The Town began life without Rob Edwards by exiting the FA Cup at Nottingham Forest.

It was a goal in each half that condemned the Hatters to an 11th straight defeat on the road against a much-changed Forest side.

However, the Town had chances, with Liam Walsh and Tom Holmes going close – but focus will now attention on climbing the Championship table.

With Mick Harford, Paul Trollope and Richie Kyle in temporary charge, the Hatters side showed one change to the team that lost at QPR on Monday with new signing Izzy Jones given his debut after signing from Middlesbrough.

And the Town’s new man showed glimpses of his pace and trickery in the first half going close to opening the scoring following a mazy run.

Forest created the game’s first big chance only for Taiwo Awoniyi to drag his shot wide of the target when free inside the box on 17 minutes.

But back came the Town, and Walsh’s fine drive from distance box looked destined for the top corner but Forest goalkeeper Carlos Miguel flew away to his left to turn away the shot with an excellent stop.

On 22 minutes the Hatters crossbar was trembling after Ryan Yates’ effort from 25 yards kissed the woodwork with Thomas Kaminski beaten as Forest upped the ante.

As half-chances came the way of both sides it was the hosts that finally broke the deadlock five minutes before half-time. Ramon Sosa delivered an enticing cross from the left and Yates buried a header in the bottom corner.

After the restart Awoniyi spurned a great chance to double the home side’s lead just three minutes into the second period but the Town were forced into two early changes with Lamine Fanne and Zack Nelson both withdrawn.

Goalmouth action was at a premium, however, and it wasn’t until the 68th minute that Forest doubled their lead. Jota Silva hared down the right flank and delivered a low pinpoint cross into the path of Sosa who swept home from close range.

As the Hatters looked for a way back into the tie, Holmes saw a back-post header cleared off the line by the hosts’ Morato on 71 minutes following Walsh's corner before substitute Jacob Brown saw his low shot saved by Miguel.

Forest, with eyes on a clash with Liverpool in the Premier League on Tuesday, made a quadruple substitution with 13 minutes remaining and one of those, Callum Hudson-Odoi, wasn’t far away from adding a third with a run and shot that flew narrowly over the bar.

But the Hatters kept going. Carlton Morris’ header was stopped by Miguel with seven minutes left before the Town captain was crowded out with the goal at his mercy in stoppage time.

However, there was no dramatic finish and Forest were left to celebrate their passage into round four.

For the Hatters, it’s back to the Championship and Kenilworth Road next weekend when Preston come to town. We’ll see you then. UTT.

Town: Kaminski, Walters, Bell, McGuinness, Holmes, Jones (sub Adebayo 69), Nakamba, Nelson (sub Brown 57), Walsh, Lamine Fanne (sub Clark 49) Morris.

Subs: Krul, Andersen, Krauß, Woodrow, Mpanzu, Hashioka.

Attendance: 29,445, including 1,862 backing the Hatters.