Collymore double : FOOTBALL

Chelsea 0

Nottingham Forest 2

Stan Collymore spends most of his time making his own goals, but last night he got lucky in a big way. The Nottingham Forest striker scored two of his most fortuitous goals at a time when he could easily have been sitting on the sidelines dwelling on a sending-off. The brace left Chelsea, who were utterly bereft of fortune, still searching for their first home win in three months and their first League win in eight games.

Collymore had already threatened the Chelsea goal twice when, after 18 minutes, he changed tack and began threatening their players. Frank Sinclair clattered into Alf Inge Haland and Collymore objected, grabbing Sinclair around the throat.

Frank Clark, the Nottingham Forest manager, admitted that he feared Collymore would be sent off. Martin Bodenham, the referee, settled for booking both him and Sinclair. "You raise your hands at your peril these days," Clark said. "I was relieved when hewas only booked."

Collymore made the most of his escape. Fifteen minutes later - Roy having headed against the post in the interim - he swivelled to volley in from six yards after Kharin had struggled with Roy's deflected cross.

Seven minutes after the interval he scored again, his 14th goal of the season. Roy broke down the left, cut in and produced a fierce shot that Kharin could only block. The ball cannoned into Collymore's legs and rebounded into the net.

Chelsea, strangely lethargic in the first half, caused a series of scrambles in the Forest box as they belatedly picked up the pace. Mark Stein, John Spencer and Paul Furlong could all have scored with Chelsea showing greater polish after the introduction of Dennis Wise.

Chelsea are beginning to look down, rather than up the table and Glenn Hoddle, their manager, said: "I have reminded my team they cannot rely on cup football. We need to keep our belief and show our character."

Chelsea (3-4-1-2): Kharin; Sinclair, Spackman (Wise 56), Johnsen; Burley, Newton, Peacock, Minto; Spencer; Stein, Furlong. Substitutes not used: Kjeldbjerg, Hitchcock (gk).

Nottingham Forest (4-5-1): Crossley; Lyttle, Tiler, Chettle, Phillips; Stone, Bohinen, Haland, Gemmill, Roy (McGregor 87); Collymore. Substitutes not used: Hall, Filan (gk)

Referee: M Bodenham.

n Liverpool are negotiating to sign Steve Staunton back from Aston Villa in a cash plus player deal worth around £3m. Roy Evans, the Anfield manager, is prepared to pay £2m cash and give Villa the choice of Stig Inge Bjornebye or Mark Wright.