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Luke Berry hits last-gasp leveller for Luton Town against Nottingham Forest

sportsmole.co.uk, 16 March 2024, 17:00
Luke Berry scored a 89th-minute leveller as Luton Town claimed a point against Nottingham Forest in Saturday's Premier League clash at Kenilworth Road.

Chris Wood's ninth Premier League goal of the season in the 34th minute looked to be securing a vital three points for Forest in the relegation six-pointer.

However, Berry fired an equaliser for Luton in the final exchanges, with the result moving the 18th-placed Hatters onto 22 points, three points behind 17th-placed Forest in the Premier League table.

The home side had a half-chance inside the first minute when Tahith Chong broke into a dangerous position, but Forest centre-back Willy Boly was quickly across to deal with the danger.

Pelly Ruddock then made a big block in the fifth minute to prevent a Divock Origi shot from testing Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski.

Both teams were having their moments early on, and Ross Barkley tested Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels with a strike from the edge of the penalty box in the ninth minute.

Sels was again called into action to deny Barkley in the 11th minute, before the Luton midfielder, who was left out of the England squad last week despite his strong form, drilled another effort just wide less than a minute later.

Forest had a big chance in the 17th minute when a quick counter-attack ended with Morgan Gibbs-White finding Origi, who rounded the goalkeeper before lifting the ball towards goal, but Issa Kabore was on hand to make an excellent clearance.

Luton defender Reece Burke also made an excellent block in the 31st minute, preventing a shot from Origi from almost certainly finding the back of the net.

The breakthrough came in the 34th minute, though, with Wood volleying a cross from Gibbs-White into the back of the net from close range.

Chong had a strike deflected just wide for a corner in the 40th minute, with Luton putting the pressure on in the latter stages of the first period.

The hosts had the ball in the back of the Forest net late in the half through Teden Mengi, but the defender's effort was ruled out for handball, with the visitors entering the half-time interval ahead.

Luton goalkeeper Kaminski made a smart save to keep out an effort from Gibbs-White early in the second period, before the Forest forward swept one wide of the target in the away side's next attack.

Smart defending from Mengi prevented Anthony Elanga from getting a shot off in the period that followed, with the visitors threatening to double their advantage in the bottom-of-the-table contest.

Murillo then came close to scoring a spectacular free kick from inside his own half when he spotted Kaminski off his line, but the Luton goalkeeper managed to scramble back and tip the ball over for a corner.

Luton substitute Andros Townsend then tested Sels with an effort from distance, but the home side were finding it difficult to get going in the final third of the field, with Forest the more dangerous outfit.

The Hatters refused to give up, though, and a leveller arrived in the 89th minute through Berry, who fired into the back of the net from close range after Burke had headed towards goal, with the points ultimately being shared on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams will return to action on March 30, with Luton facing a trip to North London to tackle Tottenham Hotspur, while Forest will welcome Crystal Palace.

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