City win at last

The big Dutchman headed home to beat Nottingham Forest at frenzied Bradford & Bingley Stadium this afternoon - and deservedly ended a sequence of seven successive defeats.

With Wayne Jacobs suspended, Michael Standing was recalled in the only change from the team beaten here 3-1 by Gillingham last week - City's seventh straight defeat.

Another loss today would equal an unwanted record dating back to 1933, when ironically Forest were the eighth team to pile on the misery.

After David Wetherall's latest setback in midweek there was another enforced switch on the bench with Australian Paul Reid back among the substitutes.

Forest also made one change after their defeat at Burnley. It meant that Eoin Jess had start his return to his former club from the bench with Andy Reid taking his place.

There was a minute's silence before the game for 17-year-old Forest fan Nathan Shaw who died following an incident in Burnley town centre.

Andy Myers slid in on Jack Lester to give Forest an early free-kick - and City a scare. Riccardo Scimecca's centre was met by the head of Michael Dawson ahead of Robert Molenaar and the effort didn't miss by much.

Claus Jorgensen was needlessly brought down by Gareth Williams as he chased a flick-on by Gray but the Dane's free-kick was a simple catch for Darren Ward. Forest were playing their usual free-flowing stuff and nearly opened up City with a neat one-two between Reid and Jack Lester which was cut out by a block by Molenaar inside the area.

Jim Brennan whipped in a powerful cross in the 16th minute for David Johnson, the division's leading scorer. He got a firm header on it but the ball flew straight to Aidan Davison.

City responded from a deep free-kick by Standing which Francis headed back across goal where Gray fired over under pressure.

The fans were again doing their bit to roar the home side on and Standing ripped a shot wide from 20 yards.

As the half reached the midway point City had shouts for handball waved aside after Francis had a fierce try blocked. The ball pinged back off a defender to Standing who let fly with an instant effort that screamed past Ward and only inches over.

It was the closest so far for City who were pushing forward with every opportunity and pressing Forest back.

Emanuel again had Forest scrambling with another useful low cross which came out as far as Peter Atherton. His shot was on target but lacked the power to trouble the diving Ward. It was entertaining to watch with City playing their part against their third-placed opponents and showing no hangover from the 3-0 beating at the City Ground a month ago.

City did not look like a side on a two-month losing run as they chased and harried for every ball and Jamie Lawrence sent Facey scurrying after another through ball but Ward nipped in there first.

Forest came closest to breaking the deadlock, though, in the 37th minute. Johnson and Harewood had shots half-blocked but when the cross came back into the danger zone, Davison lost it under pressure from Johnson.

The City keeper was scrambling to bring it under control but with Johnson snapping away, the ball broke to Matthieu Louis-Jean. The right back, who scored his only senior goal against City in their first meeting, had an unguarded goal to aim at but curled his shot over the bar.

Having escaped that close shave, City doubled their corner count - and from it, they took the lead. Lewis Emanuel's corner picked out MOLENAAR who crashed a header inside Ward's near post.

It was City's first goal from a corner of the season - and possibly their only under Nicky Law. And it came two days before the second anniversary of Molenaar's only other goal for City at Newcastle in December 2000.

City were good value for their lead having given it everything. Law must have been delighted at half-time although he would have reminded his team that they were also in front at the same stage against Gillingham.

HT: 1-0

Forest looked surprisingly jittery at the back and there was every chance that City could push on for a second goal, which they failed to do the week before and paid the price. Facey, who missed a great chance at the start of the second half against Gillingham, raced away again but his pass for Gray was poor and cleared by Des Walker.

Myers had to be alert to deal with an angled ball by Reid as Forest finally won a corner. Davison did not look convincing as he punched Scimeca's kick on to Harewood's head but Standing banged the loose ball out of danger.

Standing, having a fine match, linked up well with both strikers to allow Gray to drill another ball across the Forest goal. It came out as far as Atherton whose shot waspoor.

Facey forced another corner which Williams cleared from Jorgensen. Standing seized on the half-chance but the 20-yarder was on his weaker left foot and drifted into the away fans.

Gray and Brennan had a little bit of afters which brought taunts from the Forest section at their former player. But City were still hunting a second although an ambitious drive from Atherton almost cleared the stand at the Bradford End.

Forest were trying to turn the screw but City looked dangerous on the break. Facey slammed a shot into Michael Dawson and battled to win the rebound which was then foiled by Walker. But it was much better from the striker, whose month's loan is up this evening, and lifted the fans.

Reid had City back-pedalling after 64 minutes with a terrific cross which flew beyond the goalmouth and past intended target Harewood. City were still under the cosh and when a Louis-Jean cross struck Molenaar it bounced straight to Lester who jabbed it wide from eight yards.

And they should have wrapped it up when Standing's astute pass sent Gray away in the clear. Ward was out to meet him but his former Forest team-mate took it wide of the keeper - only to clip the ball over the empty net.

Straight away Forest came within a coat of paint of equalising as Johnson banged a header just wide. Jess came on for Lester and received a warm reception from the Carlsberg Stand.

Lawrence collected his third successive booking for bringing down Harewood but City still stood firm with Molenaar mopping up more potential danger in the penalty area.

The busy Jorgensen rattled one wide and Atherton forced a save from Ward from a corner by Emanuel.

As the game went into added time, Louis - Jean shot well wide to a roar from the home supporters. But that was nothing compared with the cheer which greeted the final whistle.

as City got back to winning ways.