Recalled strikers Stephen Elliott and Marcus Stewart got Sunderland back to winning ways with the goals in a last-gasp win over 10-man Nottingham Forest.

The pair were handed their places in the starting line-up at the expense of Michael Bridges and Chris Brown following the Boxing Day defeat by Leeds.

Elliott headed in the opener at the start of the second half only for Andy Reid to level the scores in the 55th minute.

Forest defender Gregor Robertson received a straight red card for bringing down substitute Brown 10 minutes from time.

And Stewart made the home side pay as he latched on to a pass from Julio Arca before firing past goalkeeper Paul Gerrard in the fourth minute of injury-time.

The home side dominated the first 45 minutes and David Johnson missed a glorious chance to put Forest in front just before half-time.

Alan Rogers beat the offside trap but striker Johnson somehow contrived to miss the target from six yards out with only Thomas Myhre to beat.

Sunderland nearly took a 10th-minute lead when Arca sent a right-footed volley just over the crossbar.

A long clearance sent Forest striker Neil Harris clean through after quarter of an hour but his first touch let him down and Gary Breen just did enough to put off the former Millwall striker.

Reid, back in the side following a suspension, went close earlier with a fine curling effort which just cleared the bar after receiving a pass from Michael Dawson in the 30th minute.

Sunderland's best chance of the first half fell to Elliott, who latched on to a slide-rule pass from Dean Whitehead, but Gerrard was equal to his shot.

The game exploded into life after the break and the visitors went in front in the 49th minute from a short-corner routine.

Liam Lawrence received the ball back from Arca before sending in a superb cross to the far post where former Manchester City marksman Elliott powered in a downward header for his 10th goal of the season.

However, Reid levelled the scores six minutes later when Johnson caused a nuisance of himself in the box with Breen and Myhre getting in each other's way.

The ball came straight back to Reid, whose neat chip just glided underneath the crossbar to level the scores.

Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy was also hit by a double injury blow in between Reid's leveller as both Carl Robinson and Lawrence limped off, with Jeff Whitley and Brown coming on as replacements.

The game started to open up as Gerrard pushed a Stewart shot around the post, while at the other end Eugen Bopp forced Myhre into making a smart save.

Arca then hit the outside of the post midway through the second half following a pass from Elliott as Sunderland searched for a winner to banish the memory of their defeat by Leeds.

Again Forest lacked the killer touch in front of goal as Rogers' shot was blocked at the near post.

The ball fell perfectly into the path of substitute Gareth Taylor, on for Harris, but the striker missed from just eight yards out.

Robertson was then given his marching orders for bringing down Brown on the edge of the area, before Stewart struck at the death.

Teams:

Nottm Forest Gerrard, Robertson, Morgan, Dawson, Thompson (Commons 90), Rogers, Bopp, Derry, Reid, Johnson (King 78), Harris (Taylor 68).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Doig.

Sent Off: Robertson (80).

Booked: Reid, Thompson.

Goals: Reid 55.

Sunderland Myhre, McCartney, Breen, Caldwell, Wright, Arca, Robinson (Whitley 51), Whitehead, Lawrence (Brown 56), Stewart (Neill Collins 90), Elliott.

Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Bridges.

Booked: Lawrence, Whitehead, Wright, Whitley, McCartney, Arca, Brown.

Goals: Elliott 49, Stewart 90.

Att: 27,457

Ref: T Kettle (Berkshire).