David Johnson scored his first goal since joining Forest six games ago to complete a second-half comeback against Grimsby.

Johnson scored five minutes from time from close range to earn Forest a somewhat flattering win over the First Division strugglers.

Throughout the first half Forest were very much second best with the visitors deservedly leading following a 15th-minute goal by Stuart Campbell.

A mistake by Norwegian Jon Olav Hjelde sent Steve Livingstone clear and from his cross Campbell, on loan from Leicester, swept a shot past Dave Beasant from 14 yards.

It promised to get better for the visitors but Campbell shot just wide in the 27th minute with Forest keeper Dave Beasant well beaten.

Forest were jeered off the field at the break but within 10 minutes of the restart they were level.

Young Aussie Gareth Edds, on as a substitute for Hjelde just before half time, took a pass from Andy Johnson, cut inside and thumped a left-footed shot past Danny Coyne.

It sparked more Forest pressure and two minutes later Keith Foy crossed from the left for Christian Edwards to send a downward header beyond Coyne's reach.

David Johnson was denied by Coyne with a near-post header but the former Ipswich man got the goal he so desperately needed five minutes from time.

The danger once more came from a Foy cross and when David Freeman headed back across goal Johnson had the simple task of scoring from two yards.

He was booked for over-elaborating his celebrations but that was the least of his problems on a day when Forest eventually got the win they desperately need to maintain their promotion interest.

It all went sadly wrong for Grimsby who had battled so well despite losing David Smith and Livingstone to injury in the first 22 minutes.

They were perhaps guilty of sitting back on their first-half lead and inviting the Forest pressure that eventually inspired their second-half comeback.

Teams:

Nottm Forest: Beasant, Hjelde (Edds 44), Edwards, Benali, Prutton, Andy Johnson, Scimeca, Foy, Bart-Williams, David Johnson (Harewood 88), Freeman.

Subs Not Used: Roche, Vaughan, Jones.

Booked: Scimeca, David Johnson.

Goals: Edds 55, Edwards 57, David Johnson 86.

Grimsby: Coyne, McDermott, Groves, Enhua, David Smith (Butterfield 10), Donovan, Coldicott, Willems, Campbell, Jeffrey, Livingstone (Rowan 23).

Subs Not Used: Croudson, Handyside, Black.

Goals: Campbell 16.

Att: 21,660

Ref: P Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).