Nottingham Forest striker Marlon Harewood hit a double to keep his side's promotion hopes on course and damage the play-off ambitions of Ipswich in a seven-goal thriller.

Marcus Bent looked to have earned Town a point after the hosts had relinquished a two-goal lead, but Harewood struck his second of the game to clinch the points for Forest.

The hosts took a deserved 14th-minute lead when the recalled Bent played in Pablo Counago.

The dangerous Spaniard had two shots on goal and although the first was blocked by Forest keeper Darren Ward the ball fell into the path of Tommy Miller and the midfielder made no mistake from eight yards to claim his ninth goal of the season.

Worse was to follow as Andy Reid brought down Counago in the area and the referee awarded a spot-kick.

Miller stepped up to take the penalty which was saved by Ward, but the Forest goalkeeper was adjudged to have moved before the ball was struck and the kick was ordered to be retaken.

Counago, along with Forest duo Marlon Harewood and Huckerby, were booked in the melee that ensued, but Miller kept a cool head to put Ipswich two up after 26 minutes.

But seconds later substitute John Thompson, on for the injured Riccardo Scimeca, tried a speculative effort from distance and his shot nestled in the back of the net.

Two minutes later Harewood latched on to a long ball and his shot completely deceived Andy Marshall to bring the scores level.

And Ipswich were rocked again after 33 minutes when defender Richard Naylor deflected Thompson's cross past his own goalkeeper to put Forest in front.

The two sides kept up a relentless pace in the second half and Town levelled the scores on the hour.

Forest defender Michael Dawson failed to cut out Jim Magilton's deep cross and Bent capitalised by firing past Ward with his left foot.

The visitors spurned the chance to regain the lead minutes later as top scorer David Johnson was denied by Marshall when clear on goal, but Harewood secured a crucial win 15 minutes from time when he headed home Reid's free-kick for his 21st goal of the season.

Magilton had a couple of chances in the closing stages to earn a point and Jermaine Wright volleyed straight at Ward in stoppage-time.

Teams

Ipswich: Marshall, Holland, Naylor, Makin, Wilnis (Armstrong 88), Miller, Magilton, Wright, Richards (Reuser 61), Counago, Marcus Bent.

Subs Not Used: Abidallah, Pullen, Westlake.

Booked: Counago.

Goals: Miller 14, 26 pen, Marcus Bent 60.

Nottm Forest: Ward, Louis-Jean, Dawson, Hjelde, Brennan, Williams, Scimeca (Thompson 20), Reid, Huckerby, Johnson (Lester 85), Harewood.

Subs Not Used: Jess, Roche, Walker.

Booked: Hjelde, Harewood, Huckerby, Dawson.

Goals: Thompson 27, Harewood 29, Naylor 33 og, Harewood 75.

Att: 29,503

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).