David Johnson hit two goals against his former club to give Nottingham Forest a vital win at Ipswich.

The 27-year-old left Portman Road for Nottingham three years ago for £3million and earned three points for his side with a goal in each half.

Dean Bowditch equalised for the home side before the break but they could not get back on level terms for a second time, despite putting massive pressure on the Forest defence.

It is an important three points for the City Ground side and the win keeps Forest's destiny in their own hands.

Ipswich, chasing third place, started the brighter. Youngster Bowditch, who has not scored since announcing himself with a hat-trick against Watford last month, had a shot blocked by Michael Dawson, before crossing for Matthew Richards to shoot wide.

But it was Forest, who have lost just twice since manager Joe Kinnear took over from Paul Hart in February, who took the lead on 11 minutes.

Marlon King broke through the Tractor boys' defence, committing goalkeeper Kelvin Davis before squaring for former Town man Johnson to slide the ball home.

The incidents continued with Ipswich's Jermaine Wright forcing a couple of good saves from Paul Gerrard with two efforts from way outside the area, while Andy Reid, tipped for a move to the Premiership this summer, tested Davis also from distance.

But Joe Royle's Ipswich, who had won six of their previous seven matches, continued to press for an equaliser. Richards forced Eoin Jess to give away a corner, floated in by the evergreen Jim Magilton, but Darren Bent could only head wide after he was the first to react on the edge of the six-yard box.

Davis was again in action at the other end, tipping away a Jess shot from distance but the home side were back on level terms in the 34th minute.

Following impressive work down the left, Ian Westlake's cross was flicked on for the 17-year-old Bowditch to stab home from the edge of the area.

The home side continued on the front foot with Bent thwarted by Gerrard and also hitting a shot wide but they went in level at the interval.

Wright was a constant threat for Royle's men, always prepared to shoot from distance but against the run of play.

Johnson built his reputation at Portman Road and showed that he is close to returning to his best with a diving header from Jess' cross from the right for his fifth goal of the season.

With Richard Naylor on for Bowditch, Ipswich continued to push for another equaliser, Bent hitting yet another shot wide of Gerrard's goal. And Naylor was immediately in the action, booked for a challenge on Dawson, he then headed over following a Martijn Reuser cross.

At the other end, Alan Rogers forced a good save from Davis and then Johnson turned provider, setting up a chance only for King to head over the bar.

Forest's Reid and Ipswich's Wright traded shots as the intensity continued, with Naylor hitting the bar from six yards following a Fabian Wilnis cross.

Teams

Ipswich Davis, McGreal, Elliott, Diallo (Reuser 56), Wilnis, Wright, Magilton (Kuqi 75), Westlake, Richards, Bowditch (Naylor 61), Bent.

Subs Not Used: Price, Santos.

Booked: Naylor.

Goals: Bowditch 34.

Nottm Forest Gerrard, Impey, Dawson, Morgan, Rogers, Jess (Sonner 84), Evans, Williams (Thompson 84), Reid, King, Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Roche, Walker, Westcarr.

Booked: Evans.

Goals: Johnson 12, 55.

Att: 27,848

Ref: G Hegley (Hertfordshire).