Luton vs. Nottingham Forest Predictions: Steve Cooper’s side can make it six wins on the spin

Fulham may be on course to secure the Championship title but behind them there’s all to play for in the riveting race for automatic promotion and chaotic scramble for the prized play-off places. Two teams bang in the top-six mix lock horns on Good Friday when Luton (5th) welcome Nottingham Forest (4th) to Kenilworth Road, live on Sky Sports at 12.30pm...

When it comes to deciding the Championship Manager of the Year, Nathan Jones and Steve Cooper will both surely be in the conversation. Jones has Luton challenging for a first-ever promotion to the Premier League, while Cooper - appointed in September - has catapulted Forest from the relegation zone right into the play-off party as he seeks a third consecutive top-six finish; having reached the play-offs with Swansea in the last two seasons.

Forest are the in-form Championship team right now, peaking at just the right time with five wins on the spin. A six successive triumph would propel the club above Huddersfield up to 3rd to within three points of 2nd-placed Bournemouth who face a tough test against Middlesbrough later in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Luton go searching for a first win in four games following draws against Millwall and Peterborough plus a defeat to play-off rivals Huddersfield. A victory on home soil against Forest would not only galvanise the club ahead of a crunch month but ping them above their opponents into 4th.

It’s Forest who head into the game as the narrow 8/5 favourites to claim the spoils, Luton are priced at 2/1 to get back to winning ways, whereas a draw can be backed at 23/10.

There’s no getting away from the fact that Luton have been brilliant this season, surpassing all expectations. Yet they’re enduring a minor wobble at such a pivotal point in the season, with this their worst winless drought since November. After a defeat to Huddersfield, Jones’ injury-hit Hatters must now motivate themselves for the visit of a Nottingham Forest side brimming with confidence, intent and goals.

Only Liverpool have beaten Forest in their last 13 matches in all competitions, highlighting the great shape the club is in right now as they chase a place in the Premier League for the first time this century.

Unbeaten in 10 league games, Forest have stamped five straight wins on the board during which they’ve been rampant in front of goal, scoring 15 times. They’ve been victorious in 10 of their 14 Championship clashes in 2022, losing just once in that time, while they’ve only been defeated on the road twice in 16 games stretching back to August. As a result, they’ve piled the pressure on the likes of Bournemouth and Huddersfield, making it difficult to look past them at 8/5 for a sixth successive win on Friday.

Nottingham Forest’s fine form this year coincides with Brennan Johnson who has fired in nine Championship goals in his last 13 matches, including four in his most recent four games.

The 20-year-old, who is reportedly on Leeds United’s radar, has accumulated a total of 14 goals and eight assists on the board this season and will no doubt cause Luton a plethora of problems.

We therefore really like the look of Johnson at 13/5 (bet365) to continue his superb sustained goalscoring run by getting his name on the scoresheet once again on Friday. He could also be well worth considering to score in a Forest win at just shy of 9/1 with the same bookmaker; a bet that has landed in three of his last four Championship matches.