Luton Town 1-0 Nottingham Forest: Kal Naismith’s penalty boosts the Hatters’ play-off hopes

Beach balls, balloons and a pea-green lilo bounced around in the away end before kick-off but a little of the air has gone out of Nottingham Forest’s quest for automatic promotion after they crashed to defeat at Luton.

Steve Cooper’s team lost in the Championship for the first time since January, a run of five wins in a row brought to an abrupt end at Kenilworth Road, where Kai Naismith scored the only goal from the penalty spot.

It was intense and bad-tempered at times but victory keeps Luton on track for an unlikely place in the play-offs. They finished the game with 10 men after the dismissal of captain Sonny Bradley in the 77th minute but they showed their courage and unity as they held on.  

Naismith made no mistake to put Luton ahead in the battle of two promotion hopefuls

Forest’s players were left incensed by referee James Linington’s award of the penalty kick

Three points lifts them above Forest and they celebrated noisily at the final whistle, with fans dreaming of reaching the Premier League for the first time still very much alive as the promotion race reaches its final stages.

Naismith’s goal came from a penalty disputed by Forest. James Bree and Jack Colback set off down the Luton right, in pursuit of a long pass out of defence by Bradley. As Bree tried to cut inside, he lifted the ball up against Colback’s right arm.

Without VAR in the Championship, the assistant referee on the spot flagged for an offence against, referee James Linnington noticed the Forest wing-back was just inside the penalty area and pointed to the spot.

Forest disputed the decision, claiming Bree handled the ball first but the replays supported the officials. Bree did slap the ball with his left hand but not until after it had rebounded in his direction from Colback’s arm. 

Luton’s Sonny Bradley rues picking up a second yellow card with 12 minutes of the game left

Forest’s Keinan Davis can’t bear to look after wasting one of their chances against Luton

Naismith stepped up to take responsibility from Elijah Adebayo, who missed from the spot during a defeat at Huddersfield on Monday, and converted with confidence, sending Brice Samba the wrong way.

The home side, having started the day a place and two points behind their visitors, had been the better team until this stage. They opened brightly, with good energy and intensity giving Forest little time to settle, and roared on by a capacity crowd bathed in spring sunshine.

Luton’s first penalty appeal of the day, a claim for handball against Joe Worrall was waved aside, early in the game, and Samba made a fine save with his legs to deny Fred Onyedinma from close range in the eighth minute.

Forest’s best chance of the first half fell to Lewis Grabban. Released by a pass from Keinan Davis, Grabban aimed low and was foiled by James Shea, with a strong save low to his right.  

Cooper’s team found a better rhythm after the interval with Brennan Johnson and Djed Spence an increasing threat on the right flank. Spence saw a goal ruled out for offside before Philip Zinckernagel wasted a glorious chance, moments after coming on.

Zinckernagel was unmarked in front of goal but was unable to generate power as he headed a floated cross from Johnson, and ‘keeper Shea protected Luton’s lead. Ryan Yates swept a more difficult chance wide at the near post.

Tempers frayed as Forest gathered momentum, and Luton were reduced to 10 men in the 77th minute when Bradley collected a second yellow card, a foul on Sam Surridge. 

Forest forward Lewis Grabban holds off the challenge of Kal Naismith during the contest

Glen Rea of Luton (left) tackles Sam Surridge of Nottingham Forest at Kenilworth Road

Surridge was clearly in an offside position but Bradley suspected the last touch had come from a Luton player so he blocked his run and took him out. Already cautioned in the first half for a foul on Davis, the Luton captain was sent off and his team braced to resist more pressure.

Zinckernagel struck a post in the 85th minute, a delightful flash of fast feet and curling shot from the edge of the penalty area, and Shea produced another fabulous save to frustrate Johnson in the ensuing scramble.