Steve Cooper insists Nottingham Forest played their BEST football since returning to the Premier League in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Luton – and admits his side after ‘frustrated’ after cheaply surrendering a two-goal lead
- Steve Cooper admitted his frustration after Nottingham Forest drew with Luton
- Forest had taken a two-goal lead courtesy of a second-half Chris Wood brace
- But the newly-promoted side rallied back in stoppage time to secure a point
Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper said his side’s best performance since returning to the Premier League was ruined by Luton’s fightback in Saturday’s 2-2 draw.
Forest were on course to snap a four-game winless run after Chris Wood’s second-half double at the City Ground had them 2-0 up with seven minutes remaining.
But Chiedozie Ogbene threw Luton a late lifeline after Forest failed to clear Hatters debutant Andros Townsend’s free-kick and substitute Elijah Adebayo fired in a stoppage-time equaliser.
Cooper, whose side are now winless in five, said: ‘If that game does not change on a set-piece, that’s what everyone would be talking about – how good we were, the football we played, the chances we created and the goals we scored, individual performances.
‘But all of that, and rightly so, will get overlooked because of the way the game has ended and the score line.
Steve Cooper claimed Nottingham Forest’s performance against Luton prior to conceding two late goals was their best since returning to the Premier League
Chris Wood netted twice the second half to give the hosts a two-goal lead at the City Ground
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‘Everybody’s frustrated. Game-plan was great, the lads carried it out brilliantly. If it finishes 2-0 we’d be sitting here saying that’s the best we’ve played since we’ve come into the league. It’s a real pity.’
A frustrating afternoon for Forest was compounded with news that absent pair Callum Hudson-Odoi and Divock Origi have joined fellow forward Taiwo Awoniyi on a growing injury list to leave Cooper short of attacking options.
Cooper added: ‘(Hudson-Odoi) is out for six weeks, he’s pulled his hamstring and Divock’s got a hip injury, so that’s going to rule him out for another two weeks as well.’
Luton, back in the top flight after a 31-year absence, notched their fifth point of the season to edge further clear of the bottom three.
Rob Edwards’ side registered their first league win since promotion via the play-offs at Everton at the end of last month before successive narrow home defeats to Burnley and Tottenham.
After Adebayo’s late leveller denied Forest, a delighted Edwards hailed his players’ never-say-die spirit and insisted it came as no surprise to him.
But Luton fought back in the closing stages and equalised in stoppage time through Elijah Adebayo
The former Forest Green manager said: ‘We’ve got to keep doing that as what’s the point in being here if you’re just going to give up and roll over at 2-0 down?
‘That just shows we’re capable of coming back, we’re capable of sticking our hand in the fire and pulling out a result.
‘We can lean on that today and we can really use that going forward.
‘It doesn’t surprise me, it doesn’t surprise me at all.
‘I know we’re capable of it and it’s good we’ve shown everyone else we’re capable of it today.’
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