Tunnicliffe earns Luton win over Forest

Published on: 02 March 2021

Anthony Knockaert created three excellent first-half chances for Forest

Ryan Tunnicliffe's second-half strike secured back-to-back Championship wins for Luton Town as Nottingham Forest were made to pay for some sloppy finishing.

Tunnicliffe cleverly controlled Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu's enticing cross to steer the ball past Reds goalkeeper Brice Samba as the Hatters won at the City Ground for the first time in 13 league visits.

In-form Forest, who had only lost two of their previous 15 fixtures, faded after the interval but were on top until Tunnicliffe's winner.

Glenn Murray missed two excellent chances, teed up by the impressive Anthony Knockaert, while Joe Lolley also went close.

But the visitors resisted the pressure and saw out a win which takes them up to 13th place in the table, four points above Forest and nine points behind sixth-placed Cardiff City, who beat Derby County 4-0.

    Relive Tuesday night's EFL action

Luton's first victory away to Forest since a team managed by David Pleat overcame Brian Clough's side in March 1983 seemed unlikely during a one-sided first half.

Knockaert stood out, setting up Murray for a decent early chance with a right-wing cross and laying on an even clearer opportunity from the other flank with a fine cross which the veteran striker volleyed over the bar.

Luton, who came from two goals down to beat 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday last time out, made the most of Forest's wastefulness to win consecutive Championship games for the first time since their opening two fixtures of the season.

Tunnicliffe's carefully guided strike, an almost identical chance to the one Murray missed, put them ahead and they could have added to the lead when Elijah Adebayo found Jordan Clark in the area, but his low effort went just wide of the far post from a tight angle.

Forest's 14th defeat from 34 league games this season leaves Chris Hughton's side 11 points clear of the relegation zone, but having played three games more than third-from-bottom Rotherham United.

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsNottm Forest

Formation 4-2-3-1

30Samba2Christie3Figueiredo4Worrall5Ribeiro37Garner18Ribeiro Dias28Knockaert27Krovinovic23Lolley25Murray

    30Samba2Christie3Figueiredo4Worrall5Ribeiro37Garner18Ribeiro Dias28KnockaertSubstituted forMightenat 79'minutes27KrovinovicSubstituted forTaylorat 68'minutes23LolleySubstituted forAmeobiat 68'minutes25Murray

Substitutes

    6Mbe Soh8Colback11Ameobi12Smith15Freeman16Jenkinson17Mighten24Blackett33Taylor

Luton

Formation 4-1-2-1-2

12Sluga18Clark6Pearson24Naismith3Potts16Rea4Tunnicliffe22Dewsbury-Hall17Mpanzu29Adebayo7Cornick

    12Sluga18Clark6Pearson24NaismithBooked at 61mins3Potts16Rea4Tunnicliffe22Dewsbury-Hall17Mpanzu29AdebayoSubstituted forCollinsat 80'minutes7CornickSubstituted forBreeat 85'minutes

Substitutes

    1Shea2Cranie8Berry9Hylton14Moncur19Collins26Bree27Nombe39Ince

Referee:Jeremy SimpsonMatch StatsHome TeamNottm ForestAway TeamLutonPossessionHome60%Away40%ShotsHome19Away9Shots on TargetHome4Away3CornersHome8Away1FoulsHome8Away8Live TextPost update

Match ends, Nottingham Forest 0, Luton Town 1.

90'+4'Full Time

Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 0, Luton Town 1.

90'+3'Post update

Foul by Yuri Ribeiro (Nottingham Forest).

90'+3'Post update

James Collins (Luton Town) wins a free kick on the right wing.

90'+1'Post update

Foul by Joe Worrall (Nottingham Forest).

90'+1'Post update

Simon Sluga (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+1'Post update

Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Kal Naismith.

90'Post update

Attempt blocked. Sammy Ameobi (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Cyrus Christie.

87'Post update

Foul by Alex Mighten (Nottingham Forest).

87'Post update

Jordan Clark (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

86'Post update

Attempt blocked. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

85'Substitution

Substitution, Luton Town. James Bree replaces Harry Cornick.

85'Post update

Attempt missed. Cafú (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Yuri Ribeiro.

84'Post update

Attempt saved. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Luton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ryan Tunnicliffe.

83'Post update

Foul by Glenn Murray (Nottingham Forest).

83'Post update

Kal Naismith (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

80'Substitution

Substitution, Luton Town. James Collins replaces Elijah Adebayo.

79'Substitution

Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Alex Mighten replaces Anthony Knockaert.

76'Post update

Yuri Ribeiro (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

76'Post update

Foul by Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town).

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Source: bbc.com

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