Nottingham Forest vs Luton Town FC (11th Jan 2025)

11/01/2025 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2-0 LUTON TOWN

Hatters exit FA Cup at City Ground

Hatters left to concentrate on climbing the Championship table after defeat to Forest

The Town began life without Rob Edwards by exiting the FA Cup at Nottingham Forest.

It was a goal in each half that condemned the Hatters to an 11th straight defeat on the road against a much-changed Forest side.

However, the Town had chances, with Liam Walsh and Tom Holmes going close – but focus will now attention on climbing the Championship table.

With Mick Harford, Paul Trollope and Richie Kyle in temporary charge, the Hatters side showed one change to the team that lost at QPR on Monday with new signing Izzy Jones given his debut after signing from Middlesbrough.

And the Town’s new man showed glimpses of his pace and trickery in the first half going close to opening the scoring following a mazy run.

Forest created the game’s first big chance only for Taiwo Awoniyi to drag his shot wide of the target when free inside the box on 17 minutes.

But back came the Town, and Walsh’s fine drive from distance box looked destined for the top corner but Forest goalkeeper Carlos Miguel flew away to his left to turn away the shot with an excellent stop.

On 22 minutes the Hatters crossbar was trembling after Ryan Yates’ effort from 25 yards kissed the woodwork with Thomas Kaminski beaten as Forest upped the ante.

As half-chances came the way of both sides it was the hosts that finally broke the deadlock five minutes before half-time. Ramon Sosa delivered an enticing cross from the left and Yates buried a header in the bottom corner.

After the restart Awoniyi spurned a great chance to double the home side’s lead just three minutes into the second period but the Town were forced into two early changes with Lamine Fanne and Zack Nelson both withdrawn.

Goalmouth action was at a premium, however, and it wasn’t until the 68th minute that Forest doubled their lead. Jota Silva hared down the right flank and delivered a low pinpoint cross into the path of Sosa who swept home from close range.

As the Hatters looked for a way back into the tie, Holmes saw a back-post header cleared off the line by the hosts’ Morato on 71 minutes following Walsh's corner before substitute Jacob Brown saw his low shot saved by Miguel.

Forest, with eyes on a clash with Liverpool in the Premier League on Tuesday, made a quadruple substitution with 13 minutes remaining and one of those, Callum Hudson-Odoi, wasn’t far away from adding a third with a run and shot that flew narrowly over the bar.

But the Hatters kept going. Carlton Morris’ header was stopped by Miguel with seven minutes left before the Town captain was crowded out with the goal at his mercy in stoppage time.

However, there was no dramatic finish and Forest were left to celebrate their passage into round four.

For the Hatters, it’s back to the Championship and Kenilworth Road next weekend when Preston come to town. We’ll see you then. UTT.

Town: Kaminski, Walters, Bell, McGuinness, Holmes, Jones (sub Adebayo 69), Nakamba, Nelson (sub Brown 57), Walsh, Lamine Fanne (sub Clark 49) Morris.

Subs: Krul, Andersen, Krauß, Woodrow, Mpanzu, Hashioka.

Attendance: 29,445, including 1,862 backing the Hatters.

Trollope reflects on Forest defeat

Caretaker boss gives his verdict of the Hatters' FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest

Paul Trollope spoke of the pride that he, fellow caretaker-manager Richie Kyle and Mick Harford had in the players despite today’s FA Cup third round exit at Nottingham Forest.

The side sitting third in the Premier League triumphed with a goal in each half, but after a difficult week in which manager Rob Edwards departed by mutual agreement, former Forest coach Trollope spoke on behalf of the coaching staff.

He said: “It was disappointing to get beat. I thought we gave a good account of ourselves, a lot of pride in the performance level after a difficult two or three days, so credit to the players, I think they played with a lot of spirit, a lot of energy and quite a lot of quality at times as well.

“But it wasn’t to be, we couldn’t convert one of the chances that we had and I thought the second goal killed us a bit in terms of we were on top of the game and looking like the team more likely, and it would have been wonderful to get an equaliser and try to push on, or even to get one back after they went two up.

“We spoke about fine margins in the last few away games and we could say that again, but immense pride with how the players, the staff and everyone has reacted from a really difficult circumstance this week.”

Trollope also paid tribute to the near 2,000-strong travelling support, who sang throughout at the Bridgford End the Town were attacking in the second half, just as when Elijah Adebayo and Chieo Ogbene scored twice late on to salvage a Premier League point last term.

“I think everyone had memories of last year, two down and we said to the players at half-time, with a bit more forward action and a bit more forward thrust, we can get back in this, and even if something happens against us and they get another one, we came back from two down here last year, so we were disappointed that we couldn’t quite find that goal, because listen, the support was amazing.

“Considering the troubles we’ve had on our travels and results not going as we want despite performances in recent weeks being okay, to turn up in the numbers and how noisy they were for us was brilliant.

“The players appreciated it, and I hope from after the game, you could see the reaction to the players, and they played with immense spirit, they gave their all, worked exceptionally hard and played with some quality at times.

“The result wasn’t to be, but I think the performances was ok and there are things to look at and take forward for the future.”

On what happens next, he replied: “Not sure yet. The remit for myself, Richie and with Mick’s support was to take the two days’ training, take the game today and then see where we are. That’s what we’ve done.

“Disappointed with the result, it would have been lovely to be stood here with a win and a positive result. It wasn’t to be, but the players can be very proud and I think the supporters can be very proud of what they’ve done today.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLJAz-j6vcw – Paul Trollope post match interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yqLujE6_P8 – Match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GINuEilclYI – match highlights

Managerless Luton are knocked out of the FA Cup at Premier League Forest

FA Cup third round: Nottingham Forest 2 Luton Town 0

Luton's FA Cup journey was ended at the first hurdle this afternoon as they were seen off 2-0 by Premier League Nottingham Forest.

In the first game since Rob Edwards' left the club in the week, Town, taken by the trio of Paul Trollope, Richie Kyle and Mick Harford, never seriously threatened ending their hopeless away run and dent the stunning form that their high-flying Premier League opponents are in, as a goal in each half secured the Reds' passage into round four.

Hatters made just one change for the contest, new signing Isaiah Jones going straight in for his debut, an injured Tahith Chong making way, while the hosts swapped all 11 players, but could still include the likes of England international James Ward-Prowse. The visitors had to deal with plenty of early pressure, Jota Silva had a crack from outside the area which flew over the bar, while had another go on six minutes after Liam Walsh was caught on the ball, Morato playing in the Portuguese international, Mark McGuinness making a critical block at full stretch.

The Reds kept pressing, Ramon Sosa going over under a challenge from Reuell Walters in the area, but referee Darren England waved the vociferous appeals away. Luton couldn't really get much going in opposition territory, as they should have been behind with 16 minutes gone, a long ball through the middle splitting both centre halves, Silva bringing it out of the sky for Morato to scuff poorly wide from 16 yards.

With Town struggling for openings, they had to rely on Walsh having a crack from range, which he did, forcing 6ft 9ins stopper Carlos Miguel into a flying save, which was mainly for the cameras, palming it away for a corner. With 22 gone, the Reds then had a go from distance too, Ryan Yates' swerving, dipping drive completely deceiving Thomas Kaminski as it clipped the crossbar on its way over.

Although Luton were on the back foot, they did have some openings, Walsh sliding in new boy Jones who showed just why Town were so keen to bring him in, slaloming his way through a number of last-ditch tackles, but couldn't quite beat Miguel. Whatever the ex-Middlesbrough attacker could do, Silva could at the other end as well, as he wriggled free of his markers, but McGuinness was once more over in the nick of time to deflect his toepoke behind for a corner.

Just after the half hour, Kaminski then did well to repel Ward-Prowse's arching free kick, grabbing the loose ball before Willy-Arnaud Boly could pounce. Luton's resistance was broken on 41 minutes though when after three penetrating corners by Ward-Prowse, two punched away by Kaminski, one was returned by Sosa, his teasing cross allowing Yates steal in and plant a header into the bottom corner.

Town should really have 2-0 down moments into the second period, Forest winning the ball back high up again, Moratao, whose finishing was off once more, shooting straight at Kaminski. A hobbling Lamine Fanne was swiftly brought off for Jordan Clark, while Zack Nelson followed him in leaving the pitch before the hour mark, taking a blow to the head when being tackled by Yates, unable to carry on.

Luton's exit was virtually secured with 22 minutes left, Silva escaping away on the right and his low cross was clinically turned in by Sosa. Town brought on Elijah Adebayo for Jones, the sub on target in stoppage time last season here when Luton came from 2-0 down to earn a point, as they almost had one back straight away, Walsh's corner flicked on and Holmes' looping header cleared off the line.

Brown then had a pop which was easy for Miguel as the hosts made four chances, bringing on Chris Wood, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Nicolas Dominguez and Anthony Elanga, not a bad quartet for Nuno Espírito Santo to have up his sleeve. Hudson-Odoi was close to a third, sprinting into the box but curling narrowly over having done the hard work, while the visitors, to their credit, did apply some pressure in the closing stages.

Clark's cross met by Morris but neither a motionless Adebayo or Jacob Brown reacted in time, as they went even closer with seven minutes left, Walters dinked delivery from the right met by Morris once more, Miguel springing to his right to turn away. With seconds remaining, Town almost had a consolation, Walsh's pass touched on by Adebayo for Morris, who stumbling to the floor, could only prod straight through to Miguel.

Reds: Carlos Miguel, Morato, Taiwo Awoniyi (Chris Wood 74), Harry Toffolo, Eric da Silva Moreira, James Ward-Prowse (Danilo 84), Alex Morano, Jota Silva (Anthony Elanga 74), Ryan Yates (C, Nicolas Dominguez 74), Ramon Sosa (Callum Hudson-Odoi 74), Willy-Arnaud Boly. Subs not used: Matz Sels, Elliot Anderson, Nikola Milenkovic, Zach Abbott.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Reuell Walters, Tom Holmes, Mark McGuinness, Amari’i Bell, Isaiah Jones (Elijah Adebayo 69), Zack Nelson (Jacob Brown 57), Liam Walsh, Marvelous Nakamba, Lamine Fanne (Jordan Clark 48), Carlton Morris (C).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Tom Krauß, Mads Andersen, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Cauley Woodrow, Daiki Hashioka.

Referee: Darren England.

Attendance: 29,445.

Trollope proud of Luton's players for their efforts in Reds cup defeat

Town defeated at the City Ground

Luton caretaker boss Paul Trollope felt the Hatters players could take plenty of pride for the manner in which they responded to manager Rob Edwards’ departure despite going out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 loss at Premier League Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

With Trollope, plus Richie Kyle and Mick Harford having just a few days to prepare the side for their daunting trip to a Reds side who had won their last six top flight matches, they made one change, bringing in new signing Isaiah Jones for an immediate debut. It took Forest 41 minutes to break the deadlock, Ryan Yates stealing in to nod home the opener, before with Town looking to hit back in the second period, they conceded again, a counter attack swept home by Ramón Sosa on 68 minutes.

Although Town were ultimately knocked out, Trollope said of the display: “A lot of positives, a lot of pride to take from the performance after a difficult couple of days. I’m proud of the players, I don’t think they could have given any more. We always felt we were in the game, a nervy start, probably turned the ball over too many times, allowed a few attacks that were our own doing if you like, but we grew into the game. Confidence grew, we asked for a little bit more action at half time, and I certainly felt we got that.

"We got a little bit more momentum, started playing forward, running forward a bit better and putting them under a wee bit of pressure. We were just really disappointed to concede the second as we thought we were in the ascendancy and maybe were going to make those attacking subs to try and get back in the game. But I couldn't have asked for any more of the players, and a little bit symptomatic of how it’s been away from home. Fine margins, little moments, not taking the chance and obviously conceding, but in the situation, I couldn't have asked any more.”

Town weren’t without their chances in the second period, Tom Holmes’ looping header cleared off the line and Carlton Morris’s effort palmed away by the 6ft 9in Reds stopper Carlos Miguel. The forward’s late toepoke was also at the keeper, as Trollope was pleased with the second 45 minutes, continuing: “We spoke at half time about, we had elements of control in the first half without having that forward action.

"I thought that was better second half, we got into some good areas and created some half decent chances. The biggest thing today was showing the spirit and showing the spirit that Luton Town require, the fans require and a togetherness and a fight that this situation called for as it has been a difficult few days and I think the players did that.”

Although it was now 11 straight defeats on the road, Luton having lost their previous 10 fixtures in the Championship, Trollope did see some green shoots for the new manager, adding: “Away from home, that’s how it’s been going. We spoke about fine margins and turning those in our favour, I thought we defended ever so well, I really did.

“I thought the back-line worked ever so hard, even when they brought their stronger attacking players on, I think we coped with it well. We tried to step on and be brave, go one v one and man for man and we just didn’t quite find that chance or that goal to really get ourselves back into it. But the players never gave up and kept going and certainly some positives as there was at QPR the other night to move forward with.”