Half-time: Nottingham Forest 2 Ipswich Town 0

IPSWICH Town have still only scored one first half goal all league season after going in two goals behind in Saturday’s Championship game at the City Ground.

David McGoldrick put Forest ahead in the 13th minute after Town had been cut open, and apart from Jack Colback having an effort cleared off the line their did not look as though an equaliser was coming.

Lewis McGugan smashed home a wonder 25 yard second goal direct from a free-kick in first half stoppage time.

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 Roy 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. Anderson broke down the left leaving both Edwards and Peters in his wake. His low pass across goal was met by McGoldrick who side-footed into the net off the bar from six yards.

It was yet 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 Wilson to head off the line. Norris thumped the loose ball 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.

When Leadbitter was booked for a blatant trip on Cohen, McGugan made Town payt when he rocketed home the resultant 25 yard free-kick.

Teams

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

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

Referee: Mr K Woolmer (Northamptonshire)