Nottingham Forest grabbed their first win in five matches in this First Division relegation battle to ease the pressure on manager David Platt.

It was a vital result for Forest at the Bescot Stadium, as had they have lost they would have gone below Walsall in the fight for survival.

They were given a boost with the opening goal two minutes from half time which drew strong protests from home defenders.

Ray Graydon's side were convinced goalkeeper James Walker had been impeded on the line as Alan Rogers swept over a free-kick which sailed straight into the net.

But Forest had been the better side in the first half, stronger in midfield, and it needed two great saves from Walker to keep them at bay.

In the seventh minute he tipped over a fierce header from Andy Johnson, and then he somehow flicked a superb bending drive from Marlon Harewood over the bar.

It took Walsall, unbeaten in their previous five league matches, some time to find their feet in midfield, but they might have scored first in the 35th minute.

Gabor Bukran had a shot blocked and Mark Robins smashed the rebound past Dave Beasant only to see the ball rebound off the foot of the post.

Forest continued on the up after the break and Harewood should have scored in the 48th minute but dragged his shot wide with only Walker to beat.

That woke up the Saddlers and they began to put pressure on the Forest defence, Bukran hitting the bar from 25 yards.

Forest, who had three men booked in a four-minute spell of the first half, began to look uneasy and it needed a fine save from Beasant to prevent Robins equalising with a low drive in the 64th minute.

Then new central defender Tony Vaughan, who had a fine debut on loan from Manchester City, got in a great block as home substitute Andy Rammell let fly from close in.

But all hope vanished for the home side in stoppage time as Forest substitute Dougie Freedman jinked past three defenders to score a brilliant individual goal.

Teams:

Walsall: Walker, Brightwell, Barras, Viveash, Padula, Harper, Bukran (Larusson 71), Keates, Wrack, Ricketts (Rammell 63), Robins (Forester 71).

Subs Not Used: Emberson, Gadsby.

Booked: Viveash.

Nottm Forest: Beasant, Hjelde, Vaughan, Prutton, Louis-Jean, Bart-Williams, Johnson, Rogers, Quashie (Gray 80), Lester, Harewood (Freedman 84).

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Merino, Edwards.

Booked: Vaughan, Bart-Williams, Prutton.

Goals: Rogers 43, Freedman 90.

Att: 8,027

Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucester).