During the 2013/14 season, Luton Town were playing their football in the National League, England’s fifth tier of football. However, fast forward eight years and the Hatters sit fifth in the Championship, hoping this season’s form will earn them a place in the Premier League for the first time since the 1991/92 season. Nathan Jones’ side, though, have fallen into bad form at the wrong time as they enter this fixture winless in their last three games. Nevertheless, a win over Nottingham Forest would see the Hatters leapfrog the Reds into fourth place and return to winning ways. 

Forest won’t be the team that Luton want to face right now as Steve Cooper’s men are enjoying the Championship’s longest current unbeaten run (W7, D3). When Steve Cooper took charge of Forest, the Reds were bottom of the Championship with four points. Since then, Forest have earned 63 points and have climbed from the bottom of the table to fourth, with two games in hand on almost all their play-off rivals. The Midlands club are now looking certain for the play-offs whilst also keeping an eye on Bournemouth in second. Coming into this game unbeaten on the road in four (W2, D2) will leave Forest confident that they can move further up the table following this game. 

Team news

Luton were forced into a couple of substitutions against Huddersfield Town last time out, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and former Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury having to come off. The former had to be helped off the pitch with a leg problem, while his teammate is said to have suffered a neck injury - which could make both potential doubts for this fixture. 

Prior to Luton’s game against Peterborough United last week, Nathan Jones stated that Jordan Clark was still a couple of weeks away from being available for selection after suffering from multiple injuries this season. 

Luke Berry, who plays a similar game to Clark, was on the bench against Huddersfield and will be hoping to return to action this Friday.

Also prior to the Peterborough match, the Luton boss suggested that Reece Burke was closing in on a return. However, the defender has not been included in the squad since then. 

Gabriel Osho and Jed Steer remain sidelined with long-term injuries. 

For Forest, there are no new injury concerns as the Reds came through the home game against Birmingham City unscathed. 

Defenders Steve Cook and Max Lowe remain sidelined through injury, but their respective replacements Tobias Figueiredo and Jack Colback have been more than impressive since stepping in. 

Lewis Grabban made his third appearance off the bench against Birmingham after being sidelined since January and Brice Samba appears to be Cooper's number one goalkeeper again for now. 

Predicted lineups

Luton Town: Shea, Bree, Bradley, Naismith, Onyedinma, Potts, Berry, Bell, Campbell, Cornick, Adebayo

Nottingham Forest: Samba, Worrall, Figueiredo, McKenna, Spence, Yates, Garner, Colback, Lolley, Johnson, Davis

Ones to watch

Elijah Adebayo

Forest will be looking to keep Adebayo quiet as the forward has never lost a fixture for Luton when he’s scored in the game. The 24-year-old now has 19 goal involvements (15G, 4A) in the Championship and will be looking to add to his tally against Forest.

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Brennan Johnson

The 20-year-old has 22 goal involvements (14G, 8A) in the league so far this season, with six of those coming in the forwards last four appearances (4G, 2A). Johnson has also recently been nominated for the Sky Bet Championship Young Player of the Season award, showcasing just how impressive he has been this year.

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Previous meetings

These two sides drew 0-0 when they met in the reverse fixture back in November. Nottingham Forest had to contend the fixture with 10 men as Jack Colback was sent off on the hour mark for a challenge on Tom Lockyer. Elijah Adebayo stepped up to take the resulting penalty and was denied by Brice Samba, the hero on the night.

How to watch

The match is on Friday, April 15, and will kick off at 12:30 BST. Coverage of the game will be available from 12:00 BST on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football. 

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