Nottingham Forest 2 Ipswich Town 0

IPSWICH Town were unable to stem their current poor run in Saturday’s Championship game at the City Ground.

They have now gained just four points from their last six games to drop out of the running for a top six finish.

Against a Forest side that has now gone 26 home league games without defeat, once they went behind Ipswich never seriously looked like getting anything from their afternoon’s work.

It is the first time the Blues have lost three consecutive league games under manager Roy Keane, and there were chants from increasingly restless visiting fans for the manager to ‘sort it out’ during another thoroughly disheartening display.

But when barracked by home supporters near the end, the visiting faithful responded with ‘There’s only one Keano’.

David McGoldrick put Forest ahead in the 13th minute after Town had been cut open, and apart from Jack Colback having an effort strike the underside of the bar their did not look as though they would improve their sad record of just one goal in the opening period of all league matches this season.

Just before the interval Grant Leadbitter was booked for a blatant trip on Chris Cohen, and Lewis McGugan thumped home a memorable 32 yard free-kick.

Substitute Connor Wickham again made a difference and brought one good save out of the sacure Lee Camp.

Ipswich made four changes from the side that lost 2-1 at Watford on Tuesday.

Fulop was fit enough to replace Murphy between the posts while Peters, Edwards and Townsend all returned to give the Blues plenty of width.

As well as Murphy, Brown, Livermore and Priskin dropped out to start on the substitutes’ bench.

Forest were without the suspended Bertram and they played five men in midfield with McGoldrick up front on his own. Strikers Tyson and Earnshaw, who have been suffering from injury, were both fit enough to be named on the bench.

It rained for a hour before the start with Ipswich again well represented in the stands with hundreds of their fans situated behind the goal at the end where the visitors warmed up.

The match was being screened live in Norway with Ipswich whatever the result today in an advanced position from last season when they only picked up their first league victory on this corresponding Saturday.

In all-blue kit Town were looking to impress their manager at a ground where Keane starred as a player under the management of Brian Clough before moving on to greater things at Manchester United.

Inside four minutes Forest went close when Chambers got in a header after a tentative challenge by Townsend, and Fulop was disturbed in the six-yard box by Cohen – with the keeper collecting the ball at the second attempt.

Five minutes later, Scotland was left showing his disgust at Edwards after the latter delayed his pass forward following a dreadful back pass by McGugan. When Scotland did get the ball to run clear he was offside.

Town faced a test of character after McGoldrick gave Forest the lead in the 13th minute. Majewski put Cohen clear down the left leaving both Edwards and Peters trailing. Cohen’s low pass across goal was met by McGoldrick who side-footed into the net off the bar from six yards.

It was yet another poor goal for Ipswich to concede after a new 4-3-3 formation had started brightly. The Blues almost went two down in the 18th minute when Majewski skipped beyond a couple of defenders before dragging his shot beyond the far post when well placed.

Ipswich’s enterprising play almost brought a 21st minute equaliser. Colback did well to find space and close in on goal with his effort ballooning into the air for the ball to strike the bar. Norris thumped the rebound goalwards from 10 yards, but his effort was blocked.

The sun was now out, but Ipswich were being put under pressure too much down their right side to make them too cheerful and looking likely to concede again with too many passes going astray.

And when Leadbitter was penalised, McGugan slammed an unstoppable 32 yard free-kick in the top corner of the net to extend the Forest lead in first half stoppage time.

Scotland had shown signs of a limp, and he did not come out after the break with Wickham going up front.

Smith saw his deflected 49th minute 18 yard shot stopped rather awkwardly by Camp on the line following a corner, before the keeper went down for lengthy treatment after an innocuous barge by Norris.

In the 61st minute with Edwards now right back, Smith made a last-ditch block on McGugan when the visiting side was opening up again.

The 71st minute saw McAuley tangling with Tyson, but the referee ignored strong claims for a home penalty.

Ipswich were having a go now and showing much more enterprise with Norris just unable to turn in a low cross by substitute Murray.

With 12 minutes left, Colback and Leadbitter combined at a free-kick 20 yards out with Camp diving to push away a shot at the near post.

Town were now having the majority of possession, but it was too little too late with Camp largely untroubled until he blocked a low close range Wickham shot after a good pass by Leadbitter.

Fulop made two saves as the game petered out with Town now looking to get their season back on track against League Two Northampton in the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

Teams

Nottingham Forest: Camp; Chambers, Morgan, Wilson, Gunter; McGugan (Adebola 83), McKenna, Majewski (Tyson 66), Cohen, Anderson; McGoldrick (Moussi 73). Substiututes: Darlow, Moussi, McCleary, Earnshaw, Blackstock.

Ipswich Town: Fulop; Peters (Livermore 56), McAuley, Delaney, Smith; Leadbitter, Norris, Colback; Edwards, Scotland (Wickham 46), Townsend (Murray 61). Substitutes: B Murphy, Brown, Eastman, Priskin.

Referee: Mr K Woolmer (Northamptonshire)

Attendance: 22,935 (1,910 Ipswich).

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NOTTINGHAM FOREST V IPSWICH TOWN

MATCH RATINGS

Nottingham Forest: Camp 7; Chambers 6, Morgan 7, Wilson 7, Gunter 6; McGugan 8, McKenna 6, Majewski 8, Cohen 8, Anderson 7; McGoldrick 7.

Ipswich Town: Fulop 6; Peters 6, McAuley 8, Delaney 5, Smith 6; Leadbitter 7, Norris 8, Colback 6; Edwards 6, Scotland 5, Townsend 5.

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MATCH STATS

Nottingham Forest 2

Goals: McGoldrick 13, McGugan 45

Bookings: -

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 4

Shots off target: 5

Woodwork: 0

Corners: 1

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 16

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Ipswich Town 0

Goals: -

Bookings: Leadbitter 45

Sent off:

Shots on target: 4

Shots off target: 6

Woodwork: 1

Corners: 4

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 10