London, April 15, 2022 (AFP) - Ten-man Luton earned a priceless 1-0 win over Championship play-off rivals Nottingham Forest on Friday, meaning leaders Fulham are one win away from sealing promotion back to the Premier League.
Kal Naismith's first-half penalty proved decisive at Kenilworth Road but the home side had to hang on after Sonny Bradley was sent off for a trip on substitute Sam Surridge 13 minutes from time.
The only goal of the game came in the 37th minute after Forest midfielder Jack Colback handled James Bree's cross in the area.
Naismith assumed the responsibilities following Elijah Adebayo's miss at Huddersfield on Monday, keeping his nerve to send Brice Samba the wrong way.
Luton's win ended Forest's 10-game unbeaten league run and lifted them above their rivals into fourth spot in the table.
Luton boss Nathan Jones praised his team's "magnificent performance".
"I felt they were exceptional today, tactically I thought we were brilliant. We went up against a top, top side and managed to get the win," he said.
Forest boss Steve Cooper was philosophical about the end of Forest's long unbeaten run.
"We were going to lose a game at some stage," he said. "It was very unlikely we were going to carry on until the end of the season and not get beat."
The top two sides in the second-tier Championship go up automatically to the Premier League while teams that finish from third to sixth battle for a single promotion slot via the play-offs.
Ten-man Blackburn suffered a major blow to their play-off hopes, conceding two late goals to lose 2-1 at relegation-threatened Peterborough and drop to eighth.
Second-placed Bournemouth drew 0-0 with Middlesbrough while Sheffield United, chasing a place in the play-offs, lost 2-1 at home to Reading.
