Nottm Forest v Burnley

FT 90 +5
HT 0-0

Dexter Blackstock's first home goal in seven months helped Nottingham Forest return to winning ways against Burnley.

The Reds went into the game following consecutive defeats to Ipswich and Hull, but Blackstock set Forest on their way to victory with a bullet header on the hour mark.

His strike partner Billy Sharp secured all three points, slotting home after being put through on goal by Andy Reid.

The result left Sean O'Driscoll's side just one point from the play-off spots.

Burnley made a bright start through Charlie Austin, but he showed no sign of the composure that has seen him score than 21 times so far this season, and his effort went high over the bar.

Forest's first real chance came just after the half hour mark when Blackstock, who had last scored at the City Ground in a 2-0 win over Portsmouth at the end of April, thundered a header straight into the arms of goalkeeper Lee Grant.

After the break, Lewis McGugan volleyed narrowly over from Reid's cross early in the second half before Blackstock broke the deadlock.

The striker had a lot of work to do with Reid's deep cross but he leapt brilliantly to guide his header over Grant.

Forest were lucky to keep hold of their advantage when Clarets substitute Sam Vokes headed inches wide as Lee Camp and his defenders stood statuesque.

But Sharp sealed the victory, slipping behind the Burnley defence and finishing confidently when one-on-one with Grant.

Nottingham Forest manager Sean O'Driscoll:

"It was crucial for us to get the first goal because games in the Championship are so tight but we needed that breakthrough after losing our last two games. It settled us down, we were able to relax a little bit and never looked in any danger of from then on in.

"Andy [Reid] has been terrific for us all season and he's obviously had a big part to play in both goals. In the position he plays he is difficult to pin down. He doesn't play wide or in central midfield and he makes life difficult for anyone trying to pick him up.

"Defenders don't want to go out and mark him and leave space behind and he's been causing those kind of problems for a long time."

Burnley manager Sean Dyche:

"There was nothing in the game until the first goal and it should not have been allowed. I've seen the incident again and it was clearly a foul by Dexter Blackstock on Jason Shackell.

"It's impossible to leap that high and get that leverage without using somebody else, if I can see it 70 yards away I don't see how an official can't spot it. It changed the whole game because the crowd were then up and there was a bit of belief back in the team.

"Before that we had done pretty well. In fact for the last 25 minutes of the first half we looked the more likely and arguably should have come in 1-0 ahead. It was a nearly day for us but there were still some good things in our play - and some not so good."

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (6)

Nottingham Forest

01 Camp
03 Harding
05 Collins
29 Hutton
32 Ward
04 Gillett (Moussi - 66' )
10 McGugan (Guedioura - 74' )
11 Reid
22 Lansbury (Cohen - 59' Booked )
23 Blackstock
24 Sharp Booked

Substitutes

12 Darlow
26 Ayala
06 Moussi
07 Guedioura
08 Cohen
21 Coppinger
28 Majewski

Burnley

01 Grant
02 Trippier
03 Lafferty
04 Duff Booked
05 Shackell
06 McCann Booked
07 Wallace (Ings - 81' )
08 Marney Booked
22 Stock (Vokes - 65' )
10 Paterson (Stanislas - 73' )
23 Austin

Substitutes

12 Jensen
15 Edgar
18 Mills
11 Stanislas
20 Bartley
09 Vokes
14 Ings

Ref: Mark Heywood

Att: 19,672

Match Stats

Possession 53 47

Shots

7 9

On target

4 2

Corners

5 5

Fouls

12 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:02 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +2:51

Guy Moussi concedes a free kick for a foul on Kieran Trippier. Free kick taken by Kieran Trippier.

90:00 +1:29

The referee penalises Sam Vokes for handball. Lee Camp takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:05

Jason Shackell takes the free kick.

90:00 +1:05 Booking

Booking Booking for Chris Cohen.

90:00 +0:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Danny Lafferty by Chris Cohen.

89:15

The ball is crossed by Charlie Austin, Dan Harding makes a clearance.

88:14 Booking

Booking Dean Marney shown a yellow card.

88:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Cohen by Dean Marney. Elliott Ward restarts play with the free kick.

86:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Alan Hutton by Junior Stanislas. Chris Cohen takes the direct free kick.

84:39

The ball is crossed by Kieran Trippier, clearance made by Danny Collins.

83:13

Corner taken by Chris Cohen.

79:23 Substitution

Substitution Danny Ings on for Ross Wallace.

79:23

Dexter Blackstock concedes a free kick for a foul on Dean Marney. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Junior Stanislas.

78:14 Booking

Booking Billy Sharp booked.

75:22

Assist on the goal came from Andy Reid.

75:22 Goal scored

Goal - Billy Sharp - Nott'm For 2 - 0 Burnley Billy Sharp finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Nottm Forest 2-0 Burnley.

73:32 Substitution

Substitution Adlene Guedioura on for Lewis McGugan.

73:32

Effort on goal by Lewis McGugan from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

72:44 Substitution

Substitution (Burnley) makes a substitution, with Junior Stanislas coming on for Martin Paterson.

72:44

A cross is delivered by Andy Reid.

69:43

Chris McCann concedes a free kick for a foul on Lewis McGugan. Chris Cohen delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, Lee Grant makes a save.

66:37

Sam Vokes has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

64:02

Danny Collins is caught offside. Lee Grant takes the direct free kick.

64:02 Substitution

Substitution Guy Moussi replaces Simon Gillett.

64:02

Lewis McGugan delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Jason Shackell manages to make a clearance. Andy Reid decides to take the corner short.

64:02 Substitution

Substitution Sam Vokes is brought on as a substitute for Brian Stock.

64:02 Booking

Booking The referee shows Michael Duff a yellow card.

63:54

Unfair challenge on Billy Sharp by Michael Duff results in a free kick.

61:08

Billy Sharp is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lee Grant takes the indirect free kick.

60:22

Charlie Austin takes a shot. Save by Lee Camp.

58:35

The assist for the goal came from Dan Harding.

58:35 Goal scored

Goal - Dexter Blackstock - Nott'm For 1 - 0 Burnley Dexter Blackstock grabs a headed goal from close in. Nottm Forest 1-0 Burnley.

57:55

Simon Gillett takes the direct free kick.

57:55 Substitution

Substitution Chris Cohen comes on in place of Henri Lansbury.