Nottingham Forest 3-1 Luton Town: Joe Lolley double helps lift Reds to fifth

Joe Lolley helped lift Nottingham Forest to within five points of the automatic promotion places after scoring twice as they came from behind to beat Luton Town.

Simon Sluga's failure to deal with a tame shot from Lolley, which squeezed in at the near post, allowed Forest back into the game, although the Croatian goalkeeper did atone when he saved well from a Joe Worrall header to ensure it remained all square at the break.

There, however, was no stopping Lolley's second as the forward cut in off the right wing before unleashing a swerving shot that left Luton facing a 10th successive league defeat away from home.

Lewis Grabban then took his goal tally to 15 for the season, adding a late third from the penalty spot after Sonny Bradley blocked a Tiago Silva free-kick with his arm.

• Relive Forest's win over Luton

Forest's fourth win in a five-game unbeaten run took them to fifth in the table, equal on points with fourth-placed Brentford. Sabri Lamouchi's side also have a game in hand on three of the sides above them, the exception being league leaders West Brom who host Stoke City on Monday night.

While 23 points and 18 places separated the two sides before kick-off, it was the Hatters who made the brighter start with Potts sending an effort just over early on before he linked up well with Kazenga LuaLua to tee up Cornick up for the opening goal.

Forest's equaliser was one that Sluga should have dealt with 13 minutes later, but Luton did have the keeper to thank as they started the second-half level after he kept out Worrall's close-range header.

A fiercely struck shot from Lolley edged Forest ahead and he threatened again on numerous occasions, while substitute Sammy Ameobi also went close before Grabban completed the win.

Reaction

Nottingham Forest head coach Sabri Lamouchi:

"I'm happy with the result, to win at home in front of our fans is important, but we need to play much better than we did in the first half.

"I don't know why we start like this. We suffered a lot, couldn't make three passes in a row, but luckily we equalised before the break and the commitment was much better than the first half.

"The last time Nottingham forest played the play-offs was a long time ago. I'm not so crazy to imagine something (promotion) impossible.

"Some people can start to believe but my job is just to focus on the next game and we will see where we will be.

"We need to play much better than now. Do you think Nottingham Forest can get promoted automatically playing like that in the first half? The answer is no."

Luton Town boss Graeme Jones:

"I don't think everything went for us, but I'm satisfied with the first-half performance.

"We've got to start putting up positive results and I really believe with everybody fit - if we bring people in it will help - we'll have a chance."

"It's about us taking our destiny in our own hands."