Football: Johnson fires up Forest

DAVID Johnson took up where he left off last season to give Bradford another skinning.

The Division's leading scorer notched up his 17th strike of the campaign and also crossed for Jack Lester's opener.

He didn't feature in Mathieu Louis-Jean's headed goal that made it 3-0 by half-time.

Bradford knew all about Johnson after he played a blinder against them while he was on loan with Sheffield Wednesday last season.

The poor Bantams may have been hampered by having 12 senior players out through injury, but their boss Nicky Law fumed: "The senior pros let us down.Our defending was abysmal.

"You can't play like schoolboys and expect to win in football."

Bradford's Robert Molenaar had a header cleared off the line by Jim Brennan but Forest could, and should, have won by a bigger margin.

Home boss Paul Hart said: "We know David Johnson is a natural goalscorer, but he has so much more to offer to the team than that.

"He created the first goal that got us going. His performances this season have been excellent.

"I'm delighted for all the players because they are getting the rewards for the hard work they have put in, but it's a long season and there is so much work still to be done."

Forest defender Michael Dawson was watched by Liverpool's assistant boss Phil Thompson, and the Anfield club may try to snap up the 18-year-old when the transfer window re-opens in January.

With Forest pounds 20m in debt, Hart could be under pressure to let him go.

MAN OF THE MATCH DAVID JOHNSON

Tricky and troublesome throughout.

NOTTM FOREST: Ward 6, Louis-Jean 7, Dawson 7, Walker 7, Brennan 7, (Doig 6), Williams 7, Scimeca 7, Prutton 7, Lester 7, JOHNSON 8, (Jess 6), Harewood 7

BRADFORD: Davison 5, Francis 6, Molennar 7, Bower 5, Emanuel 6, Juanjo 6, Evans 7, Standing 6, Singh 6, Facey 6, Gray 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: Hart 8; Law 6.

REFEREE: P Robinson 8.

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