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Brennan Johnson's goals were his first in the Premier League since SeptemberNottingham Forest made it back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season after Brennan Johnson's second-half double earned victory over East Midlands rivals Leicester.
The Wales international opened the scoring when he raced onto Morgan Gibbs-White's through-ball and rounded Danny Ward before stroking home his fifth goal of the season.
The same duo combined for the second goal, with Johnson collecting Gibbs-White's fine pass before blasting the ball into the far corner.
Leicester offered little as an attacking threat, with Harvey Barnes spurning their best effort in the first half when he skewed a first-time effort wide when unmarked inside the penalty area.
The win lifts Forest up to 13th in the table and five points clear of the bottom three, with Leicester just two points clear of the drop zone in 15th.
Forest on the rise
Steve Cooper's future as Forest manager appeared to be in doubt after a 4-0 thrashing by Leicester in October, their fifth straight defeat, left the club bottom of the table.
However, Forest responded by offering Cooper a new contract and they have been rewarded by that show of loyalty with a run of just three defeats in 11 Premier League games since.
They were deserved winners here thanks to a much-improved second half display after a drab opening 45 minutes, with Johnson and Gibbs-White at the heart of all their good play.
Their opener arrived when Gibbs-White found himself in space in the centre circle and threaded the ball through to Johnson, who initially saw his celebrations cut short by the off-side flag before the goal was given by the Video Assistant Referee.
Gibbs-White's assist for the second was even better. with his pass with the outside of his right foot finding Johnson, whose fine first touch took the ball away from a chasing defender and allowed him to power the ball into the far corner.
It caps a memorable few days for Forest after their penalty shootout win against Wolves sent them through to the EFL Cup semi-finals.
The only concern was an injury to goalkeeper Dean Henderson late on as he took a goal-kick.
Forest had used all substitutes so could not bring on a replacement, but were able to see out the game.
More to follow.
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Nottingham Forest
Squad number1Player nameHenderson
Squad number24Player nameAurier
Squad number4Player nameWorrall
Squad number26Player nameMcKenna
Squad number32Player nameRenan Lodi
Squad number22Player nameYates
Squad number23Player nameFreuler
Squad number5Player nameMangala
Squad number31Player nameGustavo Scarpa
Squad number20Player nameJohnson
Squad number10Player nameGibbs-White
Squad number7Player nameN Williams
Squad number8Player nameColback
Squad number14Player nameO'Brien
Squad number16Player nameSurridge
Leicester City
Squad number1Player nameWard
Squad number27Player nameCastagne
Squad number18Player nameAmartey
Squad number3Player nameFaes
Squad number33Player nameThomas
Squad number25Player nameNdidi
Squad number24Player nameMendy
Squad number11Player nameAlbrighton
Squad number8Player nameTielemans
Squad number7Player nameBarnes
Squad number9Player nameVardy
Squad number14Player nameIheanacho
Squad number26Player namePraet
Squad number34Player nameBrunt
Line-ups
Nottm Forest
Formation 4-3-1-2
- 1Henderson
- 24Aurier
- 4Worrall
- 26McKenna
- 32Lodi
- 22YatesSubstituted forColbackat 45'minutes
- 23Freuler
- 5MangalaSubstituted forO'Brienat 70'minutes
- 31Furtado ScarpaSubstituted forSurridgeat 55'minutes
- 20JohnsonBooked at 86minsSubstituted forN Williamsat 86'minutes
- 10Gibbs-White
Substitutes
- 3S Cook
- 7N Williams
- 8Colback
- 13Hennessey
- 14O'Brien
- 15Toffolo
- 16Surridge
- 17Mighten
- 25Dennis
Leicester
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Ward
- 27Castagne
- 18AmarteyBooked at 77mins
- 3Faes
- 33ThomasSubstituted forBruntat 68'minutes
- 25Ndidi
- 24MendySubstituted forPraetat 68'minutes
- 11AlbrightonSubstituted forIheanachoat 68'minutes
- 8TielemansBooked at 29mins
- 7Barnes
- 9Vardy
Substitutes
- 4Söyüncü
- 14Iheanacho
- 20Daka
- 23Vestergaard
- 26Praet
- 31Iversen
- 34Brunt
- 44Braybrooke
- 47McAteer
Referee:Paul Tierney
Attendance:29,301
Live Text
Match ends, Nottingham Forest 2, Leicester City 0.
Second Half ends, Nottingham Forest 2, Leicester City 0.
Attempt blocked. Sam Surridge (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Morgan Gibbs-White.
Dennis Praet (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lewis O'Brien (Nottingham Forest).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Dean Henderson (Nottingham Forest).
Substitution, Nottingham Forest. Neco Williams replaces Brennan Johnson.
Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal! Nottingham Forest 2, Leicester City 0. Brennan Johnson (Nottingham Forest) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Morgan Gibbs-White.
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sam Surridge (Nottingham Forest).
Foul by Youri Tielemans (Leicester City).
Lewis O'Brien (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Nottingham Forest. Conceded by Daniel Amartey.
Attempt blocked. Renan Lodi (Nottingham Forest) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Daniel Amartey (Leicester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Daniel Amartey (Leicester City).
Lewis O'Brien (Nottingham Forest) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Lewis Brunt (Leicester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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