Former Town striker David Johnson scored twice as his Nottingham Forest side beat the Blues 2-1 and prevented Joe Royle's side from cementing their play-off place. Johnson netted in each half with Dean Bowditch scoring an equaliser for Town in the first period.

Joe Royle sprung a surprise with his line-up, recalling Drissa Diallo for the injured Tommy Miller, the Guinean international making up a back three along with John McGreal and Matt Elliott. Up front Dean Bowditch came in for Shefki Kuqi, while Kelvin Davis returned in goal after missing out against Gillingham.

David Johnson received a warm welcome from the Portman Road faithful prior to the kick-off, although there were a smattering of boos when he touched the ball early in the game.

It was Bowditch who was responsible for the early excitement, first making a strong run in from the left and then doing the same from the other flank before crossing to Matt Richards who shot wide from the edge of the box.

In the third minute Forest midfielder Andy Reid sent a freekick over Kelvin Davis's crossbar from 30 yards.

On 10 John McGreal's header from a Jim Magilton corner was cleared off the line. Magilton crossed back in and Matt Elliott headed back across goal but Forest managed to clear.

Town had had the best of it, although the visitors had looked good when breaking. However, in the 11th minute the Blues found themselves behind after a bad error from keeper Kelvin Davis.

Andy Reid played a ball over the top for Marlon King which the former Gillingham man did well to reach. Davis hesitated before half-coming out to King on his his right, leaving his goal unguarded. King played the ball across to David Johnson who had a simple job of slipping the ball into the empty net from the edge of the box.

Although the visitors had not been without a threat the goal was somewhat against the run of play. The Blues quickly sought to get back on terms and two minutes later Jermaine Wright hit a 25 yard shot which was well saved by former Town loanee Paul Gerrard, Darren Bent failing to create a second chance with the rebound.

Two minutes later Gerrard held on to a similar effort from Wright, before Andy Reid shot straight to Kelvin Davis at the other end.

On 23 Darren Bent headed a deep Jim Magilton corner wide. Play quickly switched to the other end where Davis made a fine save at Johnson's feet as Forest broke quickly.

Johnson had the ball in the net again on the half hour but from an offside position. Diallo had dispossessed Reid on the edge of the box, the ball running to Gareth Williams whose shot was well saved by Davis, the rebound falling to the former Town striker.

The Blues were back on terms in the 34th minute. Matt Richards played the ball across to Darren Bent, who left it for Dean Bowditch behind him. Bowditch struck a left-foot shot low, beyond Gerrard's right hand and into the corner of the net.

Town almost went ahead within a couple of minutes, Jim Magilton playing in Darren Bent on the left of the Forest box. Gerrard rushed off his line and sent Bent's shot up in the air, Westlake getting his head to the ball but Dean Bowditch unable to get in a vital touch.

Jim Magilton created a good chance for Bent inside the area on 38, the front man's shot saved by Gerrard. A minute later Bent shot wide when latching on to Bowditch's right-wing cross.

At the other end Alan Rodgers made a powerful run in from the left leaving Fabian Wilnis in his wake. He cut in past Diallo before running into trouble. As the half ended with Matt Richards having a shot blocked inside the area.

The Blues probably deserved to go in with better than the 1-1 scoreline, having enjoyed the majority of the play, particularly after Bowditch's equaliser.

The second half started with less incident than the first but on 54 Bowditch had his shot blocked after latching on to a Westlake cross.

But a minute later Johnson scored his second goal of the afternoon. Reid played the ball wide to the right where Eoin Jess was unmarked and allowed time to cross for David Johnson, who beat Drissa Diallo to the ball and headed into the net off the crossbar.

Joe Royle decided that a change was necessary and Martijn Reuser replaced the less than impressive Diallo, the Blues switching to their more regular 4-4-2. A minute or so later Royle added height and power to Town's attack, Richard Naylor taking over from Dean Bowditch.

Ian Westlake shot over the bar before Martijn Reuser missed a fine chance to put the Blues back on terms. Richard Naylor had broken on the right and laid the ball back to Reuser on the edge of the box with Gerrard out of position. The Dutchman perhaps suffered from a bobble as he struck his shot, the ball flying well over the bar.

Davis blocked first Johnson and then Reid on the edge of his area as Forest took advantage of a less than resolute second half performance from the Blues.

Richard Naylor picked up a yellow card for a foul on 68 for a foul on Michael Dawson, the defender somewhat over-reacting to the minor contact made between the pair.

The Blues ought to have had a second goal in the 71st minute when Bent beat Gerrard to the ball inside the area on the Town left. With the keeper well out of goal, Bent played the ball to Reuser who was in no position to shoot but crossed into Naylor but his awkward header went wide. Jermaine Wright and others inside the area had probably been better options.
Marlon King headed a Johnson cross over the bar a minute or so before Town made their final switch. Jim Magilton had injured his leg in a heavy challenge and required treatment. Shefki Kuqi took over as the Blues switched to a three-man forward line.

Jermaine Wright hit another 25 yard shot, this time over the bar on 78. Three minutes later Town were almost on terms. Fabian Wilnis ran on to a Reuser pass down the right and crossed into the box where Richard Naylor headed powerfully off the post.

The Town crowd were becoming increasingly frustrated with the time wasting of Paul Gerrard who took an age at every goal-kick. Referee Grant Hegley spoke to him on a number of occasions but failed to take any further action even when he deflected a throw from a ball-boy well into the field of play.

There was more reaction from the crowd in the 84th minute when former Blue Danny Sonner, by no means as popular a figure as Johnson, came on for Eoin Jess.

As the game moved towards the end Martijn Reuser was offered the opportunity to score a trademark freekick, Dawson having fouled Naylor just outside the area. The Dutchman's kick came off the wall, Reuser and several other Town players claiming that it had struck a defender's hand.

In injury time, by no means as extensive as it ought to have been, Reid forced Davis into a good save, the Irishman having been the pick of the Forest players as he had been when the two sides drew at the City Ground earlier in the season.

A disappointing result and one which opens up the play-off picture with West Ham, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace winning and Wigan and Sunderland playing out a draw. Town were on top in the first half but lost their way in the second, although they had enough chances to have at least won a point.

David Johnson applauded the North Stand at the end after proving to be the thorn in Town's side, despite having a largely quiet game.

Next week's game at Sheffield United now looks a must-win game if Cardiff's visit on the last day of the season isn't going to prove a very nervy afternoon.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Diallo (Reuser 56), Elliott, McGreal, Magilton (Kuqi 74), Wright, Westlake, Bowditch (Naylor 61), Bent.

Photo: Action Images

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