Newcastle United went a little closer to getting promoted back to the Premiership while beating fellow promotion candidates Forest who are now likely to face the play-offs.

It was Forest who started off the brightest in the first 10 minutes but then had to defend solidly to stop Newcastle from scoring.

Andy Carroll saw a shot saved as a great ball was whipped into the box from Routledge, and as Carroll hit the ball with his shin the ball went straight at the keeper who could only knock it away.

Newcastle had another great chance in the 25th minute as the Perch made a fantastic tackle in the box to disposes Lovenkrands, the ball fell to Carroll who was reluctant to shoot with his right foot, and by the time the ball came onto his left Forest got numbers back and were able to clear.

Forest did get a great opportunity in the first half as great build up play let Tyson cross the ball straight to Blackstock who was unmarked and his first time shot went wide.

Forest stared the better in the second half and could have scored the opener as Tyson unmarked in the box heads straight as Harper.

Both sides had chances in the second half, but it was Newcastle who broke the deadlock through substitute Shola Ameobi. Newcastle’s attack started as Forest were clearing the ball, the ball hit Majewski’s heel which fell to Kevin Nolan, he then found Ameobi who turned on the outside and struck the ball across goal and into the bottom corner to give his side the lead.

Newcastle got themselves fired up after the goal and Routledge forced the keeper to palm the ball away with a shot from 20 yards out. Newcastle kept up the pressure as Nolan saw his shot saved at the front post by Camp.

Lee Camp made two great saves from two Guthrie free-kicks before Newcastle made it 2-0. Enrique collected the ball from a throw-in, played a lovely one-two with Ameobi, before cutting back inside to smash the ball past Camp.

Newcastle United Line-Up; Harper, Coloccini, Enrique, Williamson, Simpson, Nolan, Guthrie, Routledge, Gutierrez, Lovenkrands (Barton 90), Carroll (Ameboi 48) Bench; Krul, Taylor, Kadar, Barton, Butt, Best, Ameobi

Nottingham Forest Line-Up; Camp, Perch, Morgan, Wilson, Gunter, Anderson, Cohen, Moussi, Majewski (Earnshaw 72), Tyson (McCleary 60), Blackstock (McGoldrick 77) Bench; Smith, Chambers, McGugan, Adebola, Earnshaw, McCleary, McGoldrick

Attendance; 45,987

Referee; Alan Wiley

David Osterland