Nottingham Forest striker Kevin Campbell achieved a personal milestone as his
side moved four points clear at the top of the First Division tonight at the
expense of FA Cup semi-finalists Sheffield United.
The former Arsenal player's double enabled him to reach 20 League goals in a
campaign for the first time in his 10-year career.
Campbell and fellow forward Pierre Van Hooijdonk have now scored 52 times
between them this season to make them the most prolific strike duo in British
football.
Forest were worthy winners as well, chiefly for their fluid attacking football
in the opening half-hour when they raced to a two-goal lead.
Chris Bart-Williams set up both goals and he was a constant threat with his
probing runs and passes, before substituted in the closing stages to a standing
ovation.
But Forest went off the boil after losing former England midfielder Geoff
Thomas - scorer of their opening goal - with a leg injury.
Sheffield came more into the game after the break in what was their final
match before Sunday's FA Cup showdown with Newcastle.
But they seldom looked like salvaging anything from the game and remain in
sixth place - two points behind Ipswich, but now with only one game in hand.
Forest were quickly into their stride and Sheffield keeper Simon Tracey made
an excellent save to keep out a Van Hooijdonk freekick, before Dave Bassett's
team took control with two goals in six minutes.
Thomas put them ahead in the 21st minute when he pounced on an inviting low
centre from Bart-Williams, sending a sweetly-struck close-range volley past
Tracey.
Bart-Williams was again the provider for the second goal, his fiercely-driven
cross picking out Campbell at the near post - and he did the rest with a
bullet-like header.
The Blades finally came to life in the final 10 minutes of the first half,
with new signing Chris Wilder clipping the bar with a 30-yard effort, while
Graham Stuart had a shot turned onto the post by Forest keeper Dave Beasant.
Campbell almost added a third in the 50th minute when his glancing header
forced a superb, one-handed save out of Tracey.
But Forest then seemed to take their foot of the pedal and Sheffield knocked
the ball around with great confidence, although they lacked a cutting edge.
Then, nine minutes from time, Campbell rubbed salt into the Blades' wounds
with his second goal.
Van Hooijdonk's initial header was blocked on the line, but Campbell was on
hand at the far post to apply the killer touch and send the majority of the
21,000 crowd home happy.
Teams:
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Bonalair, Rogers (Armstrong 67), Cooper,
Chettle, Thomas (Johnson 35), Stone, Gemmill, Van Hooijdonk,
Campbell, Bart-Williams (Woan 85).
Booked: Campbell.
Goals: Thomas 20, Campbell 26, 81.
Sheff Utd: Tracey, Wilder, Quinn, Hamilton, Sandford, Dellas,
Derry, Marker (Devlin 53), Saunders, Marcello (Taylor 67),
Stuart.
Subs Not Used: Ford.
Booked: Wilder, Derry.
Att: 21,512
Ref: G Cain (Bootle).
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