Kris Commons struck a second-half winner against Burnley to keep Nottingham Forest's Coca-Cola Championship survival hopes alive.

The victory takes the City Ground outfit to within four points of Brighton and Crewe respectively and means they still have a chance of avoiding a tumble into the third tier of English football for the first time since 1951.

The bleakest chapter in Forest's 140-year history may still be confirmed in the next fortnight, but this success ensures Gary Megson's side a stay of execution at the very least.

Forest's preparations for the vital encounter had this week been hampered by reports of up to 12 players abusing bar staff as well as throwing and smashing glasses during a city-centre drinking session.

However, they almost made the perfect start when Clarets midfielder James O'Connor was forced to block superbly from Paul Evans' thunderous goalbound 35-yard free-kick.

But Burnley soon gained a foothold on proceedings - and with Ade Akinbiyi in a lone striking role, they were content to sit back and hit Forest on the counter-attack.

Akinbiyi, buoyed by two goals during his side's midweek 2-0 win against QPR, then fired narrowly wide from the edge of the box as Forest began to ride their luck.

On the half-hour, Burnley should have grabbed the lead. Lee Roche delivered a delightful left-wing cross which O'Connor arrived to meet perfectly with a header - but Forest goalkeeper Colin Doyle comfortably saved.

Mo Camara sent over a cross which Roche met with a header, again warming Doyle's hands before Forest stepped up a gear as the interval approached.

Forest striker Scott Dobie headed over from Evans' cross before Commons fired over from the edge of the box.

The lively Evans then tested Burnley goalkeeper Danny Coyne from distance, but neither side proved capable of breaking the deadlock before half-time.

Forest began to finally impose themselves after the restart, and Evans' dangerous corner required John McGreal to make a vital clearance.

Burnley remained a threat, and Akinbiyi headed narrowly wide from another Camara cross before the pair combined again on the hour mark to engineer an opportunity which should have handed the visitors the lead.

The impressive Camara found Akinbiyi with a perfect pass, and Doyle was again on hand to foil the former Stoke striker from six yards with a fine stop.

Former Clarets striker Gareth Taylor began to make more of an impact for Forest in attack alongside Dobie - and with 20 minutes remaining, the duo were instrumental in creating Commons' 70th-minute winner.

Taylor found John Curtis on the right flank, and he sent over a wicked cross which Dobie met with a firm header back across the face of goal.

As the ball ran loose, Commons raced in to fire the ball home spectacularly into the far corner for his seventh goal of the season.

News of Crewe's defeat at home to Stoke further raised the spirits of the City Ground faithful, who headed home dreaming of an improbable escape from relegation.

Teams

Nottm Forest Doyle, Curtis, Morgan, Melville, Powell, Gardner, Evans, Perch, Commons (Harris 90), Taylor, Dobie.

Subs Not Used: Roche, Doig, Bopp, Hjelde.

Goals: Commons 70.

Burnley Coyne, Duff, Cahill, McGreal, Camara, Branch (Valois 78), O'Connor, Hyde, Grant (Bowditch 72), Roche (Oster 65), Akinbiyi.

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Pilkington.

Att: 24,165

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).