Harewood haul sends timely warning to Huckerby

Nottingham Forest 6 Stoke City

"Get off, Harewood!" came a cry from the City Ground's main stand as a crossfield pass on the stroke of half-time embarrassingly dissected two Nottingham Forest players on its way into touch.

It might have been what Darren Huckerby was thinking as he looked on before his official signing today in a three-month loan deal from Manchester City. Huckerby's goals at the end of last season helped bring one promotion crusade to a happy end. Now, in his home city, he aims to do the same.

Where and how his pace and energy are going to be accommodated in this young side, though, is anybody's guess. Forest have won three successive League games for the first time this season and have hit 11 goals in so doing, six of them in this merciless slaughter of a wretched Stoke City.

That the first four came from the right boot of Marlon Harewood, taking his tally for the season to 15, saw to it that he can hardly be sacrificed.

And David Johnson's place is guaranteed after his excellent far-post header for goal No 5 consolidated his standing as the First Division's leading scorer with 24.

The Forest manager, Paul Hart, spoke of a "Huckerby factor" – a sharpening of minds amid increased competition for places – and acknowledged that all three could be unleashed together.

Stoke hit bottom spot for the first time as they caved in after their spirited FA Cup defeat against Chelsea. Stripped of their backbone by suspensions to Sergei Shtanyuk, Brynjar Gunnarsson and Chris Iwelumo, they were unlucky to lose Petur Marteinsson to a red card for alleged deliberate handball on 44 minutes.

With three goals already scored, the outcome was hardly affected, only the margin of defeat. Harewood grabbed the ball, rolled in the resulting penalty and so became the first Forest player since Peter Withe in 1977 to score four goals in a League game.

Withe had John Robertson as supplier. On Saturday, Forest had Andy Reid wide on the left and he helped set up three of the six with his outstanding running and crossing.

Goals: Harewood (13) 1-0; Harewood (24) 2-0; Harewood (29) 3-0; Harewood pen (44) 4-0; Johnson (53) 5-0; Jess (85) 6-0.

Nottingham Forest (4-4-2): Ward; Louis-Jean, Dawson, Hjelde, Brennan; Williams, Scimeca, Thompson (Oyen, 70), Reid; Harewood (Jess, 82), Johnson (Westcarr, 76). Substitutes not used: Roche (gk), Doig.

Stoke City (4-4-2): Banks; Thomas, Handyside, Marteinsson, Hall; Richardson, O'Connor, Henry, Hoekstra (Neal, h-t); Mills, Greenacre (Gudjonsson, 74). Substitutes not used: Cutler (gk), Goodfellow, Wilson.

Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield).

Sent off: Marteinsson.

Man of the match: Harewood.

Attendance: 24,085.