West Brom's final-day party fell flat at The Hawthorns as goals from Gareth
Williams and David Johnson earned victory for Nottingham Forest and inflicted a
third successive defeat on the Baggies.
His hand having only partly been forced by injuries, Gary Megson's
much-changed sides have disappointed over the final three games of term with the
Albion manager himself admitting promotion play has been replaced by relegation
form.
Assured of second place in Division One and consequent top-flight football
next season, Albion were beaten 1-0 at Reading and then embarrassed 4-1 at Stoke
before Williams and Johnson netted in the Black Country.
Forest had raced into the lead with just four minutes on the clock when Neil
Clement was caught dithering on his left flank and to compound matters, his
ill-conceived square pass was easily cut out by Marlon King.
Possession was quickly spread inside and Williams was allowed to advance,
shift the ball onto his left foot and stroke a low finish past keeper Russell
Hoult from 18 yards out.
Johnson was next to chance his arm but fired over and as the visitors
continued to dominate, Alan Rogers worked Hoult low down to his left.
The quarter-hour was approaching before Albion produced a shot of their own -
a thunderous effort lashed wide by Sean Gregan, who later sent a similar effort
over the bar.
But barring occasional Albion attacks, it was Forest who were running the show
with the City Ground contingent nonchalantly passing the ball around the park
while maintaining possession for extended periods.
A measure of Forest's confidence was the insolent chip lofted goalwards from
close to the halfway line by midfielder Andy Reid, although Hoult comfortably
collected under his crossbar.
Palpably failing to match Forest for for finesse, Albion sought to make up the
shortfall with bluster and the hosts' policy went close to paying dividends just
after the half-hour, although Paul Gerrard's fine reaction save denied Lee
Hughes at close range.
Similar heroics from the Forest goalkeeper were required to frustrate Thomas
Gaardsoe as half-time loomed before Albion emerged for the second half
galvanised.
Gerrard was required to save at the feet of James Chambers as he burst into
the penalty area as Albion's sheer industry forced Forest onto the defensive.
Albion substitute Artim Sakiri went close with a free-kick deflected
marginally wide following Paul Evans' foul on Jason Koumas.
Welsh international midfielder Koumas also sent over a right-wing cross which
was headed just over the bar by Scott Dobie.
Sakiri squandered a glorious chance to equalise after Hughes had crossed to
the back post but the Macedonian amazingly diverted the ball over the crossbar
via his left shin.
Then, with full-time approaching, recovered leg-break victim Johnson ended his
injury ravaged season on a high with a stunning strike.
Teams
West Brom Hoult, Chambers, Moore, Gaardsoe,
Robinson (Dyer 82), O'Connor (Sakiri 55), Gregan, Koumas,
Clement, Hughes, Hulse (Dobie 61).
Subs Not Used: Murphy, Haas.
Nottm Forest Gerrard, Impey (Louis-Jean 55), Walker, Dawson,
Rogers, Jess, Evans, Williams, Reid, Johnson, King.
Subs Not Used: Roche, Doig, Westcarr, Sonner.
Goals: Williams 4, Johnson 90.
Att: 26,821
Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
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