LONDON: Nottingham Forest wasted a chance to go second in Division Two as struggling Scunthorpe clinched a surprise 1-0 win over Billy Davies’ promotion chasers at Glanford Park on Wednesday.
A win would have lifted Forest above Cardiff and Norwich into the second automatic promotion spot, but Chris Dagnall’s first half goal put a dent in the visitors’ bid to reach the Premier League.
Dagnall broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when he poked home Lee Miller’s low cross.
The goal was only Scunthorpe’s third in eight league matches and it was almost followed by another moments later when Josh Wright’s 20-yard effort drew a fine save from Lee Camp.
Forest, beaten for the first time in 11 matches, missed a host of chances to equalise, with the closest through substitute Dele Adebola, whose header hit the bar in the 74th minute.
However, despite that setback Davies’ side still have their fate in their own hands as they have a game in hand on second-placed Cardiff, who are currently two points clear of Forest.
Second bottom Scunthorpe’s win means they are now four points from safety with two games in hand on fourth bottom Crystal Palace.
Davies was furious with his side’s sloppy defending and said: “We’ve given a goal away from naive play, stupid play, and we talked about that before the game.
“In the end the opening 35 minutes or so really cost us dearly because we did not come out and play.
“What is required between now and the end of the season is a mental character and that is what will decide whether you win or lose things.
“We have got to realise that tonight is a missed opportunity.”
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