Norwich City 2 Nottingham Forest 1

Last updated : 10 September 2011 By Mark Burchett and John Maiden.

Norwich City reclaim second position in the Championship after edging an open pulsating game of football against Nottingham Forest at Carrow Road, writes Mark Burchett and John Maiden..

The game had started so badly for the home side after keeper John Ruddy's poor clearance landed at the feet of Nathan Tyson, who tucked it away in only the 3rd minute. But the Canaries were level within seven minutes through Grant Holt's header, who then turned provider for Andrew Surman to put them in front in the 37th minute.

Not surprisingly Forest looked for an equaliser in the second half without really trouble the City rearguard. Paul Lambert ensured his side finished with the three points, bringing on defensive players to see the game out professionally.

Despite the City boss playing down Holt's chances of starting, after he'd finished the Watford game struggling with his hamstring, he took his place up front; joined by Simeon Jackson who had got that valuable equaliser after coming off the bench at Watford on Tuesday night.

Holt's appearance over-shadowed the start by Wes Hoolahan, who had missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.

Both sides came out wearing black armbands, marking the 22nd anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy and past a bouquet of red carnations laid on the pitch by a Forest fan.

Norwich conceded a goal inside the third minute when Nathan Tyson's outstretched left leg blocked John Ruddy's clearance from just outside the left-hand corner of his penalty area and the ball rebounded upwards and goalwards, to end up bouncing, as if in slow motion, into the unguarded net.

It took the home side just seven minutes to get back on level terms. Wes Hoolahan was fouled on the City right and when David Fox floated in a deep cross, Grant Holt rose majestically on the six-yard line to nod the ball past Lee Camp and inside the near post.

The visitors went close to regaining the lead when Guy Moussi's fierce shot cannoned back off a post. At the other end Camp foiled Simeon Jackson when the in-form striker raced clear of the Forest defence.
Jackson then had the ball in the net but was denied a goal by a very tight off-side decision.

There was no such luck for Camp after thirty-seven minutes when Holt threaded a pass through to Andrew Surman, who had timed his run to perfection. He cleverly lifted his left foot shot over the keeper as he spread himself in a desperate attempt to block the shot, and the ball nestled in the back of the net, much to the delight of the home fans in a bumper crowd of over twenty-six thousand, who must have feared the worst after seeing their side go a goal down so early in the match.

The Canaries had some serious defending to do in order to preserve their one-goal advantage until half time.

HALF-TIME: City 2 Nottingham Forest 1

After the break City looked more comfortable on the ball and created the best chances, with the lively Jackson going close to scoring on at least three occasions.

His fierce angled drive was blocked by Camp; another shot struck the outside of a post; and a glancing header went just wide of the target.

Forest ended the game with ten men after Paul Konchesky's second booking in stoppage time, after a poor challenge on City's Surman. Having been booked in the first half, for arguing with an assistant referee following Surman's goal, his yellow card was quickly followed by a red.

FULL-TIME: City 2 Nottingham Forest 1