Luke Berry scored an 89th-minute equaliser for Luton as they salvaged a point at home to Nottingham Forest as both teams battle for Premier League survival.
Chris Wood had put Forest ahead when he stretched to convert Morgan Gibbs-White’s dink to the back post.
With time running out, Reece Burke headed Ross Barkley’s corner towards goal and Berry finished on the spin from six yards.
Ryan Yates nearly gave Forest all three points in the final minute of added time but his sweet strike flew just wide to keep the gap between the sides at three points, with Luton in 18th, a place below their visitors.
Luton started brightly and Barkley’s 20-yard shot, one of three efforts from outside the box early on, clipped the post, but Forest were in the ascendancy by the time their goal came.
Divock Origi had seen two efforts cleared off the line, the second just moments before Neco Williams found Gibbs-White, who crossed for Wood to score.
Teden Mengi did have the ball in the net for Luton before half-time but it came off his arm before he bundled it in and his celebrations were cut short.
There were more chances for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side after the break with Issa Kabore hooking the ball off the line from Anthony Elanga.
Luton kept the deficit at one, though, and put the pressure on in the closing stages, albeit without creating anything of note until Berry’s goal which keeps the Hatters within striking distance of the sides above.
Luton fighting spirit rewarded
This was always going to be a big week for Luton in their battle to avoid relegation.
After snatching a late equalizer at Crystal Palace a week ago and having found themselves 3-0 up at half-time at Bournemouth on Wednesday, they might have had visions of ending this weekend clear of the drop zone.
Instead, after a 4-3 loss at the Vitality Stadium and trailing late on to Forest, they were facing being four points from safety – with Everton above them having played a game fewer and also holding the goal difference advantage.
As ever with Luton, there was no shortage of effort but for much of the game, they lacked the quality in both boxes to back it up.
When there was a spark, it often came from the quick feet of Barkley but his flurry of shots from distance in the first few minutes was the best that they had offered as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes.
Rob Edwards’ side are always a threat from set-pieces, though, and once again, that was their salvation.
Berry was alert to Burke’s knockdown and, while their winless run extends to eight league games, Luton refuse to know when they are beaten.
It is a quality that they may have to rely on again with trips to Tottenham and Arsenal to come after the international break.
–BBC
