Leaders Nottingham Forest took another massive step towards automatic
promotion to the Premiership with a comfortable victory over Wolves at the City
Ground.
Andy Johnson put the home side in front after 32 minutes, slotting home from
eight yards following Chris Bart-Williams' free-kick.
Pierre Van Hooijdonk netted the second, heading in from Kevin Campbell's
deflected shot for his 33rd goal of the season.
And Campbell finally got his reward for a tireless display in injury time,
running on to Bart-Williams' through ball to beat Wolves goalkeeper Hans Segers
and help Forest open up a nine-point gap at the top of the table, although their
rivals were all to play later in the day.
Wolves restored some pride with a much improved second-half display and
substitute Dougie Freedman would have ensured a nervous finish but for a simple
miss after an hour.
But it could not disguise a poor overall display and the travelling Wolves
supporters trailed out almost certain of another season of First Division
football.
Van Hooijdonk had almost given Forest the perfect start as they looked to
confirm their status as favourites for an immediate return to the Premiership.
The Dutch striker, who enjoyed a game-long battle with Keith Curle, was
proving a real handful to the Wolves defence and drew several fouls in the early
stages.
And he came close to making Wolves pay for their transgressions, curling a
30-yard free-kick just over Segers' crossbar with just four minutes gone.
At the other end Wolves were restricted to mainly shooting from distance, with
Simon Osborn and Don Goodman having long-range efforts charged down.
Jon Olav Hjelde had to be alert to clear Robbie Slater's cross with Steve Bull
lurking dangerously behind as the visitors sought to keep alive their slim
play-off chances.
But at times Wolves struggled to get out of their own half for any length of
time and it took some increasingly desperate tackles to keep the hosts at bay.
The home support and Van Hooijdonk clearly felt most of those challenges,
especially on the Dutchman, were unfair - but there was no doubt about the
perfectly-timed tackle by Adrian Williams just inside his own area that denied
Campbell the time and space to shoot.
Skipper Curle unfortunately had not been paying attention and was rightly
booked for a scything tackle from behind on Van Hooijdonk.
A few minutes later Steve Sedgley was next into the referee's notebook - for
holding back Alan Rogers - and this time Wolves paid a high price for their
indiscipline.
Bart-Williams swung the resulting free-kick into the area and while the
attention was drawn to more pushing and pulling between Curle and Van Hooijdonk,
Campbell's shot was blocked and centre-half Johnson pounced on the loose ball to
slide it past Segers.
That was all Forest deserved for their dominance and it was no surprise when
they added a second six minutes before half-time.
Steve Stone's dangerous low cross was cut out by Segers, Campbell again saw
his effort blocked but it looped up straight to Van Hooijdonk and he headed over
the stranded Segers into the goal.
Forest were almost caught napping seconds after the interval. Bull ran on to a
hopeful flick on as the Forest defenders waited for an offside flag but as
Beasant came out the veteran striker blasted a volley over the bar.
That was a warning of things to come for the home side as Wolves turned in a
far better display in the second half - and they should have got back into the
game before the hour mark.
Sedgley's low cross was drilled across the six-yard box but with an open goal
beckoning, Freedman - on as a substitute for Bull - somehow failed to make
contact and the chance went begging.
The compliment was returned at the other end shortly after, Van Hooijdonk
pouncing on Williams' woefully underhit back pass only to lob a shot tamely
straight into Segers' midriff.
But Campbell was not so wasteful in injury time, holding off Williams and
firing past Segers to complete the win in style.
Teams
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Bonalair, Rogers, Hjelde, Chettle,
Johnson, Stone, Gemmill, Van Hooijdonk, Campbell, Bart-Williams.
Subs Not Used: Woan, Armstrong, McGregor.
Goals: Johnson 32, Van Hooijdonk 39, Campbell 90.
Wolverhampton: Segers, Muscat, Froggatt, Sedgley, Williams,
Curle, Goodman, Slater, Bull (Freedman 57), Simpson, Osborn.
Subs Not Used: Claridge, Emblen.
Booked: Sedgley, Curle.
Att: 22,863
Ref: P R Richards (Preston).
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