A single goal was enough to give Forest all three points and keep alive a slim chance of automatic promotion.

The first half lacked pace and, although Luton looked no threat at all, Forest lacked control and apart from the occasional burst forward failed to impress.

The second half was much more lively and Forest got the only goal of the game while Luton rarely looked like scoring.

After a scrappy start it was 11 minutes before either side put a good move together. Julian Bennett got away down the left and fed the ball to Nathan Tyson who put in a great cross. KrisCommons almost got a touch on the ball but Don Hutchison tackled well to clear the danger.

Commons did better a few minutes later with a curling shot which forced Dean Brill to dive to his right to put the ball out for a corner.

And from Commons' corner Ian Breckin's touch at the near post was cleared off the line.

The game was half an hour old before Forest had another chance but Commons' effort didn't have much power behind it and, in spite of a slight deflection, Brill made the save easily.

And Forest came close again when Commons' cross was knocked down by Wes Morgan to Chris Cohen whose volley was only just wide.

But it was a poor first half, with Forest failing to take advantage, and with Hutchinson keeping Tyson under control there was nobody up front to create any further chances.

Brett Ormerod was replaced by Garath McCleary at half time and, with Forest looking much more lively, he produced a terrific cross which was only justover the head of Tyson.

Luton came close when Darren Currie's cross to the far post found Sam Parkin and his shot touched the crossbar before it went over.

The away side had another chance from a corner when Paul Smith was only just able to punch the ball away as far as MatthewSpring whose shot was blocked by Julian Bennett.

Ed Asafu-Adjaye picked up the first yellow card of the game when he brought Tyson down after the Forest player had made a good run down the left.

Forest finally took the lead in the 67^th minute after Commons got past two defenders down the left and crossed the ball to McCleary. He nodded across the face of goal to Tyson who must have had three goes at scoring in a crowded box before forcing the ball past Brill and a Luton defender.

And Sammy Clingan almost got a quick second when the ball came out to him from the corner and his effort from 25 yards out was only just wide of the post.

When Luton made a quick break Smith had to make two saves first from Spring's powerful effort which he knocked away and then Lewis Emanuel's effort from the right.

A short ball from Commons found Chris Cohen on the edge of the box and he curled the ball just wide but the ball took a deflection for a Forest corner.

Lewis McGugan came on for Commons with six minutes of the game remaining and his corner gave Forest a chance when the ball came in high to Morgan who headed towards goal, forcing Brill to tip over the crossbar.

And Brill had to make another save when McCleary crossed the ball in to Tyson whose effort was blocked by the Luton keeper, his final save of the game.

Nottingham Forest: Paul Smith, Ian Breckin(C), Wes Morgan, Julian Bennett, Luke Chambers, James Perch, Sammy Clingan, Chris Cohen, Kris Commons(Lewis McGugan85min), Brett Ormerod(Garath McCleary, 45minHT), Nathan Tyson(Matt Thornhill 90+2min)

Subs: Kelvin Wilson, James Reid,
Scorer: Tyson 67min

Luton Town: Dean Brill, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Lewis Emanuel, Sol Davis, Matthew Spring, Stephen O'Leary, Don Hutchison, Paul McVeigh(Calvin Andrew 76min), Darren Currie, Sam Parkin, Keith Keane (C)
Subs: Steve Robinson, Richard Langley, Richard Jackson, Marlon Beresford
Bookings: Asafu-Adjaye 56min

Referee: D S McDermid
Attendance: 17,331 Away attn:783