Nottingham Forest travelled to Watford looking to continue their recent up turn in form which had seen the Reds pull clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Manager Billy Davies opted to make changes after a hectic run of three games in the previous ten days. As injuries once again begin to take their toll, Chris Cohen, Paul Anderson and James Perch were all forced out of the squad whilst Robert Earnshaw was rested.

Forest were all over the place in the opening stages as Watford started well. With a little over two minutes played the Reds failed to deal with a free kick whipped in from the right as Grzegorz Rasiak looped a header beyond the stranded Paul Smith.

Having fallen behind the Reds failed to respond initially as the Hornets dominated. Don Cowie wasted a glorious opportunity to double the home sides lead but the Scot volleyed wide with the goal gaping whilst Paul Smith was forced into action after another set piece wreaked havoc in the Forest defence.

Eventually the Reds got back into the contest with Gary McSheffrey looking dangerous in the lead up to half time. McSheffrey teed up the returning Matt Thornhill who fired a rasping shot into the roof of the net from just inside the area to level proceedings.

With tails up the Reds pushed for the lead as the home side were forced onto the back foot. Good work from Gareth McCleary saw the Forest winger pick out Thornhill in space and although Thornhill’s effort was poor the ball found its way to McSheffrey who should really have done better from close range.

As half time approached Joel Lynch was forced out of the action due to injury and this proved to be Forest’s undoing as, on the stroke of half time, replacement Ian Breckin allowed Rasiak to play in Tamas Priskin who made no mistake when one on one with Paul Smith.

Injury prevented Breckin himself returning for the second period as Davies reshuffled. In truth the Reds offered little after half time despite the introduction of leading scorer Earnshaw. The closest the away side came to salvaging something came when McCleary’s well struck effort was turned away by Scott Loach in the Watford goal.

All in all a bad night for Forest and with Norwich gaining a valuable 3 points, together with one or two others picking up results, Reds fans are looking nervously over their shoulders as the season begins to draw to its climax.

Forest: Smith, Chambers, Wilson, Morgan, Lynch (Breckin 21) (Earnshaw 46), McGugan, McCleary, Moussi (Osbourne 55), Thornhill, Tyson, McSheffrey.

MOM: Gareth McCleary