Nottingham Forest eased their relegation worries by chalking up a second successive win for the first time this season beating fellow strugglers Crystal Palace.

The victory lifted some of the pressure on Forest boss David Platt who has encountered a difficult start to his managerial career.

Forest struck early with a carbon copy of the goal that helped them clinch a 2-0 victory over Walsall last weekend.

Alan Rogers was credited with the 11th-minute strike after swinging in a free-kick from the right. But on this occasion central defender Tony Vaughan, on loan from Manchester City, claimed the effort after challenging keeper Steve Mautone.

Palace protested at the referee's decision to award the goal, arguing that Mautone had been impeded by Vaughan.

Forest were somewhat fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when striker Marlon Harewood was guilty of a reckless lunge at Simon Rodger which sparked a flare-up involving several players.

But the referee decided only to book Harewood and also show a yellow card to Hayden Mullins for retaliating.

Harewood then proceeded to make life uncomfortable for the Palace defence and burst through only to have the ball snatched from his feet by the emerging Mautone.

Harewood then hooked a shot across the face of goal after good work by Mathieu Louis-Jean who delivered a cross from the right.

Forest got the cushion of a second goal six minutes after the break when Rogers caused more problems in the Palace defence with a cross from the right picking out Nigel Quashie who had a simple task to head home at the far post.

Forest had further opportunities to make the victory a handsome one but failed to make the most of them.

Jack Lester, signed from Grimsby, must have thought his first goal for the club was coming when he capitalised on a mix-up in the Palace defence, but Mautone recovered well to grasp his goal-bound shot.

Forest continued to press for a third goal with both substitute Dougie Freedman and Lester going close, but they were more than worthy of a two-goal victory.

Nottm Forest: Beasant, Louis-Jean, Rogers, Hjelde, Vaughan, Prutton, Bart-Williams, Quashie, Johnson,Harewood (Freedman 78), Lester.

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Gray, Merino, Dawson.

Booked: Harewood.

Goals: Rogers 13, Quashie 51.

Crystal Palace: Mautone, Smith (Martin 34), Austin, Woozley, Mullins, Zhiyi, Fullarton (Rizzo 73), Linighan, Rodger, Morrison, Carlisle.

Subs Not Used: Gregg, Hibburt, Foster.

Booked: Mullins, Morrison.

Att: 16,421

Ref: G Frankland (Middlesbrough).