Nottingham Forest carved out a shock win over promotion hopefuls Birmingham City with two goals in the final 20 minutes.

Star-studded City often threatened to over-run Forest but in a game of misfortunes it was David Platt's side that emerged with the points.

Everything went wrong for Birmingham after Martin Grainger squandered a 14th-minute penalty, Forest's 41-year-old goalkeeper Dave Beasant saving.

It set the tone for Birmingham's performance, Forest's goal enjoying a charmed life with both Darren Purse and Marcelo hitting the post in the second half before Forest hit back with their two shock goals.

A minute after Marcelo had smashed his shot against the foot of the post, Forest broke down the left where Purse was alleged to have impeded Gary Jones on the edge of the area. Forest skipper Chris Bart-Williams slotted away his spot-kick to the left of Ian Bennett for his 10th goal of the season.

It was a vital goal and completely against the run of play.

Birmingham were often the more impressive in the build-ups but the heavy pitch did not help heavyweight strikers Dele Adebola and Geoff Horsfield.

As a result they were unable to gain the upper hand against a Forest side that clinched their surprise away win with a second goal from David Prutton five minutes from time.

Andy Reid made the running and slipped the ball to the left where Prutton was on hand to nudge the ball into the net.

It was a shock to Birmingham's promotion aspirations and it was also their second holiday defeat, having been beaten 2-1 in their previous match at Blackburn Rovers.

Forest, meanwhile, are slowly emerging from the early-season doldrums and they were indebted to an inspired performance by Beasant.

He was often the only player to stand between Birmingham.

But in the second period Bart-Williams and Tony Vaughan set a shining example as Forest took full advantage of Birmingham's shortcomings to chalk up their away win.

Teams:

Birmingham Bennett, Jenkins, Purse, Michael Johnson, Eaden (Lazaridis 50), Grainger, O'Connor, Sonner (Burrows 68), Hughes, Horsfield (Marcelo 64), Adebola.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Gill.

Booked: Jenkins, Purse.

Nottm Forest Beasant, Edwards, Bart-Williams, Vaughan, Prutton, Gray, Williams, Jones, Foy (Edds 39), Reid (Brennan 87), Harewood.

Subs Not Used: Roche, John, Calderwood.

Booked: Harewood.

Goals: Bart-Williams 71 pen, Prutton 86.

Att: 20,034

Ref: E Wolstenholme (Blackburn).