Nottingham Forest vs Luton Town FC (21st Oct 2023)

Determined Town fight-back from two-down to earn point

Nottingham Forest 2 Wood 48, 76

Town 2 Ogbene 83 Adebayo 90+3

With 14 minutes left, and with Nottingham Forest two goals to the good and well in command, the Hatters did what has epitomised this team – this club – over the last decade: battled, fought and eventually, through sheer determination, got their just rewards.

Forest tried to kill us off but we’re not so soft, we are the famous Luton Town – so the song goes. Chris Wood’s two goals had seemingly knocked the stuffing out of those in white and navy at the City Ground but a late, glorious comeback saw headline writers in the press box re-writing their copy as the 3,000 Hatters fans celebrated a point that felt like three thanks to goals from Chiedozie Obgene and Elijah Adebayo.

The game followed a familiar pattern to the Town’s life in the top-flight: they were always in it. Somehow, you felt there would always be a chance – and so it would ultimately prove.

Forest’s home form last term kept them in the Premier League. The City Ground was the graveyard for many of the top-flight's elite last season. Two defeats in 19 matches told its own story.

And in the first half Steve Cooper’s side should have gone in ahead at half-time. A number of glorious chances went begging for the Tricky Trees: Wood inside five minutes denied by Thomas Kaminski; the keeper then doing well to deny Harry Toffolo from close range midway through the opening period.

The Hatters were certainly not outplayed, however. Glimmers of encouragement were evident in the first half with Tahith Chong in particular exploiting the space on the City Ground pitch. The best chance fell to Jacob Brown, whose shot on the turn was low and dangerous – however just off target.

Forest missed a sitter to lead with the last kick of the first 45 – Ibrahim Sangare driving a shot wide of the goal when it seemed easier to miss.

The Town goal had lived a charmed life in the first half but their luck would run out just three minutes after the restart when Wood struck, taking advantage of some sticky defending to finish well beyond an exposed Kaminski.

Stay in the game, stay in the game – would have been the message from the touchline. Wood spurned a glorious chance to double his tally moments later, only to head over when well-placed.

Back came the Town. The chances are always there with this team. It should have been level on 52 minutes when Brown, unmarked to meet Ogbene’s teasing cross, headed into the grateful arms of keeper Matt Turner.

You sensed the Town were growing back into it.

Edwards made three changes. As a sign of how far the Town have come. 12 years ago we won 1-0 at Grimsby in the Conference and now here, in the Premier League, the manager was introducing former England internationals Andros Townsend and Ross Barkley.

Back in 2023, minutes after that triple change, reality hit as Forest doubled their lead through that man Wood, who craned every neck muscle to guide a fine header inside Kaminski’s far post.

At that point, with 15 minutes left, Forest were cruising. Cooper made three changes of his own. Willy Boly, Nicolas Dominguez and the impressive Sangare made way with 12 minutes remaining.

And then the comeback began.

Suddenly, Barkley was getting on the ball. Pulling the strings. Finding space. Passing into areas that hurt Forest and got them back-tracking. It might have been 2-0 but you just felt... get one back and there’s something here still.

With seven minutes left Ogbene started the recovery mission, lashing home from six yards after the Forest defence had made a hash of clearing Townsend’s free-kick. A deserved first goal in the top-flight. After a ridiculous wait for VAR to draw lines on a screen to work out if the Irish international was ahead of the play, the goal was given.

Stay in the game, stay in game... The Town have shown through these early stages in the Premier League that they are rubbing shoulders with England’s elite on merit and, as Forest continued to backpedal as time ticked into eight minutes of added time, the equaliser came.

Two weeks ago, Adebayo gave up a chance against Spurs and was then subjected to vile racist messages by faceless accounts on social media. As he would say afterwards, in the words of John Still - “never too high, never too low”. In the third minute of stoppage time, Tom Lockyer’s laser-like raking pass was on the money. Adebayo’s eyes lit up. Holding off two Forest defenders and chesting the ball down into his path there was only one outcome this week. His finish, magic, you know.

At 2-2 the game wasn’t done. Wood had Hatters hearts in mouths when finishing superbly across Kaminski but the hat-trick would not count and the offside flag was a welcome relief to those of a Luton persuasion.

Had the game lasted another five minutes, who know what would have happened – but the Town were in the game. They always stay in the game.

And this group, like many before in recent history, never give up.

Roll on Aston Villa next Sunday.

See you then.

Town: Kaminski; Obgene, Doughty, Mengi, Lockyer, Burke (sub Kaboré 56); Nakamba, Ruddock (sub Barkley 72), Chong (sub Townsend 72); Morris (sub Woodrow 81), Brown (sub Adebayo 72)

Subs not used: Krul, Osho, Giles, Luker.

Attendance: 29,361, including 2,893 Hatters bouncing in the away end post-match.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv7jCf00hvk – Rob Edwards interview

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0eAHWUyj9s – extended match highlights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XVBXf4aRhM – behind the scenes

Adebayo scores stoppage time equaliser as Luton hit back from 2-0 down to stun Forest

Premier League: Nottingham Forest 2 Luton Town 2

Elijah Adebayo scored a wonderful stoppage time equaliser as Luton amazingly hit back from 2-0 down with just eight minutes to go to snatch a 2-2 draw at Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

After a battling first half which the visitors had managed to get through on level pegging, they then fell behind shortly after the break, Chris Wood finding the net.

The Reds striker then scored again on 76 minutes to double his and his side's tally as Town looked like they were sliding to a third straight defeat.

However, Chiedozie Ogbene pulled one back with his first goal for the club on 84 minutes, as Adebayo then showed terrific strength and a predatory finish to make it 2-2.

Forest thought they had won it even later, Wood's goal ruled out for offside, as Luton picked up what could be an absolutely crucial point this term.

Earlier, Hatters boss Rob Edwards made two changes, Teden Mengi replacing the injured Mads Andersen in defence, with Tahith Chong in for Adebayo, meaning Ogbene dropped to wingback.

Recent signing Andros Townsend was named on the bench, as was Gabe Osho for the first time this season, along with young pro Jayden Luker.

As Town had in their previous matches, the early stages was all about staying in the game, Forest looking for an early opener, Wood scuffing a shot straight at Thomas Kaminski and Orel Mangala powering a header over.

Town responded well with sharp attacks down both flanks, Jacob Brown losing his footing when trying to convert Tahith Chong's cross, before he was inches away from reaching Chiedozie Ogbene's right wing delivery.

The Scottish international had another decent opening on 16 minutes picked out by Ogbene's cross, as he swivelled to drag narrowly wide of the far post.

With 22 on the clock, Town were then indebted to a terrific instinctive stop from Kaminski to prevent Harry Toffolo from poking the Reds in front after an ill-advised header at the back post by Ogbene.

Mengi then deflected Wood's attempt over the top for a corner that saw Serge Aurier left unmarked to thump his header into the stands.

Following some treatment after Aurier's poor challenge on the back of his left leg, Chong then almost meted out some punishment of his own, a terrific 20-yard half volley that either side of Matt Turner could have caused the USA international some serious trouble.

Morris saw his looping header land on to the roof of the net before Forest should have led, breaking from a Luton corner with Aurier slipping and then carving out a cross for Wood to head over.

They then wasted an absolutely gilt-edged chance on the stroke of halftime, when Gibbs-White got away on the right, his cross repelled by Kaminski and £30m signing Ibrahim Sangere somehow shooting wide from just eight yards out when he simply had to score.

All the hard work was then undone just three minutes into the second period though as Forest went straight through the middle of pitch and Wood was released on goal to cleverly clip beyond the advancing Kamsinki.

The former Burnley striker should have doubled his tally moments later when meeting a brilliant cross from the right, he could only manage to head over the bar.

It was the same at the other end on 52 minutes as Luton carved out a terrific chance, Ogbene finding Brown but he could only put his header straight at Turner who barely had to move to save.

Kaminski got down well to claw away Gibbs-White's curler, but Luton's defensive problems struck again with 56 on the clock, Reece Burke pulling up and Issa Kabore on as Town moved to a back four.

Gibbs-White looked to put the result beyond Luton, twisting and turning to slice waywardly wide, as Anthony Elanga tried his luck too, Kamsinki gathering the awkward bounce.

The visitors were being restricted to very little in terms of chances to get back into the game, Marvelous Nakamba's potshot always rising.

Eager to give his side a chance of coming back, Edwards rang the changes to bring on Townsend for his first Premier League outing since March 2022, while Ross Barkley and Adebayo came on too, the latter sidefooting wide with his first touch.

However, any impact they would have wanted was gone just four minutes later, Anthony Elanga teasing Kabore to send over a cross that saw Wood get in front of his man to place a downward header beyond the sprawling Kaminski to make it 2-0.

With their chances minimal now, Ryan Yates shot over for the hosts, as Luton introduced Woodrow.

Town then were back in the game with seven games left as Doughty's underhit free kick was missed by the Forest defence, deflecting up for Ogbene to thrash a volley beyond the startled Turner and in.

After a lengthy VAR check, the goal stood, as Luton's players had the bit between their teeth as they searched for what had been an unlikely equaliser.

A terrific move with Barkley pulling the strings saw Woodrow's shot blocked, but then in front of the away end, Lockyer's lofted chip into the box saw Adebayo show magnificent strength to knock the ball down and then toe-poke beyond Turner to make it 2-2.

The goal then saw Forest back on the front foot, Barkley giving the ball away and Wood sent clear to find the bottom corner.

As the hosts celebrated, thankfully for Town, the eagle-eyed official spotted the forward had gone just a moment too early, the offside flag chalking the goal off and ensuring the visitors’ fight back wasn’t in vain.

Forest: Matt Turner, Orel Mangala (Neco Williams 88), Ibrahim Sangare (Cheikhou Kouyate 78), Morgan Gibbs-White, Chris Wood, Harry Toffolo, Nicolas Dominguez (Ryan Yates 78), Anthony Elanga, Serge Aurier (C, Ola Aina 88), Willy Boly (Joe Worrall 78), Murillo.

Subs not used: Odysseas Vlachodimos, Andrey Santos, Moussa Niakhate, Brandon Aguilera.

Hatters: Thomas Kaminski, Chiedozie Ogbene, Teden Mengi, Tom Lockyer (C), Reece Burke (Issa Kabore 56), Alfie Doughty, Marvelous Nakamba, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Ross Barkley 72), Jacob Brown (Elijah Adebayo 72), Tahith Chong (Andros Townsend 72), Carlton Morris (Cauley Woodrow 81).

Subs not used: Tim Krul, Jayden Luker, Ryan Giles, Gabe Osho.

Referee: Sam Barrott.

Booked: Sangare 60, Gibbs-White 84, Murillo 90.

Edwards hails Luton's fighting spirit as they hit back from 2-0 to earn a point at the City Ground

Adebayo’s injury time strike sees Luton draw 2-2 with Forest

Luton boss Rob Edwards was determined to emphasise just how much his players’ refusal to accept they are beaten came to the fore as they hit back from 2-0 down to earn a terrific point at Nottingham Forest this afternoon.

The Hatters had looked out of it when Chris Wood bagged his second of the afternoon with just 14 minutes to play, nodding a downward header beyond the clutches of Thomas Kaminski.

Town had just made three changes prior to the goal, Ross Barkley, Andros Townsend and Adebayo all entering the fray, with Cauley Woodrow soon following them on to the field shortly afterwards to bolster the visitors’ attacking thrust.

It worked too, Luton quickly halving the deficit when Chieodozie Ogbene crashed home a volley after a free kick had caused havoc on 83 minutes, before Adebayo took Tom Lockyer’s chip into the area on his chest, outmuscled his marker and prodded beyond Matt Turner in stoppage time to make it 2-2.

There was almost more drama, Wood seeing his hat-trick strike ruled out for a clear offside a few moments later, as speaking afterwards, Edwards said: “I’m really proud of the players today.

"The spirit, the fight and determination they have shown, from the whole group, as we had to make some changes as well and that really pleases me.

"We finish games strongly, we’ve done that, we will never give up.

"We will always keep fighting, keep staying in it.

"If our supporters are standing up and clapping us off, because they can see that we’ve given everything then if we lost I might not be happy, but at least I’ll be able to sleep at night.

"We give everything and fight to the very end,

“We really want to emphasise that, the lads don't give up, they fight, they fight, they fight, they fight to the end.

"We've got to keep doing that as what's the point in being here if you're just going to give up and roll over at 2-0 down?

"That just shows we’re capable of coming back, we’re capable of sticking our hand in the fire and pulling out a result.

"We can lean on that today and we can really use that going forward.

"It doesn’t surprise me, it doesn’t surprise me at all.

"I know we’re capable of it and it’s good we’ve shown everyone else we’re capable of it today.”