Jamie Lawrence snatched victory for Bradford City with a goal two minutes from the end at Valley Parade.

Substitute Lee Sharpe swung over a superb left-wing cross to the far post where Lawrence, who has just regained his place in the Bradford side, out-jumped the Forest defence to head home the winner.

Defeat was rough justice for Forest, who fought back well from being 1-0 down at half-time to equalise within a minute of the restart.

Substitute Andy Gray found unmarked Marlon Harewood with a crossfield pass and the pacy striker scored with a low, right-foot shot from 20 yards with the Bradford defence in disarray.

This goal breathed new life into Forest and Bradford goalkeeper Alan Combe had to produce his best form to prevent them going ahead.

He made a brilliant diving save to keep out a 20-yard shot from David Prutton after 52 minutes and did well to turn over an Andy Reid shot on the hour.

Earlier, Eoin Jess had given Bradford a 23rd-minute lead after a bad mistake by Forest goalkeeper Darren Ward.

The Scottish midfield player's 15-yard right-foot shot appeared to carry little threat as Ward prepared to gather the ball, but it slipped from his grasp, fell behind him and into the net.

Bradford ought to have gone in front after only five minutes when left-back Wayne Jacob's free-kick found Simon Grayson unmarked in the penalty box, but Grayson headed the ball against the post and it rebounded to safety.

Forest's best first-half effort was a superb piece of skill from Reid, who brought down the ball cleverly before lobbing just over the crossbar two minutes before Bradford took the lead.

Teams

Bradford Combe, Grayson, Jacobs, Myers, Tod, Lawrence, Whalley (Sharpe 55), McCall, Jess (Locke 86), Cadamarteri (Juanjo 90), Ward.

Subs Not Used: Jorgensen, Worsnop.

Booked: Jacobs, Grayson.

Goals: Jess 23, Lawrence 88.

Nottm Forest Ward, Louis-Jean, Brennan, Scimeca, Thompson, Reid, Summerbee (Gray 36), Prutton, Williams, Lester, Harewood.

Subs Not Used: Bopp, Roche, Jones, Vaughan.

Booked: Harewood.

Goals: Harewood 46.

Att: 13,505

Ref: R Oliver (Sutton Coldfield).