Town continued their excellent run with a deserved 1-0 win over David Platt's ailing Nottingham Forest side at the City Ground.

An unchanged Town dominated the majority of the game and there could, and should, have been far more goals to celebrate.

Early on David Johnson was upended by Chris Doig as he ran into the box. It looked an obvious penalty but referee Styles saw otherwise. A couple of minutes later James Scowcroft sent a diving header straight at Dave Beasant in the Forest goal.

Jim Magilton ran the show in midfield with Forest rarely showing anything except through striker Stern John who looked a class above his compatriots and had some neat moments. He went closest with a shot that went over Richard Wright and then the bar and just before half-time when he struck Wright's right post.

Town came closest when a John McGreal cross was only inches from the toe of David Johnson. Over all, though Town were in the driver's seat and it was looking like there might be the possibility of another Tranmere/Norwich type afternoon of frustration.

Forest changed things around a bit at half-time and looked a brighter side for the first ten minutes or so. Town continued to create chances with Matt Holland having a few opportunities when he should have come closer.

David Johnson was also getting a few shots in, but most were too close to the keeper. Jamie Clapham and Jim Magilton were also lining themselves up for goes at goal which weren't getting near the target and Town fans were wondering if it was another afternoon when what should have been three points end up being one.

At the other end there was little of quality from the home side and a goal would have been a travesty.

Mick Stockwell was replaced by Jermaine Wright in the 67th minute and moments later the former Crewe and Wolves player should have scored. A ball played through saw him one on one with the 'keeper, but he struck the Beasant.

A few moments later the ageing custodian rushed out of his goal and ploughed into David Johnson several yards outside the area taking the ball off the striker's head. Matt Holland was following up and sent the ball looping towards goal when Chris Doig headed it over.

It seemed the goal would never come, but in the 78th minute Wayne Brown sent in a cross which David Johnson headed against Beasant. The striker tried to get a rebound in, but only mis-kicked the ball to Matt Holland who struck home.

Town defended out the remaining eleven minutes with the only scare coming when Stern John took a thoroughly implausible dive as Richard Wright went down in front of him. The striker was correctly booked.

Nine points out of the last nine then and only five points off the top. Crystal Palace on Tuesday and another excellent chance to extend that run.

R Wright 7 Little wrong

Croft 7 Good runs down right

McGreal 8 Looked very solid

Mowbray 7 Organised many an offside

Brown 7 Another good game, should work on his passing though

Clapham 7 Some good work, but his shooting was poor

Holland 8 Goal taken well and busy as ever

Magilton 9 Ran the midfield

Stockwell 8 Ran his heart out (J Wright 67)

Johnson 7 Unlucky not to score

Scowcroft 7 Won much in the air

Photo: Action Images

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