Football: Huddersfield have no answer to Forest's second half burst

Huddersfield Town 0 Nottingham Forest 2

Nottingham Forest, the First Division leaders, scored twice in quick succession midway through the second half to exacerbate the problems of Huddersfield and their manager, Brian Horton.

Horton's position is beginning to look vulnerable with Huddersfield rooted to the foot of the division and without a league win since the end of April. His side displayed plenty of heart and passion, particularly during a sustained spell at the start of the second half when they threatened to take a hold on the match, but it was typical that they did not turn pressure to advantage. They have scored only five goals in their nine leagues games this season.

By contrast, Forest took their chnaces when they came with defender Colin Cooperputting away the first and Dean Saunders the second as they stretched their lead in the division to four points, overnight at least.

There were few chances in the first half, although Forest's Dutch international striker, Pierre van Hooijdonk, did hit an angled, 15-yard drive to test Derek O'Connor, who had been called in to the Huddersfield goal in place of the dropped Steve Francis.

Huddersfield's Alex Dyer and Cooper both went close with shots from long range towards the end of the first period, before Huddersfield enjoyed their purple patch at the start of the second, albeit without troubling the Forest keeper, Dave Beasant.

The breakthrough came in the 68th minute when Cooper, who stayed with Forest despite a pounds 2.5m offer from West Ham, which the Midlanders accepted, swung his left foot at a pass from a prone Saunders. The ball trickled in off the inside of O'Connor's left hand post.

The 19-year-old keeper then made a point blank save from Saunders in the 73rd minute following a Chris Bart-Williams corner. But the wily striker made no mistake with his second attempt to keep Forest ahead of the chasing pack.

Huddersfield Town: O'Connor; Jenkins, Edmondson, Dyson (Dalton, 71), Morrison, Gray, Beresford (Edwards, 85), Dyer, Stewart, Payton, Burnett. Substitute not used: Collins.

Nottingham Forest: Beasant; Lyttle, Rogers (Johnson, 86), Cooper, Chettle, Armstrong, Saunders, Gemmill, Van Hooijdonk, Campbell, Bart-Williams. Substitutes not used: Smith, Guinan.

Referee: S Mathieson (Stockport).