Nottingham Forest strolled to a victory that gives them a six-match unbeaten
run - and their best spell of a largely frustrating season.
Relegated Port Vale were no match for David Platt's side and the result could
have been much more impressive had Forest's finishing been better.
Stern John and David Prutton scored the goals in the first half but apart from
brief threats from Vale, Forest were almost totally dominant.
John put them in front after 11 minutes when he was picked out in the area by
Andy Johnson and had time to pick his spot in beating Kevin Pilkington.
Marlon Harewood and John, who sent a header flashing wide, had already had
chances to give Forest an early lead.
It might have been different for Vale had Tony Rougier, whose skills kept Vale
with hope, not made more of a chance after skipping inside debutant defender
Gareth Edds.
Rougier managed to beat Dave Beasant but saw his shot come back into play off
the foot of the post.
Skipper Riccardo Scimeca and John had more chances to underline Forest's
supremacy before they snatched a second goal in the 34th minute.
Harewood set off on a forceful run down the right and when he clipped the ball
inside, Prutton took the ball in his stride to beat Pilkington with a powerful
left-foot shot.
Alan Rogers then struck the post with a speculative 25-yard effort and before
half time Pilkington was brought into action to keep out another sweetly-struck
effort from Prutton.
Vale started the second half in promising fashion and after David Healy had
dragged a right-foot shot just wide Rougier showed his talents by getting to the
by-line and producing a dangerous cross that almost embarrassed Forest.
But the home side kept pouring forward and John headed just wide from a
Scimeca cross.
Vale were gifted a chance of getting a foothold in the game when on-loan
signing, John Terry, from Chelsea, made a rare mistake that let in George
O'Callaghan but his low drive was smothered by Beasant.
That ignited another period of intense Forest pressure and John intelligently
set up Prutton for a left-foot shot that smacked against the upright.
Forest continued to spurn openings and after Terry had headed wide, Harewood
missed an inviting chance and then Prutton shot just over after the game's most
flowing move.
Teams:
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Scimeca, Terry, Vaughan, Edds (Woan 70),
Prutton, Bart-Williams, Johnson, Rogers, John, Harewood,
Hjelde (Louis-Jean 68).
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Freeman, Hjelde.
Goals: John 11, Prutton 34.
Port Vale: Pilkington, Cummins, Burton, Widdrington, Naylor,
Rougier, O'Callaghan (Smith 80), Burns, Talbot, Healy, Snijders.
Subs Not Used: Goodlad, Viljanen, Minton, Brisco.
Att: 15,534
Ref: M Riley (Leeds).
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