Inevitably goals from David Johnson led to Forest beating Town 2-1 at the City Ground in match played in torrential rain. One in each half from the former Town hitman saw his side ahead with Town's only reply a late own goal from Gareth Williams.

Town lined-up exactly as they did against Coventry last week with top scorers Couñago and Ambrose both once again on the bench.

The game was only four minutes old when Johnson made his first telling contribution to the game. Town had been awarded a corner after a John McGreal cross threatened to dip under the bar.

Magilton's kick was claimed by Darren Ward in the Forest goal and the keeper quickly kicked long over the top and Johnson left Wilnis chasing him. Gerrard in the Town goal half came for it as Johnson got his head on the ball around the 18 yard-line and sent it looping into the Town net.

Johnson, who had received a warm welcome from his old fans prior to the kick-off, seemed unsure if the ball had gone in or not but eventually started his celebration.

It took to the 11th minute for Town to get a shot on goal, Clapham's effort saved by Ward from Wilnis' cross form the right. Four minute later Magilton hit a well struck shot wide of the post.

Despite being behind, Town were probably having the best of it and on 19 Armstrong's cross was just cut out with Darren Bent lurking. A fine Town move on 21 saw the young striker head a Clapham cross over the bar when he ought to have at least got it on target.

Jack Lester became the first player to get his name in referee Armstrong's book after having a pop at Jim Magilton off the ball. Shortly afterwards Harewood was penalised for repeatedly obstructing Gerrard as a succession of corners were sent in.

Forest began to have the better of it after the 30-minute mark and on 34 Prutton hit an effort which was easy for Gerrard. At the other end Bent hit a shot well wide from an Armstrong pass.

Harewood showed the wastefulness which characterised his loan spell at Portman Road in the 36th minute when he strayed offside as Lester and Johnson created a good opening for the home side. To compound his error his half-hearted shot went well wide of Gerrard's goal.

Despite scoring the goal which was the difference between the sides Johnson had had a quiet half. Typically, on 37, he almost doubled his side's lead when he latched onto a weak Magilton header but hit his shot across the face of the goal.

With six minutes of the half left Hreidarsson ended up in the book for a foul on Louis-Jean. From the resultant freekick the ball was cleared to Williams who fired wide.

Forest had ended the half well on top with the difficult conditions making it hard for either side to get their natural game going. For Town too many passes were going astray while neither side had created too many chances.

No changes at the break and Town were quickly on the attack, Wilnis taking advantage of a Brennan slip and sending in a cross from the right which almost sneaked in at the far post but was cleared for a corner.

From the kick the ball was cleared and eventually reached Magilton who sent in a cross which Darren Bent stabbed goalwards from eight yards. With the Town following behind the goal expecting a goal, Darren Ward's toe prevented it crossing the line and the ball was cleared.

It was Town's best chance so far and one which Bent really should have taken. Matt Holland volleyed wide a couple of minutes later as the Blues started the half strongly. Shortly afterwards Prutton received a yellow card for a foul on McGreal which left him looking injured.

Joe Royle decided to make two changes on 52, Pablo Couñago coming on for Darren Bent while Darren Ambrose replaced an unusually out of sorts Hermann Hreidarsson.

Just before the hour Holland hit a 20 yard shot just wide while for Forest Harewood headed a Lester cross past the post three minutes later.

From the goalkick the ball was played to Clapham who failed to find a Town player, at least a current one. The ball ran to Johnson in space who, more than 20 yards out and after one touch to set himself, rifled a shot beyond Gerrard into the net.

That goal rocked Town and it was pretty much all Forest for much of the rest of the game. Harewood put the ball wide not long after the goal while McGreal did well to get in a fine challenge on Johnson as he went looking for his hat-trick. On 70 Gerrard saved well from a Prutton shot.

Town should have got a goal back on 71 when Darren Ambrose placed a 10-yard effort to Ward's left. The keeper got a hand to the ball and it struck the post and rolled tantalisingly along the line and off the other post before it was cleared. Town had now failed to take two very good chances.

Jermaine Wright replaced Fabian Wilnis on the right after Ambrose's miss and not long afterwards Magilton had a shot blocked after a deep Town corner. Harewood continued his attempt to score against his former loan club and on 75 Gerrard saved his shot after the lanky striker had made a run down the right.

The Blues were pushing for a goal without too much real conviction but with two minutes left they gained a freekick on the left after Louis-Jean had fouled Clapham. Ambrose whipped the ball in and it flicked off Williams and the crossbar before nestling in the corner of the net.

This gave the Town fight back some momentum and woke up the largely quiet terraces. With a minute to go Prutton saw his second yellow card for a foul on Holland but despite throwing everything forward Town failed to create another clearcut chance.

A poor result in poor conditions against a side with a striker in top form, more annoyingly a former Town player. Johnson is clearly in one of his rich veins of form at present despite being anonymous for large periods of the game. However, he is paid for his goals and this afternoon's were his 19th and 20th of the season.

Neither side were at their best, the conditions wouldn't allow pretty football, but for Town there were far too many passes going astray and both goals were the result of bad defending. The solidity at the back so evident in recent games was missing while the few chances which were created were wasted.

Forest had clearly watched approach of many other sides playing against Town over recent years and defended in numbers, trying (and succeeding on Johnson's first goal) to catch Town on the break. An end to the short unbeaten run and a swift return to league form against Rotherham next week is imperative.

Town: Gerrard, Wilnis (Wright 71), Hreidarsson (Ambrose 52), McGreal, Gaardsøe, Makin, Holland, Magilton, Clapham, D Bent (Couñago 52), Armstrong.

Photo: Action Images

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