D-Day for Forest as they face deduction

NOTTINGHAM FOREST are expected to learn today if they will be hit with a points deduction for breaching spending limits. Since they returned to the Premier League, 42 players have arrived at the City Ground for more than £250million, with more hits than misses — and it is a policy that landed them in hot water when they were charged with breaking profit and sustainability rules in January. Say the names of Giulian Biancone, Omar Richards or Hwang Ui-jo and most fans would quizzically look at you, but these are evidence of Forest’s expensive transfer mistakes. The verdict from the Premier League is now due, in the latest twist of a season tainted by uncertainty, one that is likely to be decided as much by what happens off the pitch as on it. Just how crucial Luke Berry’s last-gasp equaliser was in the survival battle will become clearer in time, but it felt like a huge moment for Luton. Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo pledged his side would battle on. ‘I’m disappointed because I think we did enough to take three points,’ he said. ‘Let’s wait and see with the decision. Whatever happens, we keep on going and fighting. Nine games to go, we have nine finals.’

In more positive news for Forest, Chris Wood’s £15m arrival from Newcastle seemed to be another of those expensive mistakes after three goals in his first 19 games. But since Nuno arrived Wood has been reborn and notched his seventh in 10 games at Luton to outline his status as Forest’s unlikely hero of the season. With uncertainty over points deductions for their rivals, and the prospect of appeals dragging on past the end of the season, Luton boss Rob Edwards admitted he was not quite sure how to deal with everything.

‘It is quite chaotic and new for us all,’ he said. ‘There have been a lot of first-time experiences this season we’re having to deal with.’ LUTON TOWN (3-4-2-1): Kaminski 6.5; Burke 7.5, Mengi 7.5, Kabore 6; Ogbene 7, Mpanzu 7.5 (Townsend 60min), Barkley 7, Doughty 6 (Woodrow 46, 6.5); Clark 6.5 (Berry 85), Chong 6.5; Morris 6.5.

Scorer: Berry 0. Booked: Kabore. Manager: Rob Edwards 7.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST (4-2-3-1): Sels 6.5; Williams 7, Boly 7, Murillo 7.5, Toffolo 6.5; Yates 7, Sangare 7; Origi 7.5 (Hudson-Odoi 75, 6), GIBBS-WHITE 8.5 (Dominguez 82), Elanga 7.5; Wood 8 (Felipe 75, 6). Scorer: Wood 34.

Booked: Toffolo, Sels.

Manager: Nuno Espirito Santo 6.5. Referee: Darren England 6.

Attendance: 11,630.