Nottingham Forest 3 Bristol City 1

Commons' rare quality lifts Forest

the Premiership in his last season in charge, but on the first anniversary of his death came hints at least of a revival. The occasion was marked by the renaming of the A52 linking Nottingham with Derby as "Brian Clough Way".

It would be flattering to describe last night's football in those words, but the supporters who wore green sweat shirts and paid silent tribute before kick-off at least saw a comfortable win, even if mid-table in League One is hardly something to be celebrated.

Forest went behind after 15 minutes as their defence was breached with alarming ease, the striker Steven Gillespie being left unchallenged to steer home Marcus Stewart's pass. But the sense of foreboding that descended on the City Ground in that moment was dissipated when Forest hit back twice in as many minutes.

Jack Lester converted his second penalty within four days after Jamie Smith had brought down Kris Commons, then supplied the cross from which James Perch forced the ball in.

Forest made the points safe 10 minutes into the second half when Commons, whose quality stands out at this level, scored his fourth goal of the season with a beautiful, curling, low strike from 25 yards.

Nottingham Forest (4-4-2): Hoult; Eaden, Morgan, Breckin, Thompson (Gardner, 70); Southall, Friio, Perch, Commons (Bopp, 76); Lester (Dadi, 80), Johnson. Substitutes not used: Gerrard (gk), Pittman.

Bristol City (4-4-2): Phillips; J Smith, Keogh, Partridge, Woodman; Murray (Cotterill, 65), Skuse, Brown, G Smith (Wilkshire, h-t); Stewart, Gillespie (Bridges, 53). Substitutes not used: Orr, Burch (gk).

Referee: S Mathieson (Cheshire).