A cold, dull but dry afternoon was on offer at the City Ground this afternoon. The pitch looked in fine fettle and the scene was set for a good match. The Rovers made two changes from last week, with captain Martin Woods returning after suspension in place of Quinton Fortune and Jason Shackell coming in for an injured James Chambers, an injury to his ankle in training. James O'Connor, therefore moved to right back and Shackell took over in the centre alongside Sam Hird. The Forest had loan signing Nicky Shorey in place of the suspended Chris Cohen and welcomed back strikers Robert Earnshaw and Dexter Blackstock, who replaced Dele Adebola and David McGoldrick. The home team have drawn their last four games, all by a 1-1 scoreline, three of which were away. The Rovers, in all black kit, attacked the River Trent end in the first half.

Each side sounded each other out in the early minutes, with the Rovers winning the first corner of the game after four minutes but nothing came from it. Both sides showed their attacking abilities but also found that the defences were equal to their task. However, on 16 minutes the Forest won a corner on their right. The ball ricocheted around the six yard box before being collected by Majewski on the byline, although the ball appeared to have gone over the line, with his cross being forced into the net off ROBERTS. This sparked muted protests from the Rovers players and even more so from the Rovers dug-out, a protest that ended with assistant-manager Richard O'Kelly being sent to the stand by the referee, Mr Mathieson. When play resumed the Forest, galvanised by the happenings pressured the Rovers defence but found them in resolute form after the perceived injustice against them. Past the half hour and the Rovers got their game together. In the 34th minute the Rovers gained a corner on their right. Shiels had a shot blocked, Coppinger picked up the rebound but a defender got in the way of his shot and deflected over the bar for another corner. Successive corners followed, the second of which was eventually put over the bar by Roberts. Minutes later, Shiels put just wide from 20yards then the same player put across the face of the goal but Sharp was just in front of the ball and couldn't connect. As the end of normal time came up McCleary picked up a clearance from Sullivan and tried his luck from about 30 yards but was well wide. Seconds later and McCleary combined with Majewski on the Forest left to give the latter a crack at goal from 25yards but he put it high and wide.

Half time - Nottingham Forest 1 Doncaster Rovers 0

The Rovers started the second half on the attack but were repulsed and the game settled down to a midfield battle. With 8 minutes gone Gunter got away down the Forest right before putting a low cross into the middle where Hird, in front of his own goal, scuffed the ball out for a corner. The Forest began to get a grip of the game and five minutes later forced a corner on their left. This was placed to the edge of the six yard box where MORGAN rose above everybody to power a header into the Rovers net. The match was being played at a tremendous pace as the Rovers fought their way back into the game. In the 66th minute good work by Gillett on the Rovers left allowed him to give the ball to shiels just outside the Forest penalty area but he put wide of the far post. Three minutes later Oster, on the right touchline halfway in the Forest half, put over a great cross for Sharp to glance a header just wide. Despite having a fair share of the game the Rovers found themselves three goals behind in the 78th minute when EARNSHAW found himself 12 yards out when he received from the right and easily slotted in despite Hird coming in for the challenge. Two minutes later and a fourth rattled the Rovers net as McGUGAN, who had only come on after the third goal, worked his way down the Forest right before cutting in and from a tight angle fired across Smith into the far top corner. Another two minutes and the Rovers got on the scoresheet when they won a corner on their right. Placed into the six yard box SHARP stooped to head in from close range. This was the end of the scoring but the Rovers fought hard to the end, with the final whistle going on a resounding defeat by the clinical finishing of the Forest in the second half.

Teams - Nottingham Forest - Lee Camp; Chris Gunter, Kelvin Wilson, Wes Morgan, Nicky Shorey; Paul Anderson, Radoslaw Majewski, Paul McKenna, Garath McCleary; Robert Earnshaw, Dexter Blackstock

Subs used - Dele Adebola for Blackstock 70mins; Lewis McGugan for Majewski 79mins; David McGoldrick for Earnshaw 83mins;

Subs not used - James Perch, Luke Chambers, Joe Garner, Paul Smith gk

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Sam Hird, Jason Shackell, Gareth Roberts; John Oster, Simon Gillett, Dean Shiels, Martin Woods; James Coppinger, Billy Sharp

Subs used - James Hayter for Oster 72mins; Lewis Guy for Shiels 72mins; Ben Smith for Sullivan 78mins;

Subs not used - John Spicer, Adam Lockwood, Mark Wilson, Byron Webster,