Pierre van Hooijdonk's firepower put paid to Ipswich's long unbeaten record
and fired Forest four points clear the top of the First Division.
Forest's Dutch goal machine created one goal and scored the winner after
Ipswich, unbeaten in 16 League matches, had taken the lead.
Ipswich were a match for the leaders for long periods of the game and
certainly had the better of the opening and closing stages.
But in the art of goal scoring, van Hooijdonk reigns supreme at this level.
Ipswich had shaken Forest a minute after the break with a fluent move that saw
Mick Stockwell's cross headed down by David Johnson and James Scowcroft applied
the finishing touch.
But Ipswich could not hold onto that lead as Forest hit them with two goals in
three minutes.
The crucial action revolved around van Hooijdonk. His 52nd-minute free kick
from distance was spilled by the otherwise impressive Richard Wright and Forest
skipper Colin Cooper was on hand to turn in his fifth goal of the season.
Three minutes later van Hooijdonk took his goals tally to an incredible 32
when he moved onto a Steve Stone pass, got the better of Jason Cundy and clipped
his shot past Wright.
In a frenzied finish to the game both sides could easily have scored with both
Stone and Scot Gemmill having shots blocked just short of the line and Kevin
Campbell being ruled off-side with the final effort.
But in the dying seconds Ipswich, whose last defeat was against Birmingham on
Boxing Day, were so close to snatching a point and preserving their long
unbeaten run.
Keiron Dyer crossed from the right and Matthew Holland looked a certain scorer
until his shot was blocked by Forest defender Steve Chettle.
The eventful second half followed a more tactical affair over the first 45
minutes when van Hooijdonk was closest to scoring with a spectacular strike that
flew just wide of Wright's post.
Campbell also looked a possible scorer when he forced his way past Tony
Mowbray but lobbed the ball onto the roof of the net with Wright coming out.
Teams
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Bonalair, Rogers, Cooper, Chettle,
Johnson (Hjelde 86), Stone, Gemmill, Van Hooijdonk, Campbell,
Bart-Williams.
Subs Not Used: Woan, Armstrong.
Goals: Cooper 53, Van Hooijdonk 58.
Ipswich: Wright, Stockwell, Taricco, Dyer, Mowbray (Mathie 78),
Cundy, Clapham, Holland, Johnson, Scowcroft,
Petta (Uhlenbeek 61).
Subs Not Used: Sonner.
Goals: Scowcroft 46.
Att: 22,292
Ref: W C Burns (Scarborough).
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