Football: FOREST ARE FELLED AS LIONS ROAR

IF Gary Megson was not fully aware of the problems he's inherited at Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest, he is now.

In his first game in charge, Forest huffed and puffed and had chances to change the course of the match. But in the end defensive frailties cost them dear.

They showed plenty of passion for the new manager, but first-half goals by Barry Hayles and Alan Dunne left them with the kind of challenge they just could not quite meet.

A late goal by Kris Commons set up a grandstand finish, but Millwall held on despite all the frantic efforts.

Megson tried everything to get his reign off to a winning start after taking on the job of steering them to survival.

He rang the changes and even switched his formation from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2 at half time; but Millwall were in no mood to let the three points slip.

Forest started encouragingly, but were flattened in the tenth minute when Millwall took the lead against the run of play.

Mark Phillips landed a ball into the Forest box and Hayles turned swiftly past makeshift defender Gareth Taylor to fire in his eighth goal of the season.

Forest were just inching back into the contest when they were struck by a decisive second blow eight minutes from half-time.

Hayles shrugged off Forest skipper Michael Dawson and fed Dunne, who finished with a classical chip over Forest keeper Paul Gerrard.

Forest continue to waste chances in the second half but four minutes from time Forest eventually got some reward when Commons, easily Forest's best player, sent a looping header past Stack from King's cross.

It was too little too late, but Forest will be hoping that's not the case with Megson's appointment.MAN OF THE MATCH

DARREN WARD

Rock solid on his return

NOTTM FOREST: Gerrard 6, Dawson 6, Taylor 6, Doig 7, Louis-Jean 6, Evans 6, Derry 7, Commons 8, Robertson 6 (Foley 6), King 6, Johnson 5 (Rogers 6).

MILLWALL: Stack 6, Phillips 6, Lawrence 7, WARD 8, Muscat 6, Dunne 7, Morris 7, Livermore 7, Hayles 7, Dichio 6, Dobie 6

MANAGERS: Megson 6; Wise 7

REFEREE: N Miller 6

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