wood behind them. The Swedish player’s first-time pass allowed Wood to get in on goal, and after taking a touch on the pitch, he calmly scored from just inside the box, putting the ball beyond Kaminski with his left boot.
After scoring during the international break, Wood scored again this game, exciting the crowd for the first time.
Just minutes after entering the game, Yates had an opportunity to put the game away by firing a left-footed attempt into the Trent End. However, after 85 minutes, Reds supporters’ worries started to return.
Andros Townsend, making his debut, struck a terrible pass that bounced before reaching first man Serge Aurier after a contested free kick was given to Luton on the left flank. As the ball soared over Aurier’s head and into the box, he mistimed it poorly and threw himself at it like a leaping frog. After a fortunate ricochet, it fell pleasantly in front of goal for danger-man Ogbene, who nailed it from eight yards out.
VAR nearly snatched that moment from the visiting Hatters, before they snatched all the positivity around the City Ground, equalising in the second of eight minutes of stoppage time.
A seemingly safe long ball from captain Tom Lockyer dropped in the penalty area, substitute Elijah Adebayo eventually out muscling Joe Worrall to control. The forward then drilled his effort into the net, sending the visiting supporters wild and many of the Forest fans on their way to the exits.
2-0 up and Forest had seemingly thrown it away. Those feelings of anguish were temporarily removed three minutes later, a Chris Wood hattrick after he lashed into the net, but the flag went up and it wasn’t meant to be.
At full-time, strange booing could be heard, with many people clearly in a frustrated and angry attitude. Because of the tie, Forest has lost all five of its games and has only managed to defeat one of the promoted clubs at home. A victory would have done Forest the world of good given the difficult stretch of games ahead.
But if Forest had properly defended the free kick or Chris Wood hadn’t been in the wrong place at the wrong time, the good would have been overpowering. We can’t overlook Wood’s performance, which was his finest in the Garibaldi to yet. With Sangaré continuing to become better with each game, Orel Mangala is subtly controlling the midfield.
An ominous trip to Anfield looms big for Forest, who now lie 15th in the standings, six points above the drop zone, and six points behind fifth.
