Match ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Millwall 1.
Nottm ForestNottingham Forest3MillwallMillwall1
Nottingham Forest beat out-of-form Millwall to extend their unbeaten run to six Championship games and move six points clear of the relegation zone.
Sammy Ameobi's low shot from outside the box put Forest ahead at half-time, although Lewis Grabban had to clear a looping header from Lions centre-back Sean Hutchinson off his own line.
After Cafu and Ryan Yates went close to doubling the lead, Ameobi made it 2-0 with 20 minutes remaining when he sent a fine curling shot past Bartosz Bialkowksi from the edge of the area.
Yates added a third from Cafu's corner before Ben Thompson netted a late consolation for the visitors, firing home a half-volley after controlling a punched clearance by keeper Brice Samba.
Forest climb to 19th in the table, one point and three places behind Gary Rowett's Millwall - who have now recorded just one win in their past 15 league games.
The hosts had the better chances in the first half at the City Ground, with Grabban testing Bialkowski from a tight angle and Joe Worrell shooting over the bar.
Forest went ahead 11 minutes before the break as Ameobi picked out the bottom right-hand corner with his left-footed strike from 25 yards.
Bialkowski parried away Cafu's free-kick and Yates shot wide as Forest went looking for a second after the resumption.
It finally came when Ameobi cut in from the right and combined with Alex Mighten before firing in his third goal of the campaign.
Yates turned in a half-volley to make sure of the points with six minutes left, with Thompson's strike coming too late to affect the outcome.
It is the first time Forest have achieved back-to-back league wins since November, while Chris Hughton's side scored three goals in a game for the first time since June last year.
Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton:
"You have to take your opportunities when they come your way, and thankfully we did that.
"We know we are going to have lots of battling games, where we might not have the possession we might like.
"When that happens, it is down to the quality of your players.
"Sammy's second was a beauty and he does have that in his locker. This is our request to the offensive players we have got - can you make the difference?"
Millwall boss Gary Rowett:
"For the first 20-25 minutes we were too passive, and we looked like we were still in the dressing room.
"We started to impose ourselves a bit more on the game and then we conceded a really poor goal.
"Regardless of where they are in the league, they have got dangerous players in forward areas.
"One big part of the game was keeping Ameobi on his right foot and not allowing him to cut inside. Twice we allowed him to waltz inside and it's two good finishes.
"We have got to start getting serious because we have to start grabbing games and be more aggressive."
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 30SambaBooked at 90mins
- 2Christie
- 4Worrall
- 26McKenna
- 5Ribeiro
- 22Yates
- 21SowSubstituted forTaylorat 72'minutes
- 11Ameobi
- 18Ribeiro Dias
- 17MightenSubstituted forBongat 81'minutes
- 7Grabban
Substitutes
- 3Figueiredo
- 6Mbe Soh
- 12Smith
- 13Bong
- 16Jenkinson
- 19Guerrero
- 23Lolley
- 28Knockaert
- 33Taylor
Millwall
Formation 3-4-3
- 33Bialkowski
- 4Hutchinson
- 15PearceSubstituted forBennettat 64'minutes
- 5Cooper
- 23McNamara
- 18Leonard
- 19WoodsSubstituted forThompsonat 79'minutes
- 14Malone
- 7J WallaceSubstituted forBödvarssonat 80'minutes
- 13ZohoreSubstituted forSmithat 64'minutes
- 25ParrottSubstituted forBradshawat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Fielding
- 6Williams
- 8Thompson
- 9Bradshaw
- 10Smith
- 11Ferguson
- 12Romeo
- 20Bennett
- 22Bödvarsson
- Referee:
- Keith Stroud
Match Stats
Home TeamNottm ForestAway TeamMillwall
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 3, Millwall 1.
Post update
Foul by Matt Smith (Millwall).
Post update
Cyrus Christie (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Gaëtan Bong.
Post update
Ryan Leonard (Millwall) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Lewis Grabban (Nottingham Forest).
Booking
Brice Samba (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Tom Bradshaw (Millwall).
Post update
Brice Samba (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Bradshaw (Millwall) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Scott Malone with a cross.
Goal!
Goal! Nottingham Forest 3, Millwall 1. Ben Thompson (Millwall) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Millwall. Conceded by Gaëtan Bong.
Post update
Attempt missed. Yuri Ribeiro (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lewis Grabban.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jón Dadi Bödvarsson (Millwall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dan McNamara with a cross.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tom Bradshaw (Millwall) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Scott Malone with a cross.
Goal!
Goal! Nottingham Forest 3, Millwall 0. Ryan Yates (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Cafú with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Shaun Hutchinson.
Substitution
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Gaëtan Bong replaces Alex Mighten.
Post update
Mason Bennett (Millwall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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