The 1-1 draw, in which Rea scored at both ends, was a tightly contested fixture at Kenilworth Road and one Town may look back on wishing they claimed all three points, after Forest were reduced to 10 men inside the first half.

However, after remaining ninth in the table, Rea was keen to focus on the positive week the Hatters have had thus far.

“The way they went down to 10 men felt like we did really well in the first half, we should have taken that confidence to go again in the second half.

“They sat in and did well to be fair, it was just unfortunate it’s an own goal, but I think it’s a positive to go away to Sheffield Wednesday, get three points and then come here tonight and get a point. They’re a very good team so we will take it and move on to Saturday.”

The 26-year-old scored his first goal for the club since October 2018 in a 2-0 home win against Walsall and whilst it was a nice feeling to score at one end, he felt disappointed by the goal that went in off him for Nottingham Forest.

“It was nice to get a goal, my first for a while, so I will take heart from that," he said. "It's just a bit of a shame about the one at the other end, but it is what it is.

“The gaffer to be fair said that he (Yates) makes runs into the box so I tried to track, I’m tracking him, and I’ve turned round and it has just come off me. I think I should have done better with it, but again, we take the point.”

The Hatters sit a point below the play-off places and after a good start, Rea insists: “100 per cent we’re progressing. It’s a great, great group in there and we’re all confident this is going to be a good year for us.

“Games are coming thick and fast, so today is gone, we will de-brief it and we’ve got to move on for Saturday because it’s another big test and we will be ready for it one million per cent.”