Striker Marlon Harewood scored four first-half goals to help Nottingham Forest keep their promotion bid on track with an emphatic victory over 10-man Stoke at The City Ground.

Harewood volleyed home his first two goals before completing his hat-trick with a close-range finish.

His fourth was from the penalty spot after Stoke suffered the double blow of having Petur Marteinsson dismissed for handball, which led to the spot-kick being awarded.

David Johnson added a fifth at the start of the second half before substitute Eoin Jess completed the scoring on what was a bitterly disappointing afternoon for Tony Pulis' First Division strugglers.

After dominating the early exchanges, Paul Hart's side deservedly took the the lead in the 13th minute when Harewood volleyed home after John Thompson directed a header into his path.

The travelling Stoke fans had to wait 15 minutes to see their side in attacking mode, Lee Mills bursting forward before drilling an effort wide. Marteinsson also failed to hit the target with another shot from distance.

But Harewood showed everyone how to finish in style with a superb second in the 23rd minute. Johnson set up his strike partner on the edge of the area and he lashed home a right-foot volley.

If Stoke looked shell-shocked after conceding the second, they must have felt positively numb four minutes later when Harewood converted Andrew Reid's left-wing cross to complete his hat-trick.

However, the Forest man was not finished yet and he converted a penalty in the 45th minute after Marteinsson was penalised for handball - the referee not helping Stoke's cause by showing the defender a red card.

It would have been easy for Forest to take their foot off the gas after the break, but they refused to ease off and Johnson added a fifth when he powered home a header from Reid's assist in the 53rd minute.

The game appeared to be drifting along in the latter stages until Jess fired home from the edge of the area to put the seal on a miserable afternoon for the Potters.

Teams

Nottm Forest Ward, Louis-Jean, Dawson, Hjelde, Brennan, Thompson (Oyen 70), Scimeca, Williams, Reid, Johnson (Westcarr 76), Harewood (Jess 82).

Subs Not Used: Roche, Doig.

Goals: Harewood 13, 24, 28, 45 pen, Johnson 53, Jess 85.

Stoke Banks, Thomas, Handyside, Richardson, Marcus Hall, Marteinsson, O'Connor, Hoekstra (Neal 45), Henry, Greenacre (Gudjonsson 73), Mills.

Subs Not Used: Cutler, Goodfellow, Wilson.

Sent Off: Marteinsson (45).

Att: 24,085

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).