FOOTBALL: NINE-MAN FOREST FELLED BY HORNETS

FOREST slipped to their first home defeat of the season and had two men sent off in the process - both within an explosive second- half minute at the City ground.

Already seething after Watford had scored from a hotly disputed free-kick, the Forest fans went berserk as Dave Prutton and Jack Lester were both red-carded.

Prutton walked after a reckless lunge at Allan Nielsen and, with tempers still boiling, Lester followed for an equally wild challenge.

The home crowd and players were enraged, but, to be fair to the referee, he had no alternative but to send both packing.

Not surprisingly, Watford hung on for victory, and at the end boos rang around the ground as the referee was escorted off the field by police.

With three straight wins behind them, Forest would have fancied their chances of making if four our of four against a team with a dreadful away record.

Watford hadn't picked up a single point, or even scored a goal away, before their visit to the East Midlands - all their points so far coming at home.

But it was the Hornets who looked the most potent attacking force early on, with Neil Ardley firing wide and then just over inside the first eight minutes.

Forest were restricted to long-range efforts but neither Prutton nor Eugen Bopp were able to find the target.

Forest were furious when Louis-Jean was adjudged to have fouled Danny Webber just outside the box. And they were even more irate when Watford struck from the free-kick. Sean Dyche headed a tempting cross against the foot of the post, but Neil Cox was on hand to rifle the rebound past Darren Ward during first-half stoppage time.

Forest lost influential Riccardo Scimeca with a head injury five minutes into the second half before the red card flourish left them with just nine men.

MAN OF THE MATCH MICHAEL DAWSON

Some player - some passer.

NOTTM FOREST: Ward 6, Louis-Jean 6, Brennan 7, DAWSON 8, Walker 6, Scimeca 7 (Harewood 6), Bopp 6 (Reid 5), Prutton 6, Jess 6, Johnson 6, Lester 5.

WATFORD: Chamberlain 7, Doyley 7, Cox 7, Dyche 7, Glass 6, Hand 6, Ardley 7, Hyde 6, Nielsen 7, Webber 7, Smith 6.

MANAGERS: Hart 6; Lewington 7.

REFEREE: C Webster 5.

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