Late goals at the end of the first period from Dexter Blackstock and Michail Antonio gave Nottingham Forest a 2-0 win over Rotherham United at the City Ground this evening.
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The hosts fashioned an early chance inside the first five minutes when Antonio picked up the ball before curling a shot just wide of the goal from outside the area.
Henri Lansbury was next to try his luck in a fairly tame first half, but the midfielder could only flash his free kick wide with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
However as the first half threatened to peter out, Blackstock struck to give Dougie Freedman's side the lead two minutes before the break.
The striker latched on to Antonio's lofted pass before keeping his composure to chip past Millers goalkeeper Adam Collin.
Antonio then grabbed a goal for himself in stoppage time after a powerful run ended with a low finish that nestled into the bottom corner.
After the break, Lee Frecklington almost reduced the arrears for Rotherham, but his strike could only find the foot of the post.
Jamaal Lascelles should have perhaps put the game beyond doubt on 67 minutes but he could only head over from Ben Osborn's corner.
Karl Darlow had to be alert to make a one-handed save to deny Conor Sammon's deflected effort as the Millers searched for a route back into the game.
Gary Gardner went close to making it 3-0 late on but his 25-yard effort curled the wrong side of the post as Forest saw out the victory.
Paul Gorst
