Andros Townsend Haunts Old Club Newcastle as Luton Earn Emotional Premier League Victory

Andros Townsend scored the only goal of the game as Luton Town clinched a vital Premier League win over Newcastle United, just seven days after Hatters captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest in the abandoned match at Bournemouth. 

Callum Wilson missed a fine opportunity to equalise in the first half when his header was saved by Thomas Kaminski, but Ross Barkley could have doubled the hosts’ lead when his rasping long-range effort hit the underside of the crossbar. 

Luton rattled the bar once again in the second half as Jacob Brown’s strike was saved by Martin Dubravka. The Magpies thought they had equalised when Alexander Isak found the net, but the goal was chalked off following VAR review, and Luton withstood late pressure to grab all three points. 

With four minutes on the clock, all 11,042 fans at Kenilworth Road rose to their feet to applaud the convalescent Luton captain Lockyer. And this emotionally charged atmosphere set the tone for an inspired Hatters performance. 

Brown hit the post in the early stages after Elijah Adebayo reached the byline and passed across goal, however Adebayo was adjudged to have dribbled the ball out of play. Minutes later, Brown’s shot from the left flank was comfortably caught by Dubravka. 

Newcastle responded when Sean Longstaff robbed Doughty on the right flank and centred for Lewis Miley, but Town’s players threw their bodies in front of the ball to protect Kaminski’s goal. First, Issa Kabore lunged to block Miley’s shot, then Miguel Almiron’s attempt deflected off Albert Sambi Lokonga towards Callum Wilson who headed wide under pressure from Teden Mengi. 

Eddie Howe’s side were growing in confidence when Bruno Guimarães had a goalbound shot deflected behind by the diving Gabe Osho. From the resulting short corner routine, Anthony Gordon crossed from the left for Wilson, whose header from six yards out was excellently saved by Kaminski and cleared over the bar by Amari’i Bell. 

The momentum swung in Luton’s favour on 25 minutes when Doughty raced down the left and won a corner from which he picked out Barkley. The midfielder flicked a header across goal towards the back post where Townsend was waiting to head home from three yards. The 32-year-old winger celebrated his first Premier League goal since October 2021 by racing to the home dugout and holding Lockyer’s Town shirt aloft. 

Luton almost doubled their lead in spectacular fashion when Brown passed infield to Barkley. Emboldened by his exceptional recent performances, the midfielder took aim and fired a shot from over 30 yards which smashed the underside of the crossbar and rebounded onto the sprawling Dubravka. 

Minutes later, Barkley collected Kaminski’s clearance, raced through midfield and slid Adebayo through on goal. The forward’s first-time finish was low and hard, but too close to Dubravka who stuck out a left leg to boot the ball clear. 

Rob Edwards’ side continued to chase a second goal after the interval when Adebayo controlled Mengi’s clearing header and fed Brown, who lashed against the bar from the left side of the penalty area. Replays showed Dubravka may well have got his fingertips to the ball. 

With an hour on the clock, Newcastle probed to find an equaliser when Anthony Gordon dribbled through midfield and passed to Almiron who poked through the legs of Mengi to Isak. The Magpies substitute set himself before shooting beyond Kaminski, but the linesman was quick to raise his flag and disallow the goal for offside.

Town were back on the front foot when Brown skilfully flicked past Kieran Trippier to Ryan Giles. The Hatters substitute raced down the flank and fired across goal, forcing Dubravka into a save. From the following phase of play, Barkley’s drive was headed behind by Sven Botman. 

Minutes later, Giles was caught out of position when Longstaff passed behind the Luton defence for Guimarães to poke towards the bottom right corner, but Kaminski was covering his front post and blocked with his feet. 

In one final attempt to seal victory with a second goal, Doughty passed infield to Brown who prodded towards Barkley. Luton’s talisman dragged narrowly wide from the edge of the box, but the Hatters were able to hold on to claim a vital win for their ailing captain. Just their third Premier League win of the season. 

For Newcastle meanwhile, this was their fourth successive away defeat in the league, a record which needs to be quickly reversed if Howe is to avoid the scrutiny of the club’s demanding owners.

Manchester City Score Quickfire Double to Defeat Valiant Luton Town

Manchester City scored twice in three minutes to come from behind and beat Luton Town 2-1 at Kenilworth Road, putting an end to their four-game winless run in the Premier League.

The Citizens dominated possession in the first half, but it was Luton who took an unlikely lead seconds before the break when Elijah Adebayo rose to head in Andros Townsend’s enticing cross. 

City levelled on 62 minutes when Bernardo Silva curled an excellent first-time shot into the bottom corner, and Jack Grealish completed the quick turnaround by meeting Julián Álvarez’s cross and slotting between the legs of Town keeper Thomas Kaminski. 

In the absence of the injured Erling Haaland, City manager Pep Guardiola shuffled his starting XI to include Jack Grealish, with Álvarez and Phil Foden playing in more advanced roles. 

It was Foden who had the first chance of the game in the early stages when he exchanged passes with Silva and raced through on goal, only to see his left-foot shot saved by Kaminski, and the follow-up sliced wide by the Spaniard.

Kaminski was called into action again on 18 minutes after City passed the ball along the edge of the Town area, with Rodri firing a high shot towards goal which Kaminski dived to his right to save with a firm left hand. 

The Belgian showed remarkable strength and shot-stopping skills to deny Foden ten minutes later. The English midfielder fired through legs towards the bottom corner, but Kaminski was equal to it, drawing all of the power from the ball with his left hand and casually cupping the loose ball at the second attempt. 

City starved Luton of the ball and continued to assert their dominance throughout the first half. Alvarez should have scored when Grealish passed between Town defenders, however the Argentine poked wide from close range. 

Luton had the impressive Kaminski to thank once again for keeping the scores level when he swiped the ball from the feet of the advancing Foden, and it seemed only a matter of time before the reigning European Champions would finally break the deadlock. 

Town eventually disturbed the City defence as Adebayo wrestled with Ruben Dias and passed to Andros Townsend. The winger lashed towards goal from long range, but could not replicate his famous goal scored against City during his time as a Crystal Palace player. This time Ederson could calmly pat the ball down and collect it at the second attempt. 

Ross Barkley had produced an exceptional performance against Arsenal in midweek, and the midfielder performed an exquisite act of skill on the cusp of half time when he danced past Foden and shook off Rodri before passing to Alfie Doughty on the right flank. 

From there, Doughty raced upfield and passed to Townsend, who turned inside on his left foot, looked up and curled towards Adebayo at the back post. The imperious forward leapt above Dias and powerfully headed past Ederson from close range, sending the home crowd into raptures. 

Kaminski made yet another fantastic save at the beginning of the second half to preserve Luton’s incredible lead. This time, Nathan Ake collected a Silva free-kick on the right side of the area, and after his initial cross was blocked by Jacob Brown, he rolled to Dias who smashed towards the roof of the net, but Kaminski got a crucial touch as the ball cannoned off the crossbar and away to safety. 

City eventually levelled after Rodri dribbled into the box from the right flank. The Spaniard was initially dispossessed by Tom Lockyer, but he couldn’t halt his momentum and collided with the Town captain. Spotting the opening, Silva reacted instantly to curl a clinical left-foot shot beyond Kaminski and into the bottom corner. 

The travelling City fans recognised the importance of Silva’s equaliser and urged their team to apply more pressure on the nervous home defence. Heeding their call, Álvarez sprawled across the turf to intercept Amari’i Bell’s loose pass towards Lockyer and charged down the right flank. The forward’s low cross should have been cleared by Teden Mengi, but the former Manchester United man misjudged the clearance and Grealish arrived at the back post to pass through the legs of Kaminski and into the net. 

As VAR confirmed Bell’s pass had not hit Álvarez’s hand and City’s second goal in quick succession was awarded by referee Tim Robinson, the passionate supporters fell silent in the Kenilworth Road stands. 

Another moment of genius by Ross Barkley almost resulted in an unlikely equaliser in the final stages, with the Englishman weaving intricately between Foden and Mateo Kovacic before skewing wide from the edge of the box. However, City were comfortably able to secure a much-needed win and condemn Luton to a third defeat in succession.

Late Declan Rice Header Gives Arsenal Dramatic Late Victory in Luton Thriller

Declan Rice scored with the last touch of the game as Arsenal came from behind to beat Luton 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller, extending their lead at the top of the Premier League table. 

Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring on 20 minutes before Gabe Osho swiftly restored parity with a powerful header. Then Arsenal retook the lead on the cusp of half time when Gabriel Jesus headed in from close range. 

Gunners goalkeeper David Raya was put back under the spotlight in the second half when he flapped at an Elijah Adebayo header and misjudged a low Ross Barkley shot as Luton took an unlikely lead. But Kai Havertz quickly levelled before Rice’s heroic header in the seventh minute of stoppage time earned Arsenal all three points.

To the surprise of many in attendance at Kenilworth Road, Luton attempted to put Arsenal under pressure from the first whistle, chasing down every pass as Mikel Arteta’s men built from the back. 

When Town did regain possession, however, they made a major error when Amari’i Bell’s sloppy backpass sent Thomas Kaminski scrambling to his left, and the keeper could only scuff the ball out for a throw-in. Jesus showed the presence of mind to throw quickly into the path of Bukayo Saka, who raced past Alfie Doughty and centred for Martinelli. The winger beat Teden Mengi to the ball and dragged delicately into the bottom corner. 

Luton pushed for a quick equaliser and won a corner when Jacob Brown’s cross was deflected behind by Ben White. From Alfie Doughty’s outswinging corner, Osho broke free of his marker to head back across goal and into the net, marking his first Premier League goal.

Kaminski had to be alert when Martin Odegaard’s probing pass found Jesus on the right side of the area. The Brazilian fired towards goal from an acute angle but the Belgian keeper stood firm at the front post to palm behind for a corner. 

Minutes later, Jesus broke down the left flank, drawing defenders towards him before laying into the path of Martinelli who forced Kaminski into another excellent save. The forward dug out a shot with his left foot and the stopper dived to his right, showing superb reflexes to parry with his outstretched right hand.

Kaminski was called into action once again when he kept out Bukayo Saka’s curling effort from the right flank, but Arsenal finally scored the goal their dominance deserved when Brown failed to track the underlapping Ben White, whose excellent chipped cross invited Jesus to score a slam-dunk-style header. 

Mengi’s drive from the edge of the box was caught comfortably by Raya in first-half stoppage time, however it was a sign of things to come after the interval. Town moved the ball from left to right and through the thirds, before Ross Barkley’s driven pass found Andros Townsend, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner. 

This time Doughty sought to put Raya under pressure by floating the ball above the Spaniard, and Adebayo rose highest to beat the Brentford loanee to the ball and head into the empty net, giving Luton hope of an unlikely result. 

Barkley continued to sparkle against top quality opposition when he shrugged off Odegaard in midfield and raced towards the Arsenal box. The former Everton man passed crossfield to Townsend who threatened to shoot before passing back out to Barkley. With one step over and drop of the shoulder, he moved the ball onto his left foot and drove under Raya and into the net.

Luton have made an unhealthy habit of conceding just after they’ve scored, with manager Rob Edwards lamenting goals conceded against Burnley and Crystal Palace. This time Arsenal exploited Town’s weakness when Jesus fended off Mengi before collecting Saka’s high ball and passing to Havertz, who beat Kaminski to the ball and stabbed into the net to deliver the sucker punch. 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta sent on Oleksandr Zinchenko and Leandro Trossard with ten minutes remaining to unearth a winning goal, and the Ukrainian crossed for Havertz to head towards goal, but Kaminski won the duel this time and tipped over the bar.

As the clock ticked beyond the six added minutes of stoppage time signalled by the fourth official. Arsenal pumped a free-kick into the Luton box. After Luton defended the first phase, Zinchenko rolled into the path of Odegaard who whipped an excellent cross towards Rice, whose header flew beyond Kaminski and into the bottom corner, prompting pandemonium in the away end. 

The moment encapsulated the fine margins between victory and defeat in elite sport. Replays show the ball had even deflected off the head of Osho on its way into the net, intensifying the agony for Luton and ecstasy for Arsenal, who momentarily moved five points clear atop the Premier League table.

Late Jacob Brown Goal Gives Luton First Premier League Home Win

Jacob Brown slid in to score an 83rd-minute winner as Luton beat Crystal Palace 2-1 to earn their first ever Premier League victory at Kenilworth Road.

Teden Mengi had given the Hatters a 72nd-minute lead when he latched onto an Alfie Doughty’s corner to slam into the bottom corner, but Palace levelled within seconds when Michael Olise scored a superb solo goal. 

Luton had the last word when Brown exposed the indecisive Joachim Andersen and Sam Johnstone by connecting with Chiedozie Ogbene’s fine cross and stabbing into the net from close range.

Just 90 seconds were on the clock when Palace had their first effort on goal. Jeffrey Schlupp passed in midfield to the energetic Ebere Eze, who sprayed out to Olise on the right flank. The Frenchman danced towards the edge of the box and curled wide of the far post with his left-foot curler.

Minutes after Odsonne Édouard saw his tame toe-poke claimed by Thomas Kaminski, Palace forced the Luton keeper into a fine double save. Eze’s deflected strike from the edge of the box was parried back into the danger zone by the Belgian keeper, who rose to his feet to brilliantly deny Schlupp’s volley with a firm left hand. 

Luton grew into the game and tested Johnstone for the first time when returning Town defender Amari’i Bell unleashed a long-range drive which was comfortably collected.

Ross Barkley’s probing pass then released Alfie Doughty down the right flank, but there was no Town striker between the posts to convert the full-back’s enticing cross which flashed across goal and out of play. 

Kaminski made sure Town went into the half-time break on level terms when he clutched Eze’s curling free-kick from the edge of the box. The former QPR man had been fouled by Tom Lockyer in a dangerous position, an offence for which the Town captain was shown a yellow card by referee Jarred Gillett.

The game was brought to a halt in the early stages of the second half when Cheick Doucoure was stretchered from the field with an Achilles injury. It was a double blow for Palace whose talismanic midfielder Eze had limped off minutes earlier.

However, the Eagles thought they had taken the lead at Kenilworth Road when Édouard raced onto Olise’s direct pass over the top of the Town defence. The forward’s dinked effort was initially saved by Kaminski, but the rebound was half-volleyed into the net from close range. To the delight of the home crowd, VAR replays showed Édouard had inadvertently handled the ball after Kaminski saved, and the goal was disallowed. 

Luton made the most of their reprieve when Doughty’s corner was flicked on to Mengi at the back post. The former Manchester United defender took one touch to steady himself and fired through a sea of bodies, beyond the motionless Johnstone and into the bottom corner of the net.

Palace were quickly level thanks to a sublime solo goal by Olise. The 22-year-old winger turned with the ball on the halfway line and raced down the right flank and terrorising Bell before jinking inside on to his left foot and curling an unstoppable curling shot into the top left corner. The jubilant home crowd instantly fell silent.

Kaminiski kept the score level when he saved Édouard’s close range effort and Marc Guehi inexplicably headed over with the goal gaping. The linesman raised his flag for offside and spared the England defender any embarrassment. 

Luton manager Rob Edwards sent on Tahith Chong to re-energise his team, and the midfielder wasted no time in regaining possession and bursting upfield. Chong quickly passed to Barkley who steadied himself and passed out to Ogbene who glided down the right flank. The Irishman curled a cross into the corridor of uncertainty, and when Andersen left the ball for Johnstone, Brown pounced to poke the ball into the net. 

Andersen sought redemption in the closing stages when he went up to attack a corner kick, but his low drive was brilliantly saved by the outstretched right boot of Kaminski. 

Palace poured forward after the fourth official indicated there would be 12 minutes of added time, owing largely to Doucoure’s injury. First Olise’s header grazed the roof of the net, then the winger crossed tantalisingly from the right flank, only for Lerma’s header to crash against the post and away to safety. 

The whistling that had been ringing around Kenilworth Road quickly turned to a roar as Ogbene recovered the loose ball and passed to Chong, who once again raced upfield, this time passing to Adebayo whose low shot - taken from an offside position - was blocked by Johnstone. 

Moments later, Kenilworth Road erupted when Gillet blew his whistle for full-time, ending a 31-year wait for Hatters fans. Brown’s first Premier League goal had given Luton their first top-flight home victory since 25 April 1992, when Mark Pembridge and Brian Stein scored in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.

Victor Lindelof Nets Winner as Wasteful Manchester United Clinch 1-0 Win Over Luton

Victor Lindelof scored the only goal at Old Trafford as Manchester United claimed a 1-0 victory over Luton, relieving the pressure on under-fire manager Erik Ten Hag.

The Red Devils missed a plethora of chances in the first half as Luton proved stubborn opposition on their first trip to M16 since September 1991.

But Lindelof slammed high into the net on 59 minutes after Town failed to clear their lines, earning United a second successive Premier League win. 

The stadium fell silent as wreaths were laid in the pitch and a bugler played the last post to mark the 105th anniversary of Armistice Day. The names of former Manchester United and Luton Town players who served in the armed forces and made the ultimate sacrifice during the two world wars were displayed on the scoreboards and around the perimeter of the pitch.

Rasmus Hojlund became the fastest United player to reach five Champions League goals for United during the chaotic 4-3 defeat at FC Copenhagen in midweek. 

The Dane scored twice in his native country, but a first Premier League goal continues to elude the young striker.

Hojlund should have opened his account in the opening minutes when Marcus Rashford’s deflected cross landed five yards out from goal, but his finish was eased brilliantly by sprawling Town goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.

Rashford was the next player to test the Hatters defence when he peeled off to the back post and volleyed Bruno Fernandes’s corner kick back across goal, only for Gabe Osho to deflect behind.

Osho launched a long pass towards Carlton Morris midway through the first half, and after Lindelof headed straight to Issa Kabore. The full back took a touch before whipping in a cross from the right flank. Morris rose highest to head goalwards and saw his effort clawed away from the bottom corner by the diving Andre Onana.

Luton were left exposed when Diogo Dalot intercepted Kaminski’s pass out from the back. The United no. 20 headed to Hojlund who swivelled and sent Alejandro Garnacho through on goal on the left flank. 

Kaminski stood firm as the youngster tried to round the goalkeeper, before Kabore and Tom Lockyer came back and combined to tackle the winger and clear to safety.

United missed yet another glaring opportunity at the beginning of the second half when Hojlund headed wide from a Fernandes free kick, but the hosts finally broke the deadlock following another set piece on the hour mark.

A Fernandes corner from the left was cleared by Morris to the edge of the box where substitute Mason Mount passed to Rashford who drilled across goal. Alfie Doughty could only poke the low cross-shot into the danger zone where Lindelof arrived to stroke the ball beyond a helpless Kaminski and into the roof of the net.

Kaminski kept Luton in the game with ten minutes remaining when he stood firm to stop Rashford’s low shot with the forward bearing in on goal.

The Belgian international capped off another fine individual performance by diving low to his left to save Scott McTominay’s header, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Luton falling into the Premier League relegation zone following Bournemouth’s win over Newcastle.

Luis Diaz Nets Late Equaliser to Deny Luton Shock Victory Over Liverpool

Luis Diaz bravely headed in a 95th-minute goal to earn Liverpool a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Luton Town on Sunday afternoon.

Former Manchester United man Tahith Chong had slid in to finish off a flowing counter attack and give the hosts an unlikely lead 10 minutes from time. 

But Diaz, who bravely entered the fray just days after learning his father had been kidnapped by a Colombian guerrilla group, rose to bundle into the net and salvage a point for the Reds.

Town made a positive start at Kenilworth Road when an intricate passing move in midfield led to Alfie Doughty down the left. After Trent Alexander-Arnold had cleared for a throw-in, Ross Barkley received the ball, shrugged off his marker and fired a low shot straight into the arms of Alisson Becker. 

The Brazilian immediately volleyed upfield to Diogo Jota, and after a flurry of passes, Darwin Nunez released a curling shot which was parried wide by Town stopper Thomas Kaminski.

Nunez missed a plethora of chances during what was another skilful but erratic performance as Liverpool’s frontman. He lashed over from long range on 10 minutes, then swiftly controlled Alexander-Arnold’s clipped pass and fired against the top of the crossbar. 

Marvelous Nakamba showed tenacity to win the ball back in midfield and poke to Doughty. The full-back passed to Chiedozie Ogbene whose cross to the back post was deflected to Issa Kabore. From 15 yards, the Manchester City loanee blazed over the bar.

After another curling Nunez shot was comfortably parried by Kaminski, Doughty released Ogbene down the left who drew Ibrahim Konate into a foul. The Liverpool defender was shown a yellow card for blocking the rapid Republic of Ireland winner.

Liverpool should have taken the lead when Dominik Szoboszlai’s free kick from the left was headed into the danger zone by the Luton defence, but Mohamed Salah’s could only lash a left-footed volley high and wide.

Kaminski was drawn into another fine save when Ryan Gravenberch raced through midfield and released Jota. The Portuguese dragged a right-foot shot towards the bottom left corner, but the Belgian stopper plunged to his right and clawed the ball away.

Lowly Luton continued to carve out chances and followed a familiar route to goal when Ogbene rolled in to Doughty who reached the byline and delivered into the box. The ball was deflected into the path of Barkley who failed to balance his body over the ball and thrashed over the bar.

Town showed more promising signs at the start of the second half. First Ogbene curled a tame shot into the arms of Alisson, then Andros Townsend released Kabore down the right flank. His first cross was blocked by Konate, and his second attempt narrowly evaded the diving Morris and was collected by Alisson. 

Ogbene has recently been named the fastest player in the Premier League, and the winger once again exhibited his blistering pace when he raced past Alexander-Arnold and Konate before passing to Morris whose effort was saved by the legs of Alisson.

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp introduced Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo midway through the second half to find an elusive goal. The two substitutes combined as Elliott crossed from the right and the Dutchman’s scorpion flick trickled wide. 

Liverpool should have finally broken the deadlock when Alexander-Arnold crossed from the left. Salah miscued his header from close range and Nunez inexplicably blazed over from five yards.

Kaminski was once again called into action after Osho was dispossessed in midfield. Salah charged towards goal and released Nunez whose fierce shot was palmed over by the Luton keeper.

Gravenberch was the next Liverpool player to be denied by Kaminski when his shot from 25 yards sent the sensational stopper diving to his left to parry behind.

From the resulting corner, Virgil Van Dijk’s header was inadvertently handled by the unsighted Barkley. While the visitors appealed for a penalty, the former Everton man dribbled from the edge of the box and glided through midfield. 

Barkley passed to Kabore on the right who curled the perfect pass into the path of substitute Chong. He lunged to poke the ball beyond the onrushing Alisson and into the empty net, sparking pandemonium at Kenilworth Road.

After the customary nervous wait for a VAR check to be completed, Liverpool’s penalty claims were waved away and the goal awarded.

The Hatters thought they had held on for victory after Kaminski marshalled Konate’s header wide, but the Reds rescued a point when the substitute Diaz showed desire to rise above Kabore and with a combination of head and shoulder, finally beat Kaminski.

I’m celebration, the Colombian raised his jersey to reveal a message which read ‘Libertad Para Papa’, translated from Spanish to mean ‘Freedom for Papa’.

Kabore raced forward to force Alisson into one more save before the full-time whistle was blown.

As the players walked down the tunnel, Diaz was consoled first by Town skipper Tom Lockyer, then manager Klopp, a warming display of support solidarity in unimaginable adversity.

Last-gasp Elijah Adebayo Equaliser Earns Luton Draw at Nottingham Forest

Elijah Adebayo’s dramatic late goal salvaged a point for Luton Town as they came from two goals down to salvage a point in a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest.

Chris Wood opened the scoring just three minutes into the second half when he slotted beyond Town keeper Thomas Kaminsi, and Forest believed they had the win sewn up when Wood headed in his second goal of the afternoon with 14 minutes remaining. 

But Luton fought back when Chiedozie Ogbene pounced to volley in when Forest failed to clear a Ross Barkley free kick. Then Adebayo, who had come on as a second-half substitute, showed strength and composure to control the ball on his chest and fire beyond Forest keeper Matt Turner.

 

Forest threatened from the start at the City Ground, with Anthony Elanga giving Reece Burke a torrid time on the left flank. The Town defender, who usually operates as a centre-back, had been shifted out to the right to deal with the considerably quicker Elanga.

The hosts created their first scoring opportunity when Elanga raced down the touchline and fed overlapping full-back Harry Toffolo. His cross found Wood in front of goal, but the striker’s mishit volley was held by the grateful Kaminski. 

Orel Mangala showed exquisite skill moments later to turn in midfield, poke through the legs of Marvelous Nakamba and set Forest away on another attack. A passing combination resulted in Serge Aurier crossing from the right and Ibrahim Sangare heading over the bar. 

Luton responded when captain Tom Lockyer intercepted a loose ball and passed into Ogbene on the right flank. The Republic of Ireland international’s low cross narrowly evaded Carlton Morris, and Murillo’s touch diverted the ball away from the onrushing Jacob Brown at the back post. 

It wouldn’t be long before Brown had a sight of goal, connecting with another low Ogbene cross, but the Scotland international dragged wide with his right foot from 15 yards. 

Forest came mightily close to breaking the deadlock when Morgan Gibbs-White’s cross was inadvertently headed into the danger zone by a stooping Ogbene. Toffolo poked towards goal from close range and Kaminski showed excellent reflexes to block the ball with his right hand, as did Lockyer to lash the ball clear. 

Elanga continued to terrorise the Town defence when his cross found Wood whose sweeping left-footed effort was deflected over the bar by Teden Mengi. 

When Alfie Doughty and Mengi saw their deliveries into the box cleared by home defenders, Tahith Chong picked up the pieces on the edge of the area. The midfielder controlled the ball on his chest before firing a left foot volley towards goal, however the effort flew too close to Turner to trouble the Forest keeper, who grasped the ball with ease. 

Steve Cooper’s side spurned yet another opportunity to score on the cusp of half time. Gibbs-White fed Aurier on the right who comically slipped over as he tried to cross the ball, however the Luton defenders were so sluggish that the Ivorian could return to his feet and cross perfectly for Wood who inexplicably headed over at the back post. 

Forest even wasted one final chance before the break after Willy Boly’s excellent upfield pass released Gibbs-White down the right flank. The midfielder’s cross from the byline was booted back into the danger zone by Kaminski, only for Sangare to drag wide of the post with the goal at his mercy. 

The hosts finally found the goal their dominance deserved when Kaminsi’s kick upfield was cleared by Murillo, prodded forward by Sangare and collected by Gibbs-White who passed to Elanga. In one swift counterattack, the winger then played Wood through on goal who raced towards the Trent End and passed beyond Kaminski and into the net. 

Forest continued to create chances at will, and Wood should have scored again moments later when Gibbs-White swung in from the right. The New Zealand international had run free of Lockyer but couldn’t keep his header down. 

Despite the sustained pressure, Town might have levelled after 52 minutes. Chong and Morris passed the ball from left flank to right where Ogbene danced inside and chipped delicately towards goal with his left foot. From seven yards out, Brown could only head straight into the grateful arms of Turner. Having missed a similar header against Tottenham, pressure is mounting on the Scot to open his Premier League account. 

Midway through the second half, Gibbs-White began to see more of the ball by making intelligent runs between Luton’s midfield and defence. First, the 23-year-old popped up on the left and forced Kaminski into a low save. Then he raced into the box on the right and manipulated the ball onto his left foot before firing high and wide. 

The Wolves midfielder was once again at the centre of the action when he received Nicolas Dominguez’s short pass in midfield and drove out to Elanga on the left. After a couple of stepovers, the winger cut inside and crossed with his right foot, perfect for the arriving Wood to head into the bottom right corner and double Forest’s lead. 

Shortly before Forest’s second goal, Edwards introduced Adebayo, Barkley and Andros Townsend as substitutes, and those three players would inspire Luton to a dramatic late comeback. 

With seven minutes of normal time remaining, Gibbs-White was shown a yellow card for cynically hacking down Barkley who had brilliantly plucked Toffolo’s clearance out of the air. From the resulting free-kick, Townsend’s flat delivery was misjudged by Aurier who fell to his knees and watched the ball bounce over his head. Tofollo could only deflect into the path of Ogbene who swivelled on the spot and sliced into the top right corner. 

After a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside the goal was given, and from that moment Luton’s players began to feed off the nervous energy inside the City Ground. Barkley got back on the ball in midfield and exchanged a quick one-two with fellow substitute Cauley Woodrow before passing into Adebayo whos flick set up Woodrow. With the travelling fans willing the ball into the net, Woodrow’s shot was blocked brilliantly by Murillo. 

In the second of eight additional minutes, Lockyer lofted a long ball towards Adebayo who displayed excellent strength to fend off Forest substitute Joe Worrall, control the ball on his chest and set himself for a shot on goal in one graceful motion. 

As a split second of silent anticipation passed in the stadium, Adebayo proceeded to half-volley with the outside of his right foot onto Turner’s right knee and into the net, evoking ecstasy in the away end. 

Forest still had two major opportunities to re-establish their lead deep into stoppage time. Gibbs-White’s direct ball was flicked on by Ryan Yates into Worrall. Ogbene intervened to knock the ball away with his thigh, then heroically dive to block Cheikhou Kouyate’s route to goal and boot the ball clear. 

The offside flag came to the rescue for Luton when Barkley was dispossessed in midfield. Gibbs-White slotted the ball through for Wood who slammed across goal and into the bottom left corner. The City Ground erupted in celebration, but Lockyer had cleverly played Wood offside and the goal was disallowed.

As the full time whistle blew, Forest were left to reflect on their astonishing wastefulness in front of goal, and two points dropped against a Hatters team that is somehow still hovering above the Premier League relegation zone.