Nottingham Forest moved to within five points of the Championship automatic promotion places with a game in hand, after defeating Luton Town 3-1 at the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds would have been eager to put last weekend's 1-1 draw at Reading well behind them, where a late Tobias Figueiredo own-goal cancelled out Ben Watson's strike in the 96th minute.

On paper, it looked like a very winnable game for Forest, as they prepared to come up against a Luton side that had lost their last nine league games away from Kenilworth Road.

It was the visitors, though, who applied the early pressure and looked to be the better team. The Hatters - setting up in a 4-1-4-1 system - enjoying plenty of success down the left-hand side.

Two full-backs combined on 12 minutes which nearly led to an opener for the visitors, with James Bree's long free-kick finding Dan Potts at the back post. The defender's header was blocked initially, but he then saw his volley skim the crossbar from six yards on the rebound.

Forest also threatened to find an opening goal from a set-piece, although Michael Dawson was unable to direct his header goalwards as the ball hit the side netting.

As the first-half went on, though, it was Luton who continued to improve, winning plenty of corners and moving the ball around with much more pace and precision.

Their impressive start to proceedings was rewarded with the game's first goal on 23 minutes - a perhaps unlikely yet deserved goals for Graeme Jones' side.

The move started from the back with Simon Sluga finding Kazenga Lua Lua - the tricky winger found Pelly Ruddock-Mpanzu in an advanced midfield position, and he threaded in Potts.

The full-back's cut-back was perfect for Harry Cornick to connect with, and the wide-man side-footed home to make it 1-0 to Luton.

A poor start by the hosts, then, who would have been looking to respond as quickly as possible and recover from their early setback.

Five minutes later, the Reds almost found their equaliser courtesy of a Luton player. Joe Lolley's wicked delivery was drilled in towards the front post, and whilst Ben Watson and Joe Worrall darted towards the ball, it was Town centre-half Matty Pearson who forced a point-blank save out of Sluga.

Sluga was unable to prevent Forest from grabbing that invaluable equaliser in the 36th minute, though.

An exquisite cross-field pass from Yuri Ribeiro landed at Lolley's feet - the winger drove forward, before unleashing a left-footed shot which found its way under Sluga.

A slight piece of fortune about that goal, then, but a deserved one after a decent spell of pressure from the hosts, as they went in search of another.

The half entered its latter stages, and Forest - taking their eighth corner of the opening 45 minutes - were unable to connect from Silva's delicious cross.

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There was to be another chance for the Reds, though. After Albert Adomah was brought down on the byline, Silva was able to drill the ball across goal. The Portuguese midfielder teed the ball up to the back post, and Michael Dawson's header was met with a solid save from Sluga, who was eager to make amends.

The half-time whistle blew and improvements were there to be made by Forest, as Sabri Lamouchi cut a frustrated figure as he marched down the tunnel.

As the second-half began, Luton made an enforced change with George Moncur replacing the injured Harry Cornick.

Moncur would have been keen to make an impact and the playmaker got to work straight away. On 54 minutes, the midfielder found space out wide before drilling the ball into the box for James Collins.

The striker's lay-off found Matty Pearson who pulled off a shot, but the ball was cleared thanks to some committed defending from the hosts.

But as the we prepared to enter the hour mark on Trentside, another piece of magic from Lolley put Forest into the lead.

Another cross-field pass found the former Huddersfield man in plenty of space, he beat Dan Potts down the right, and just like he did for his first goal, he looked to jink onto his favoured left foot. He did just that, before firing a swerving, powerful effort over Sluga and into the top-left corner.

Forest then began to assert their dominance on the game after taking the lead. Sammy Ameobi replaced Adomah in the 66th minute, and the winger nearly made an instant impact after coming off the bench. His shot was deflected just wide from the edge of the area.

The Reds went in search of a third goal in an attempt to kill the game and secure an invaluable win. A wicked delivery from a free-kick led to a goalmouth scramble, which resulted in Tiago Silva firing high and wide on 71 minutes.

The onus was obviously then on Luton to come out and attack, but do so in a way that didn't allow Forest to counter and exploit spaces.

James Collins tried his best to grab an equaliser for his side - the striker bearing down on goal after being played through, before forcing a fine save out of Brice Samba.

On 82 minutes, two-goal hero Lolley was taken off and replaced by Ryan Yates - the former receiving a standing ovation from the 27,081 packed inside the City Ground, as Forest looked to see out their lead.

And, in the 89th minute, Forest secured their win. After Ryan Yates was brought down by Ryan Tunnicliffe 25 yards out from goal, Tiago Silva stepped over the free-kick. The midfielder's free-kick hit a hand, and a penalty was awarded.

It was Lewis Grabban who was allowed to step up and attempt to win the game for Forest, and the striker made it 15 goals for the season, slotting past Sluga with ease.

Before the final whistle was blown, Lamouchi made his final change of the afternoon, with the influential Silva being replaced by Carvalho.

And that was that at the City Ground, with Tony Harrington blowing an end to what had been a fantastic second-half performance from the hosts.

The win on Sunday afternoon sees them climb to within five points of the automatic promotion spots, ahead of Wednesday night's home clash with Reading.