Forest outclass rivals

08 January 2010 22:13

Nottingham Forest leapfrogged West Brom into the Coca-Cola Championship automatic promotion places courtesy of a superb 3-1 win in which they outclassed their opponents in almost every department.

The result takes Forest's unbeaten run to 17 games and is a true testament to the work done by Billy Davies in the 12 months since his appointment, when the Reds sat just one place above the drop zone.

Dexter Blackstock volleyed the visitors into the lead after 18 minutes and although Albion were well below par, Forest displayed their true promotion credentials to send a clear warning to those fighting for promotion to the Barclays Premier League.

Radoslaw Malewski volleyed home a certain contender for goal of the season before Chris Cohen struck from the edge of the area to put Forest into a 3-0 lead by the 64th minute.

And although substitute Roman Bednar netted a consolation for the Baggies - the first goal Forest had conceded in almost nine hours of football - it was the East Midlands outfit who deservedly took the spoils.

Forest took the lead when Blackstock won a corner in a tussle with Jonas Olsson and then managed to break free of Albion new boy Gabriel Tamas before volleying Malewski's set-piece in off the near post from eight yards.

West Brom head coach Roberto Di Matteo introduced Bednar in place of the ineffective Luke Moore at the interval to try and spark a response.

But his side found themselves with a mountain to climb in the 53rd minute when they were undone by more hesitant defending amid a shaky restart. Tamas' half-cleared header was picked up by Guy Moussi, he spread the ball out to Chris Gunter on the right and his cross to the back post was emphatically volleyed home off the crossbar by Malewski.

And the game was effectively over as a contest three minutes later as more intricate approach play was finished off with a fine strike into the bottom left corner by Cohen.

The Albion fans that left after the third goal missed their side pull one back shortly after the hour mark when Bednar converted Graham Dorrans' incisive pass across the penalty area.

Source: PA