Nottingham Forest's miserable season finished in a flourish with a third
successive victory, as they beat East Midlands rivals Leicester City at the City
Ground.
It brought a small amount of relief to long-suffering Forest fans and made
sure that Ron Atkinson bowed out on a high note after 28 years in management.
Forest's victory was sealed by a deflected 75th-minute effort from midfielder
Chris Bart-Williams but they had had to ride their luck in the second half.
Leicester twice hit the woodwork and were denied on two more occasions by
goalline clearances as Leicester sought desperately for an equaliser in the
closing stages.
But Forest held on - much to the pleasure of supporters who had seen their
side go more than eight months without a home league win and then win two
successive games.
Bart-Williams' winner came after Portuguese international Hugo Porfirio's shot
had been blocked. Bart-Williams directed the rebound on goal and it took a
deflection on its way into the net.
That was tough on Leicester who had earlier had the frustration of hitting the
Forest bar in quick succession.
Greek midfielder Theo Zagorakis sent a blistering 23-yard free-kick past
Forest keeper Mark Crossley but was denied by the bar in the 62nd minute and
five minutes later Leicester substitute Emile Heskey saw an attempt on goal take
a deflection and cannon back off the face of the bar.
Heskey's introduction soon after half-time certainly pepped up Leicester's
display and there were other occasions when the visitors could easily have
snatched some reward.
Crossley had to make a brave save following a header from Leicester substitute
Steve Walsh and, right at the end, the Forest keeper plunged at the feet of
oncoming Leicester players to prevent an equaliser after Muzzy Izzet had headed
down a free-kick from Neil Lennon.
The Forest goal had led a charmed life but Forest could easily have put the
game beyond Leicester's reach had young striker Marlon Harewood not missed a
gilt-edged chance from two yards in an opening set up by debutant Stephen Melton
and Alan Rogers.
It could have been much easier for Forest had they capitalised on chances
early in the game with young Harewood being put clear in the 10th minute but
seeing his shot blocked by keeper Pegguy Arphexad and the French keeper also
denied Dougie Freeman with an instinctive save soon afterwards.
At the final whistle a pitch invasion by Forest fans threatened problems but a
massive police presence ensured that rival supporters were kept apart.
Teams:
Nottm Forest: Crossley, Louis-Jean, Palmer, Chettle, Bonalair,
Porfirio (Edwards 89), Bart-Williams, Melton, Rogers, Freedman,Harewood.
Subs Not Used: Beasant, Lyttle, Allou, Darcheville.
Booked: Bonalair, Porfirio.
Goals: Bart-Williams 76.
Leicester: Arphexad, Kaamark, Elliott, Sinclair (Walsh 70),
Zagorakis, Lennon, Oakes (Heskey 50), Savage, Guppy, Cottee,Izzet.
Subs Not Used: Keller, Impey, Fenton.
Att: 25,353
Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).
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