Two first-half Lewis Grabban goals saw Nottingham Forest to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Town at the City Ground. Grabban followed up a rebound to open the scoring in the ninth minute then, after Kayden Jackson had headed the Blues’ best opportunity wide, added the second on 38.

Blues boss Paul Lambert handed 18-year-old Jack Lankester his full debut and Teddy Bishop his first start of the season as he made four changes.

Academy product Lankester, the first player born in the 2000s to appear for the Town first team having previously made four sub appearances, started on the left of the midfield three with Bishop on the right, Trevoh Chalobah, who was among the subs, and Flynn Downes, who missed out on a place in the 18, having dropped out of the XI for the first time under Lambert.

Jackson came into the team for Jordan Roberts as the central striker with the ex-Crawley man also among the subs. Grant Ward, making his first appearance under Lambert, was on the right.

Skipper Luke Chambers was making his 300th appearance for the Blues against his old club in an unchanged back four.

Forest made three changes from the team which drew 5-5 at Villa on Wednesday with Michael Hefele in for the suspended Tobias Figueiredo, while Adlene Guedioura and Gil Dias took over from Claudio Yacob and Matty Cash, who dropped to the bench.

Ex-Blues loanee Jack Colback started, while former striker Daryl Murphy was among the subs having returned from illness.

Town made a bright start, Lankester sending Jackson away down the left but the former Accrington man’s cross was cut out.

On six Ward claimed a penalty when he looked to be tripped by Colback in the area, however neither the former Blues loanee nor referee James Linington were impressed.

But it was the home side who would take the lead with their first serious attack of the afternoon in the ninth minute.

Right-back Tendayi Darikwa struck a powerful shot from distance which Bialkowski couldn’t hold on to and former Canary Grabban followed up to net his 14th goal of the season. The ball appeared to move in the air but the Polish international, currently going through his toughest spell with the Blues, will again feel he ought to have done better.

Lankester, who has been with the Blues since he was six years old, created an opportunity for Jackson in the 15th minute, threading the ball through for the pacy frontman. However, he screwed his shot well wide.

Having gained their lead Forest confidently controlled the game but without forcing Bialkowski to make a save until the 23rd minute when Joe Lolley hit an effort from the right which the Pole claimed comfortably.

The Blues began to get back into the game and in the 25th minute they should have equalised.

Bishop brought the ball away from his man on halfway and took it forward before feeding Ward to his right. The former Spurs youngster whipped over a cross which Jackson flicked past Forest keeper Costel Pantilimon but also past his right post.

Jackson went close again two minutes later after catching Forest skipper Michael Dawson in possession. The striker brought the ball forward to the edge of the box before hitting a powerful effort which Pantilimon blocked. Lankester running in on the loose ball with Gil Dias was only able to direct it back to the keeper.

Town had briefly begun to look the more likely scorers of the game’s next goal but right on the half-hour the home side almost doubled their lead.

Darikwa crossed from the right to the far post and Joao Carvalho nodded back across the face and struck the opposite upright.

It was a lucky escape for the Blues, who subsequently found themselves pressed back in their half as Forest dominated possession.

And in the 38th minute they scored a well-worked second goal. Carvalho found Darikwa on the right and the Zimbabwean international sent the ball across the face of goal to Grabban, who found the net at the far post to take his total for the season to 15, all of them in the space of the last 15 games.

Forest, with their confidence having unsurprisingly increased since their second goal, put the Blues under more and more pressure as half-time approached, Darikwa hitting a 42nd-minute shot from distance that Bialkowski palmed over. Following the corner, Colback shot over.

Skuse was booked for a foul on Lolley moments before the fourth official held up a board indicating four further minutes.

The half ended with Forest deserving their lead having been on top and in control for most of the period.

Bialkowski will feel he should have held on to Darikwa’s shot for the first goal, although it was hit with power, while Grabban shouldn’t have been allowed to reach the rebound first. For the second goal Forest slickly passed their way through the Blues’ defence.

Town’s best chance was Jackson’s header at 1-0 which the frontman probably should have put away but other than that and his shot from distance soon afterwards the Blues had rarely threatened.

The Blues needed an early second-half goal if they were to get anything from the game and in the first minute following the restart Knudsen crossed from the left, the ball reached Jordan Spence beyond the far post but the former West Ham right-back was unable to get a clean contact on his volley.

Forest almost made it 3-0 two minutes later when they hit the woodwork for the second time. Carvalho sent over a freekick from the left which Michael Hefele headed on to Bialkowski’s right post and into the keeper’s arms.

Sears hit a looping effort from distance which Pantilimon turned over, then at the other end Cole Skuse blocked a shot from Lolley.

Lankester feinted his way into space before hitting a defender with a shot from distance prior to Hefele picking up a booking for a foul on Ward.

Grabban was inches way from his hat-trick in the 58th minute, outpacing Chambers and then the advancing Bialkowski for a ball played down the Forest left. The 30-year-old, who netted twice in the 5-5 draw with Villa, looped a shot from a tight angle towards goal but the ball bounced off the top of the bar and over.

Moments later Town made a double substitution with Jackson and Ward making way for Roberts and Chalobah.

The Blues were making little headway as they sought an unlikely comeback, however, on 70 Lankester curled a 25-yard strike only just past Pantilimon’s right post.

Two minutes later, the Blues swapped Bishop, who had shown glimpses of the form which made him one of the stars of Town’s 2014/15 play-off campaign, for Jon Nolan.

Forest had been happy to sit in and prevent Town from getting a foothold back in the game for much of the second half but on 73 Lolley burst through a number of Blues before hitting a low shot from the edge of the box which Bialkowski grabbed down to his left.

Pantilimon was booked for time-wasting in the 82nd minute, somewhat needlessly with Forest looking comfortable despite the Blues seeing more of the ball in the latter stages.

Knudsen blocked from Grabban from an angle on the right on 85, then a minute later seemed certain to complete his hat-trick a minute later when found unmarked in the centre of the area, however, Matthew Pennington made a superb saving challenge as he prepared to shoot.

That was the two-goal striker’s final action of the afternoon with Karim Ansarifard replacing him for the final two and a half minutes.

The sub missed a golden chance to make it 3-0 a minute after coming on but scuffed wide having been found unmarked and with time to pick his spot by Dias. After seven minutes of injury time the Blues’ third successive defeat was confirmed by referee Linington.

The Blues had never looked like getting anything from the game in the second half with the match having been all but won before the break.

Forest were happy enough to stick with their two-goal lead for the most part but were unfortunate not to add to it via their two second-half efforts which hit the woodwork, while Lankester, one of the Blues’ brighter performers on his full debut, was unlucky that his curling effort didn’t arc inside the post.

The game took a predictable path after Forest had scored their early first-half goal with the home side, who are up to fifth, never really looking in any trouble.

Town remain bottom now seven points from safety with 21st-placed Reading having drawn 2-2 with Stoke City, who the Blues visit next Saturday, while Bolton, 22nd, drew 1-1 with Wigan and Hull, now 19th, won 3-2 at QPR. The gap could extend to nine if Millwall win at Bristol City on Sunday.

Nottingham Forest: Pantilimon, Darikwa, Dawson (c) (Osborn 79), Hefele, Robinson, Guedioura, Colback, Dias (Cash 90), Carvalho, Lolley, Grabban (Ansarifard 88). Unused: Steele, Murphy, Janko, Yacob, Ansarifard.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Chambers (c), Pennington, Knudsen, Skuse, Ward (Chalobah 59), Bishop (Nolan 72), Lankester, Sears, Jackson (Roberts 59). Unused: Gerken, Donacien, Rowe, Dozzell. Referee: James Linington (Newport IoW). Att: 27,873.

Photos: Pagepix

blueboy1981 added 20:21 - Dec 1 I'm beginning to wonder if some of these players are playing for Lambert ? - after seeing the goals again I just cannot believe we are so benevolent. This is currently no better than Sunday League defending - if as good !
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Walk_the_Wark added 20:25 - Dec 1 Part of the problem is that Lambert clearly wants the ball on the ground and played out from the back. We don't currently have the experience/quality/confidence. However we are playing football, honestly and positively for the first time since Magilton. I have every confidence in our future long term if Lambert stays
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Walk_the_Wark added 20:25 - Dec 1 Part of the problem is that Lambert clearly wants the ball on the ground and played out from the back. We don't currently have the experience/quality/confidence. However we are playing football, honestly and positively for the first time since Magilton. I have every confidence in our future long term if Lambert stays
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BluePatriot added 20:26 - Dec 1 I don't know how any of tbe players can call themselves Professional. They all need to man up grow some balls and start earning the wages by playing football to win Not capitulating most weeks
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blueboy1981 added 20:29 - Dec 1 Shame we are as we are right now - the Sun is shining down the other end of the A140 whilst we are suffering the beast from the East, and in so doing showing that even after losing Maddison, Farke is truly showing what can be achieved with a mix of youth and european players, and picking the right ones. A far cry now from what they were earlier in the season.
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TimmyH added 20:33 - Dec 1 Looking at those 'highlights'...Chambers got a way with 2 in that 2nd half, just ambling back from that long ball and overtaken and the usual confusion with Bart ensues...he really needs to be dropped.
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Northstandveteran added 20:40 - Dec 1 The reason Sunderland still get good gates, Manchester city got good gates and to some degree Norwich did is because they had all been in the top flight a few years previously. Ever since administration ( with the exception of Joe Royle's miracles ) this club has steadily but surely been in decline. I read somewhere??? That because of the lack of sky money, ticket prices may remain at there constant price levels? Is anyone really going to pay £30 to watch us play Accrington? What will Portman road feel like with 8,000 fans in attendance? What would happen if Evans ( even without calling in his debts ) was to call it a day? Bigger picture people, the club would be in serious danger of being wound up and ceasing to exist.

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Geoff added 20:43 - Dec 1 I am a town fan Get me out of here
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warktheline added 20:48 - Dec 1 It is what it is, going down is a forgone certainty, get used to it and adapt to the situation till end of season! Lambert has inherited an extremely poor squad of players, ( Championship level) not just in ability but mentality! Lambert has been 'talking the talk' ( and continues to do so) but there's no doubting he knows 'most' of the players can't 'walk the walk'! The 'big problem' here is Lambert's 'rhetoric' boring the locals before May arriving! Personally I can't wait to see Chambers and Knudsen exit, but Lambert requires time and patience to mound and mount his 'own' team to strive forward in division 1! January will again 'test' Evans resolve and by jove he's 'skating on thin ice' with fore coming attendances! Lambert will also be 'closely watched' as 'disillusionment' grips Suffolk! Blooding and 'testing' Dozzell, Bishop and co, aided by new recruitment is surely the way forward ! Lets not forget Hapless Hurst 'half baked plan' has left the club with 'very good lower division players' thus I'd suggest 'no pain no gain' but be assured good days are a coming, IF ALL from top to bottom associated with Ipswich Town stick together, that my friends I'm a guaranteeing!

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mattwin added 20:53 - Dec 1 If we sum up all of these comments on here from the last 14 years we have had nothing to get excited about in that time!! Yes of course as fans we will stick with the boys because there our club but surely the law of averages says we've got to have something that excites us soon
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RobsonWark added 20:54 - Dec 1 Thank you ITFCsince73. I thought I was going crazy. It gets to me sooooo much that he plays week in week out when he is soooooooooooooooooooooo totally rubbish. He couldn't get in a Sunday morning league team. There must be better U16's than him!
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blueboy1981 added 21:15 - Dec 1 Lambert is doing what has to be done - trying to keep the spirits up by chosen words, but at the same time assessing who has what he wants, and who he would want to move forward with. The task will not be an easy or short one, we can only hope that he is around long enough to see it through - there's no one out there better, who would be keen to take this lot on, that's for sure. Other Clubs will be aware of the situation he is in, and would feel reasonably confident of being able to tempt away. Hope it's for the long term, but don't be surprised at anything, short, or medium term.

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blueboy1981 added 21:20 - Dec 1 Bart ?? - being player of the season for the past three years, it just doesn't add up, although he couldn't be expected to keep the heroics up indefinitely. Just not at all sure as to what is going on right now. The difference is unbelievable, keepers lose form, but this smacks of something totally different.
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blueboy1981 added 21:23 - Dec 1 People talk about acquiring Premier standard players - get real people - What tree do they grow on, and would want to come here ?? Hate to say it - but we have to do it the Norwich way - it's working, and who can deny that ??
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Michael101 added 21:32 - Dec 1 Easy to be wise after the event,but Webster would be the type of player Mr Lambert would love to have in his team,anybody know where we could find a couple like that??
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blues1 added 21:34 - Dec 1 Im sure ill most likely get downmarked for this but, as a younger fan outside the ground at halftime said to me, i dont think evans should bother to spend any money in january. For 1, the jan window is notoriously hard for signing players, whatever position you are in the league. Let alone bottom. And 2, its almost certain we are going down regardless so better to save the money till the summer window so lambert can sign the players he feels will give us the best chance of coming back up.

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Norwichbeater added 22:01 - Dec 1 I don't comment on here often however I am consistent. Look at my previous posts. I commented on Bart suddenly not even looking like a goal keeper. He has to be dropped and I hope that there though isn't any alternative motive from him. My suspicions are there but I hope it is just a confidence issue. This loss of form has happened in patterns over the last few years. He can't be playing at the moment. Chambers and spence and Knudsen very poor also.

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midastouch added 22:01 - Dec 1 I wonder if Lambert might try and persuade Evans to gamble on a decent striker on loan in hoping they can put out the relegation fires! It's a tall order but if we sign somebody permanently the chances are we are going down and we'll be lumbered with Championship wages in League One. At least if we get somebody decent on loan we can push the boat out a bit more knowing no matter what the outcome (and we know the outcome is very likely to be relegation given we're still sitting on just 11 points!) the player can return to their club at the end of the season. A really hungry striker might be able to give us an outside chance of Mission Impossible but they would need to be of a higher calibre than we could probably afford to buy (or at least more than Evans would be willing to pay in an actual transfer). So I'd rather we try and gamble on a couple of decent Premier League loans if Lambert can pull such a rabbit out of the hat. It's a calculated gamble. If you weigh up the cost of the wages of such a player (and we might only have to pay a percentage of the wages if the player is sitting on the bench at his current club) then even if we had to pay as much as we did for wages for Bullard, if that player can fire goals to give us an outside chance of pulling off a great escape, then those wages would look like chump change compared to the loss in revenue of dropping down a league. All that said, going down could go 1 of 2 ways. We might do a Coventry and sink into obscurity, or we might actually start to play the young guns (our hand will be forced to an extent as we'll need to reduce the wages even further and playing the likes of Folami in League One could actually be a blessing in disguise) and rebuild through the youth and be all the better for it. If Evans is continually going to spend very little and each season is going to be a fight for Championship survival, then would it really be so bad to drop a league and then get to see us win a few games. On our small budget that is in all truth about our level. I'd be a lot more excited to go and watch several of our academy players promoted to the first team playing some nice football in League One than a load of journey man scrapping away for another 10 or 20 years in the Championship! The young guns might just gel and play some lovely stuff that gets us back into the Championship with a team that might actually be able to compete again! We can't afford to buy success in this league, so let's nurture our own and start afresh!

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Walk_the_Wark added 22:46 - Dec 1 Forgot to add- I lost count of the number of times Teddy turned, looked, swivelled and played a pass into space for a player to run on to, and they were fast asleep. He kept trying to up the tempo and make something happen but those around him weren't on the same level. We have a crop of U23's who in two or three years if we keep them will be excellent.
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CornishMariner added 23:15 - Dec 1 We are currently the most charitable club in the Championship - yeah! No matter how badly other teams have been playing we can guarantee that we will gift them goals and an evening, warm in the glow of three easy points. Merry Christmas fellow teams.
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RobsonWark added 23:59 - Dec 1 midastouch are you taking the piss? We could have Messi, Ronaldo and Bale up front but as long as we still have captain fantastic Chambers in the team we will always lose. Wake up smell the coffee you stupid idiots. Watch the highlights each each week please.
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runningout added 03:34 - Dec 2 Think we need to drop a bombshell on this squad. Players have got to be mentally strong as a unit, not the few. Still love them all too much :-)
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:45 - Dec 2 Someone above (sorry, can't be bothered to scroll back and find out your name) said that it was wrong to blame Paul Hurst for our current troubles. This is true. The decline has been going on for much longer than his time here. Paul Hurst's tenure didn't exactly help, but things would have been bad with or without his little interlude. The only thing we can do is to sit tight and ride out the storm. Isn't it supposed to be a law of the physical universe that all actions have an equal and opposite reaction? At least we have someone at the helm who seems to inspire confidence. In a few years, ITFC will be in the Premier and Naarwich will be in League 1 (ahem!) In the meantime, I am almost beginning to think League 1 might be more fun than the Championship.

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bluearmy4life added 07:09 - Dec 2 Swn98- Paul Lambert has left or walked away from jobs in the past, I can't see him being here next season, never in a million years. Hope I am proved wrong.
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midastouch added 07:17 - Dec 2 @ RobsonWark get your spectacles on, where did I say we will survive? I said right from the start of the season I thought we'd be dicing with death given the short odds the bookmakers had us to go down. All I'm thinking is Sears has picked up, if we could pair him with somebody else it would give us an outside chance but I realise it's a slim chance at best! Until it's mathematically impossible then we should at least try to fight our way out of the pocket but with our charitable defenders (and goalkeeper on current alarming form), it's going to be a very tall order indeed! If they could somehow iron out the sloppy errors and we could get somebody up top with Sears to make us more potent (Harrison missed some chances today) then we would have a small chance of closing the gap on 1 or 2 above.

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