Midfielder Packs real punch for Johnson
LONG-RANGE goals from Marlon Pack and Joe Bryan set Bristol City on course to boost their Championship promotion bid.
Midfielder Pack broke the deadlock on 36 minutes, taking a Korey Smith pass 25 yards out and beating Jordan Smith with a sweetly struck right-footed drive.
Bryan netted from even further out in first-half stoppage time, hammering a left-footed shot that appeared to wrong-foot Smith as it flashed into the net.
Forest replied with a special goal of their own two minutes after the break.
Kieran Dowell advanced to strike a 30-yard shot past Frank Fielding with his left foot to stun the home fans.
But the visitors could not force an equaliser in a clash that did credit to both sides.
Forest goalkeeper Smith kept his side in the game with brilliant first-half saves to deny Bobby Reid, Jamie Paterson and Pack.
In the second half as Forest pressed, there was a collective intake of breath from City fans when sub Ben Osborn almost scored the fourth long-range goal of the match, grazing the crossbar in the 76th minute.
City’s players and staff dedicated their victory to the family of Robins fan Ben Pritchard, eight, who died from a brain tumour last month.
Both sets of fans applauded in the eighth minute and Ben’s parents and sister were guests at the game.
City’s assistant head coach Dean Holden said: “Ben’s final days were spent at the hospice which is our adopted charity and all the players felt deeply over his passing at such a young age.
“It was a very emotional day and the players had to stay focused and demonstrated a really strong mentality.”
Forest boss Mark Warburton said: “It took us 45 minutes to get going and it was the proverbial game of two halves. In the second period we showed what we have been about.
“We missed a great chance to make it 2-2 when the ball flashed across their goal but we cannot allow ourselves to be two goals down before we start playing.”