Kal Naismith’s penalty gave Luton Town a precious victory of 1-0 over play-off rivals Nottingham Forest at Kenilworth Road.

After a handball by Forest midfielder Jack Colback, while attempting to stop a cross from James Bree at the right-hand edge of the area, Naismith scored from the penalty spot eight minutes before halftime.

Fulham will clinch promotion back to the Premier League if they win at relegation-threatened Derby later on Friday, thanks to the outcome.

Luton moved a point ahead of Forest after winning, despite playing the final 13 minutes with ten men after defender Sonny Bradley was sent off.

After fouling Sam Surridge, Hatters skipper Bradley was issued a second yellow card.

After deftly avoiding two challenges, Philip Zinckernagel almost scored a wonderful late equalizer, but his shot hit the post.

Forest finished the game with ten men as on-loan Aston Villa forward Keinan Davis went off a few minutes before the final whistle, despite the visitors having used all three of their replacements.

Djed Spence had a goal disallowed for offside after running down the right and blasting past keeper James Shea early in the second half for the East Midlands, who had won their previous five Championship games in a 10-game unbeaten league run.

Fred Onyadinma, on the other hand, touched the ball while attempting to keep it from reaching Spence, who was thus onside.

Bradley’s ejection was also controversial, as Zinckernagel’s contact with the ball put Surridge in an offside position before he was hauled down.

Forest will also be disappointed with wasted opportunities to equalize, the finest of which went to Zinckernagel, who headed Brennan Johnson’s cross straight at Shea shortly after coming on as a substitute.