Forest reinforce credentials

Davies: Continued progress

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Nottingham Forest continued to demonstrate they are Championship promotion contenders this season with a 4-1 win over Doncaster Rovers at the City Ground.

Billy Davies' side were comfortable winners as a Gareth Roberts own goal and goals from Wes Morgan, Robert Earnshaw and Lewis McGugan rendered Billy Sharp's late consolation irrelevant.

The three points allowed Forest to climb to fourth in the table, while pushing Doncaster down to 18th position.

It was hard to see where a goal was going to come from as possession constantly changed hands in the opening stages and neither side created any clear-cut chances.

The first real chance of the game turned out to be the opening goal. Paul Anderson's initial effort was blocked by Roberts before the ball rolled back to the midfielder and his cross-shot cannoned in off the Rovers man and beyond goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.

The goal clearly frustrated the visitors as Rovers assistant manager Richard O'Kelly was sent to the stands by the referee for his protests.

Doncaster tried to get back into the game but James Coppinger's effort was blocked behind for a corner by Morgan.

Shackell gaffe

The first half burst into life in the final 10 minutes when Earnshaw forced a fine save from Sullivan before Dexter Blackstock headed wide from the resulting corner.

Rovers should have been level before the break when Dean Shiels picked up the ball on the right before playing the ball across to Sharp, but the Sheffield United loanee shot wide of the left-hand post.

Forest were almost gifted a second own goal within minutes of the restart but fortunately for Rovers Jason Shackell's gaffe went behind for a corner.

But Davies' troops doubled their advantage after 58 minutes when Radoslaw Majewski's corner was headed home by unmarked defender Morgan at the far post.

Doncaster should have pulled a goal back but Dean Shiels shot agonisingly wide of the right-hand post before John Oster also failed to find the target.

Doncaster's missed chances proved decisive as Forest scored two quick-fire goals to put the game beyond doubt.

Majewski played in Earnshaw to rifle in a low shot after 76 minutes. McGugan, who came on to replace Majewski, then scored with almost his first touch of the ball he hit a rising shot beyond Sullivan two minutes later.

Doncaster pulled a goal back soon after when Martin Woods' corner was headed home by Sharp, but it was too little too late for Rovers.