Nottingham Forest surged back to the top of the First Division with a second
half demolition of struggling Bury at the City ground.
For more than an hour the battling visitors created mounting frustration for
Dave Bassett's side.
But once the breakthrough was made - amid fortunate circumstances - Forest
moved up a gear to win with something to spare.
The all-important first goal came in the 63rd minute when Gordon Armstrong
headed past his own goalkeeper in attempting to clear a cross from Chris
Bart-Williams.
That was the signal for a series of Forest attacks that always looked likely
to produce goals.
Five minutes later Bart-Williams was again heavily involved, driving into the
area and then producing a ball to the far post where Pierre Van Hooijdonk
volleyed home his 29th goal of the season.
And six minutes from time, Forest's victory was confirmed when Kevin Campbell
who had missed opportunities throughout the game, unselfishly set up a third
goal for full back Alan Rogers - his first for the club.
But until that last half hour Bury had fought manfully to curb a Forest side,
who were running out of attacking ideas.
Although they had plenty of possession throughout the first half, Forest, more
often than not, were reduced to shooting from long range.
And it was Bury who had the best opening in the first 45 minutes when striker
Tony Ellis moved on to a long clearance from goalkeeper Dean Kiely, shrugged off
a half-hearted challenge from Steve Chettle but was denied by a fine save from
Dave Beasant.
Van Hooijdonk who had seen a first half free-kick deflected just wide, brought
the home fans to their feet with another dead ball effort that thundered into
the side netting.
The second half was following a similar pattern to the first and Forest - and
their supporters - were beginning to wonder where a goal might come from before
Armstrong's misfortune.
Teams:
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Bonalair, Rogers, Hjelde, Chettle, Thomas,
Stone (D. Johnson 88), Gemmill (A. Johnson 82), Van Hooijdonk,
Campbell, Bart-Williams.
Subs Not Used: Armstrong.
Goals: Lucketti 63 og, Van Hooijdonk 69, Rogers 82.
Bury: Kiely, Woodward, Small, Daws, Lucketti, Swailes,
Rigby (Dalglish 85), Ellis, Armstrong, Jemson (Swan 85),
Patterson (Battersby 69).
Booked: Small, Ellis, Dalglish.
Att: 18,846
Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).
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