Football: Forest get out of the wood

Watford. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Nottingham Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . .2

NOTTINGHAM FOREST maintained their promotion challenge and in the process stretched their unbeaten run to 12 games after this hard-fought success at Vicarage Road.

Forest, who are now only six points behind the leaders, Crystal Palace, were forced to come from behind against relegation-threatened Watford, who had taken a 29th-minute lead when the Forest defender Colin Cooper deflected Andy Hessenthaler's shot past his goalkeeper, Mark Crossley.

Watford had further chances as they dominated the first half, but it was a completely different story after the break.

In the 57th minute Cooper made amends when he put Forest level with a forceful header from Ian Woan's centre. Six minutes later the England international, Stuart Pearce, played the ball through to an unmarked Scot Gemmill who scored easily.

Watford: Digweed; Lavin, McCarthy (Soloman, 78), Hessenthaler, Holdsworth, Watson, Dyer, Johnson, Furlong, Porter, Nogan. Substitutes not used: Alsford, Sheppard (gk).

Nottingham Forest: Crossley; Lyttle, Pearce, Cooper, Chettle, Stone, Phillips, Gemmill, Webb, Collymore (Bull, 85) Woan (Black, 83). Substitute not used: Wright (gk).

Referee: P Alcock (Redhill).