Luton 1 Nottingham Forest 1: Luke Berry scores dramatic last-minute equaliser as relegation battle hots up
LUKE PERRY’S last-gasp equaliser showed you can only write Luton Town off at your own peril.
The Hatters midfielder’s 89th-minute leveller broke Nottingham Forest’s heart as they were on course for only their second win in 14 games.
Chris Wood fired in a 34th-minute opener which up until the dying seconds had soared the club into 15th in the table, six points above the Hatters.
But the draw leaves them just three points behind Forest and still occupying the last relegation spot.
Forest will be sweating as they know their plight could potentially worsen with a possible points deduction hanging over them after their FFP rules charge.
Things have been looking bleak at Kenilworth Road too, with their sick list full to the brim and nine senior stars out injured for the hosts.
The first-half was virtually neck and neck between two sides embroiled in the relegation dogfight.
Ross Barkley started brightly for the hosts, fizzing a shot at Matz Sels before firing agonisingly close to the post.
Up the other end Issa Kabore produced a crucial challenge on Divock Origi to stop him getting a shot away, smack bang in front of goal.
Hero Reece Burke then saved a rasping Origi shot off the line with an outstretched foot.
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The hosts should have seen the warning signs because Wood made them pay just minutes after Origi’s chance.
Neco Williams found Morgan Gibbs-White on the left who chipped it onto the path of Wood who looped it beyond Thomas Kaminski.
The Hatters hit back strongly and Tahith Chong fired a deflected shot out for a corner.
Teden Mengi look as though he had pulled one back as he slotted in from close range but VAR rained on his parade with a check showing a handball in the build up.
The disallowed goal did not hide Forest's glaring vulnerability from set-pieces once again.
Gibbs White nearly doubled the lead straight after the break as he broke free on goal but Burke put him off the scent and Kaminski made a routine save.
Anthony Elanga almost rolled a shot in but Mengi heroically made a hooked clearance with his foot off the line.
Centre-back Murillo cheekily spotted Kaminski off his line and fired a long-range free-kick right at goal, but the Hatters stopper tracked back just in time to make the save.
The Hatters survived a flurry of set-pieces which ended with Gibbs White lashing a shot just shy of goal.
To heap more misery on Edwards, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu was forced off with a knee injury on the hour mark and was replaced by Andros Townsend.
Kenilworth Road serenaded Darren England to a rendition of “the referee’s a w***er” as Forest were awarded a free kick after Barkley slid in and had won the ball.
To rub salt in the wound, Gibbs White got away with a questionable challenge from behind on Chiedozie Ogbenne.
On 89 minutes Perry saved the day as he pounced on a downward header by Burke and thumped into the net for honours even.