Joe Lolley's double gives Nottingham Forest important win in push for promotion

• Nottingham Forest 3 Luton Town 1

Nottingham Forest’s fourth win in five matches confirmed their resurgence as promotion contenders in the Championship after a poor run of pre-Christmas form saw they slip out of the top six.

Two goals from winger Joe Lolley and a Lewis Grabban penalty claimed the points after struggling Luton had gone ahead. The win moves Forest up to fifth place, five points behind second-placed Leeds from one match fewer, with their game in hand coming against Reading at home on Wednesday.

Sabri Lamouchi’s team are up against fourth-placed Brentford at Griffin Park next Saturday, with Leeds due at the City Ground early next month.

Luton produced some moments of quality and had Forest under pressure more than once but could do nothing to prevent yet another defeat, with pressure mounting on manager Graeme Jones. The Hatters have picked up only one point in their last eight matches and suffered 11 consecutive away defeats in all competitions.

No Luton side had won at the City Ground since 1983 and this one’s prospects for taking any points from this visit looked bleak, yet they made the brighter start against a sluggish Forest and when they grabbed a 23rd-minute lead it was by no means against the run of play.

The goal was nicely worked, too. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu released Dan Potts on an overlap down the left and the full-back’s cut-back was thumped home confidently by former Bournemouth attacker Harry Cornick, his seventh goal of the campaign.

On the touchline, manager Lamouchi demanded a response from his team and got one, the balance of attacking play beginning to tip in Forest’s favour.  Luton ‘keeper Simon Sluga reacted brilliantly to keep out a stinging header that threatened to beat him at his near post but was at fault as Lolley put Forest level on 36 minutes.

Forest, who sometimes struggle when visiting teams set out to defend, found Luton’s positive attitude suited them, and when a Luton attack broke down, they were able to exploit their pace down the right. Yuri Ribeiro released Lolley with a superb crossfield pass. Lolley had the equally pacy Matty Cash for support but chose to cut inside and aim for goal himself.  His shot was not without power but should not have beaten Sluga, who somehow let it slip through his hands at the near post.

Sluga had rather less chance as Lolley’s second 12 minutes into the second half gave Forest the lead.  Set up this time by Ben Watson’s inch-perfect long ball, the 27-year-old winger ran at Potts, then cutting inside before unleashing a shot with power and swerve that was far too good for the Croatian ‘keeper.

To their credit, Luton did not let their heads drop and searched gamely for an equaliser. Their chance was killed off a minute from the end of normal time, however, when Sonny Bradley blocked a Thiago Silva free kick with his arm and referee Tony Harrington had no option but to give a penalty, which Lewis Grabban converted for his 15th goal of the season.

• Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1): Samba; Cash, Dawson. Worrall, Ribeiro; Sow, Watson; Adomah (Ameobi 67), Silva (Carvalho 90+2), Lolley (Yates 83); Grabban.  Substitutes not used: Smith (g), Carvalho, Jenkinson, Semedo, Chema.

• Luton Town (4-1-4-1): Sluga; Bree, Pearson, Bradley, Potts; Rea (Lee 72); Cornick (Moncur 49), Mpanzu, Tunnicliffe, LuaLua; Collins. Substitutes not used: Shea (g), Berry, Shinnie, Bolton, Daniels.

• Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland)

• Bookings: Luton: Rea, Tunnicliffe, Potts.

• Attendance: 27,081.