When Ryan Tunnicliffe finds the net Luton Town win – goalscoring problems, what goalscoring problems? And what a difference three days make.
OK, so the midfielder had only notched once in his Hatters career this time last week – last term’s victory at Middlesbrough – but he walked off the City Ground tonight having trebled his tally after strikes in consecutive Championship games.
Tunnicliffe bust a gut to get on the end of a whipping 64th minute cross from Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, just when Town had got on top. Once the ball hit the net, they stayed there to achieve a once-in-their-lifetime feat.
That’s because none of the Luton squad were even alive the last time the club won on this side of the River Trent, but the midfielder’s goal finally put to bed a winless record that stretched back to 1983. Thirteen? Lucky for some.
It was on Forest’s ground last year that Glen Rea boldly proclaimed, moments after they’d registered a 92-year record tenth away-day defeat, that then struggling Luton’s luck was about to change.
The midfielder – made captain tonight – saw his Great Escape prediction come true. But this Championship triumph ensured that ten of Town’s last 11 on the road have all come courtesy of a 1-0 scoreline, to highlight just how far the club has come.
After the final whistle, Hatters first team coach, Chris Cohen, said: “We don’t compare ourselves to last year, but people do and if you look at the same amount of games from this time last year then we’re in a brilliant position to stay in the division and then hopefully build over the next few years.”
Of course, the trap door is not mathematically shut, but after a Tunnicliffe goal-laden week, a comfortable campaign finale looks odds on, with one prediction model moving them from a three per cent chance of relegation before kick-off to less than one per cent after the final whistle.
This rare victory on the red side of Nottingham moved Luton up to 13th place, four points ahead of a resurgent Forest side that had only conceded three times and lost once in the last eight games, and have played one game more.
Luton did ride their luck in the first half when Glen Murray was been uncharacteristically profligate, and though Forest shaded the first period, there were promising performances from Kal Naismith and Jordan Clark. Both carried on with aplomb after the break.
Neither are recognised defenders, but with injuries to Tom Lockyer and Sonny Bradley leaving a hole at the heart of the backline, Naismith filled expertly in at centre half and kept largely kept Murray quiet, while Clark came into his own as a marauding full back.
Cohen had insisted 24 hours earlier that the duo could play anywhere and this was a night that they backed up the claims of their coaching colleague, who relished a change of allegiance on a stomping ground he spent 11 fond years as a player.
“Tunni gets his second goal in two games, so it’s a brilliant night, a wonderful night for the football club,” said Cohen after his first return to Forest, where he made more than 300 appearances before moving onto the staff and then swapping the City Ground for Kenilworth Road in the summer.
“Coming off the back of Saturday, we wanted a positive result and then every man that started, and the boys that came on, worked so hard for the result. In the end, for me, it was a deserved victory.
“We had great chances in the second half and we nullified a very, very good Nottingham Forest team, and limited them to a couple of crosses into our box.
“It was a wonderful performance. We came here and tried to be bold in the first half. We played a four-diamond-two and we had a look at going after them. We realised in the second half as we tired that we needed to change shape and I thought the substitutions worked again.”
Indeed, having got to the interval with the scoreboard unblemished, though without registering a shot on target, Town moved up a gear once they emerged from the tunnel.
While Tunnicliffe’s third goal for the club settled the contest, it could have been even more convincing. Saturday’s match-winner Elijah Adebayo fired tamely at Brice Samba, when well-placed, but put in another positive display that was strong in his hold-up play and unabashed with the ball at his feet.
Having passed up his chance for a third goal in three straight games, the striker should’ve at least claimed an assist when he teed up Clark, but the makeshift full back just pulled his shot past the post.
Forest didn’t have an answer, so it was to be that ever more familiar scoreline that settled the evening and, as many of Town’s team will tell you, it’s the best result in football.
PLAYER RATINGS TO FOLLOW
Simon Sluga – 8
The Croatian sensation palmed away a Glenn Murray header early on and punched clear from Joe Lolley – though it was one for the cameras – but his low save to deny James Garner had shades of that Wigan save about it, though not quite as sublime as that stop for last term. But that’s his eighth clean sheet in all competitions this term. He only managed six last season.
Dan Potts – 7
A solid display that went largely untroubled, while he continues to show his dominance in the air.
Kal Naismith – 8
A very impressive performance at the back against a Glenn Murray that might have been expected to bully a makeshift centre half, but a finely timed sliding interception against the Forest striker highlighted how he was more than up to the task. Easily his best showing in a Hatters shirt. Booked in the 61st minute.
Matty Pearson – 7.5
All the hallmarks of a near vintage performance from the defender, who did all the basics well apart from one chance, but though Anthony Knockaert’s cross evaded him, Murray inexplicably missed from six yards out.
Jordan Clark – 8.5 (Star man)
There was little in between him as a makeshift right back and Kal Naismith as a stand-in centre back, but the former was Luton’s liveliest player in the first period when Forest were slightly on top. He continued to show a frequent knack for winning the ball, bursting up the pitch and picking good passes throughout and it was his penetrating run that got Town on the front foot in the build-up to the goal. He also made a timely and brave intervention to get ahead of Glenn Murray with a diving header in his own box and then should’ve added a goal to an impressive performance. But he may just have found his best position.
Glen Rea – 6.5
As good as he was on Saturday, his ball retention was frustrating in the first half, but he improved after the break.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – 7
By his standards, this was quite a quiet evening, but one that was still punctuated with a series of positive dribbles into Forest territory, though he couldn’t find the final pass. He had one shot saved by Brice Samba.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu – 7
He provided a fine cross for Ryan Tunnicliffe to claim the glory and helped keep Town in the ascendancy from there.
Ryan Tunnicliffe – 7.5
His second goal in as many games settled the contest and his desire to get on the end of Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu’s teasing cross typified his all-action display, particularly in the second half when he could also have claimed an assist had Elijah Adebayo been more clinical in front of goal.
Harry Cornick – 6
He has the ability to stretch teams but here his final delivery was poor. He failed to make the most of a good burst and pass from Jordan Clark and sent crosses harmlessly out of play. Replaced by James Bree in the 85th minute.
Elijah Adebayo – 7.5
He gives Town the option to go long and his hold-up play was a strength in a first half. He fashioned a half chance at the end of the first period and should’ve continued his impressive goalscoring run but couldn’t get any purchase on his big chance, having twice won headers in the build-up. He deserved an assist to make up for that, but Jordan Clark was just inches wide with his shot from the striker’s cutback. Replaced by James Collins in the 80th minute.
SUBSTITUTES:
James Collins – 6
Put himself about, defensively determined as ever, but he may have to get used to playing the understudy, at least for the time being, as Elijah Adebayo continued his promising start to life at Luton.
James Bree – N/A
Provided a fresh pair of legs, but not on long enough to effect the game.
UNUSED SUBS: James Shea, Martin Cranie, Luke Berry, Danny Hylton, George Moncur, Sam Nombe, Tom Ince.
Bit of a nervy evening initially: key players out and Forest in good form. But the squad did us proud. So pleased to see Naismith making his mark and Clark getting the credit he deserves. It also takes a bit of the pressure off the Carrow Road trip. All for attacking full-backs: it would be good to see Kioso back and competing in that area next season.
Glad you saw Clark as MOM! I thought he was excellent and showed what we’ve missed since JJ and Jack left. Attacking fullbacks got us into this division and could help us evolve into an even better championship team. And yes Naismith seems to have found his best position. Will he get to remain there?
I felt first half was really good. Sure Forest were profligate but our fast counterattacking showed the way even if we didn’t create too any clear cut chances. And then after the goal we looked comfortable. Mainly cos they kept Forest honest at the back because we continued to attack. That meant they couldn’t lump it forward as much as they wanted.
Relegation doubts now almost completely gone! And the set up, tactics and style look much more balanced now. All in the space of 4 games. Keep it up!!!