This is Luton's second home game of the season.
After the big win in the first game, the fans are now brimming with confidence in the team. Compared to the atmosphere of the first home game, the energy created by the Luton fans in this match is even stronger.
Gao Bo was not booed this time. Perhaps out of a sense of compensation, when he emerged from the players' tunnel, he received the loudest cheers—even louder than those for team captain Kevin Keane.
John Aston looked at the vibrant atmosphere of Worth Stadium with satisfaction. Not only were all the seats in the stadium filled, but outside, fans who couldn't get tickets had gathered along the stadium's perimeter. On nearby streets, the Luton city government had to deploy police to maintain order.
Last season, Luton was docked ten points due to financial issues, leaving the team in low spirits throughout the season and ultimately relegating them to League Two. Following a series of setbacks, Luton fans had lost the pride and spirit they once had during their time in the Championship.
It seems that victory truly works wonders. There's nothing a single win can't fix—if there is, then two wins will!
Gao Bo was still dressed in his black suit jacket, with a neatly pressed shirt accentuating his strong physique. He smiled, and as he heard the cheers from the fans, he waved to greet them. He didn't seem to mind the boos he had received during the first round of the league.
The fans, in turn, responded with even more enthusiastic cheers.
For Gao Bo, his emotional connection to the Luton team wasn't particularly deep. Before becoming their head coach, the only news he had ever seen about Luton in the papers was about their point deduction.
Although Gao Bo is a passionate football fan, he never chose a home team for himself, unlike most people. He enjoyed watching all kinds of matches and studying the psychology of players and coaches on both sides.
Perhaps this experience eventually led him to pursue a career as a football coach.
Confidence! The victory in the first game had instilled confidence not only in the fans but also in the players.
Nottingham Forest, in this match, did not field their full starting lineup. They had a mix of main squad players and substitutes, but their core players were still on the bench, ready to step in if necessary.
It was clear that Nottingham Forest wasn't willing to exit the League Cup too early. While many teams find the cup unappealing, it still felt like a loss to give it up outright.
"This game won't be easy," John Aston said to Gao Bo as they sat on the bench. He glanced at Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies, a well-known figure in England's lower leagues. Although Davies had no top-flight experience, he was highly regarded in the Championship and League One.
Unlike many English lower-league coaches who emphasize speed, physicality, and long balls, Billy Davies focused on possession and intricate coordination—a rare approach.
His style seemed to fit Nottingham Forest perfectly. The team was a long-standing proponent of technical football, even predating Arsenal.
"But the atmosphere in the stadium today is fantastic, much better than during the first league match!" John Aston remarked.
"If we keep winning, the cheers will only grow louder," Gao Bo replied.
"Winning consistently isn't easy, Gao…" John said, shaking his head.
"But isn't winning our goal in every match? It might not be easy, but how will we know unless we try?"
The players began lining up to enter the pitch as Gao Bo stood up, applauding alongside the fans.
Indeed, if the goal isn't to win, what's the point? And if you can win, why not?
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As expected, Nottingham Forest controlled the ball and gradually pushed their formation past the halfway line.
However, Nottingham Forest manager Billy Davies frowned.
Although his team had a significant share of possession, football isn't about who controls the ball more. If you can't send the ball into the opponent's goal, even 100% possession is meaningless—it would still end in a draw.
The Nottingham Forest players felt frustrated.
No matter where they had possession in the attacking third, it always seemed like the opponents had more players in that area.
While the players couldn't clearly discern Luton's formation from the pitch, Billy Davies could see it from the sidelines.
Compact.
Luton's formation was extremely tight, moving back and forth in unison, as though the players were connected by an invisible rope. This allowed them to outnumber Nottingham Forest in critical areas.
If only Nottingham Forest could move the ball quickly…
Billy Davies immediately recognized the weakness in Luton's formation. However, recognizing it was one thing—exploiting it was another.
Luton didn't just rely on tight formation movement; they also applied aggressive man-to-man marking. None of the Nottingham Forest players had the space to execute long passes under such pressure. Just holding onto possession without losing the ball was an achievement in itself.
Twenty minutes into the match, there was little to report. Nottingham Forest maintained possession without making mistakes, but neither team had managed a single shot.
Luton fans, however, remained exuberant. To them, Nottingham Forest and Luton weren't even on the same level—one was in the Championship, the other in League Two.
Gao Bo wasn't worried. He was pleased with the game so far. His team's defense was solid, limiting Nottingham Forest to passes in wide areas or on the perimeter.
As for shots? Both teams had a combined total of zero.
In Gao Bo's tactics, possession wasn't a priority. It wasn't surprising that Nottingham Forest dominated possession. For him, winning started with defense.
However, defense alone wouldn't win the match.
Gao Bo checked the game clock. It was the 23rd minute of the first half. Although Nottingham Forest had dominated possession, Gao Bo felt that Luton controlled the tempo.
This was the situation he had wanted. Nottingham Forest's possession felt harmless—a mere tickle to Luton's defense.
Luton had yet to reveal their true strength.
Now, it was time to change the rhythm.