Old pals’ act works a treat for Glenn as he strikes at double

CHRIS HUGHTON hailed the impact of Glenn Murray after the striker celebrated a first Nottingham Forest start with a double.

The veteran striker, 37, arrived from Brighton on a free on deadline day.

And he revelled in teaming up with his former Seagulls boss and ex-team-mates Anthony Knockaert and Gaetan Bong.

Bong provided the assist for a superb opener, while Knockaert crashed in the third for Forest as the East Midlands side maintained their fine recent run.

But for rockbottom Wycombe, their survival hopes are fading after a run of just one win in the last 16 league games.

Hughton said: “Glenn has never had to rely on pace, but he is a clever footballer, a good No.9 who scores goals.

“He gives us good competition up front here and he has been there and done it.

“We are on a good run now and when some of those that are injured are back we have very good options.”

The home side went close when Uche Ikpeazu scuffed a shot wide after five minutes.

But Forest’s early opening goal could have been packaged up and neatly delivered from the Amex

Stadium, where manager Hughton also spent successful years.

After just seven minutes Bong sent Murray clear with a fine ball from the left as he drifted off Josh Knight.

The striker coolly lobbed the ball over Ryan Allsop with the outside of his right foot.

The Chairboys centre-forward Ikpeazu did get the ball in the net after 34 minutes but the effort was ruled out for offside.

In the

54th minute Murray was bundled over and ref James Linington gave the penalty and he scored his and Forest’s second from the spot.

Joe Lolley crossed for Knockaert who smashed the ball home in the 72nd minute.

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth said: “It is hard keeping the morale up. But we made mistakes for the first two goals and we have to stop that, even if it was a soft penalty.”

WYCOMBE: Allsop 5; Grimmer 6, Tafazolli 6, Knight 6, Obita 6; Ofoborh

6 (Thompson (67th) 6), Bloomfield

6 (Mehmeti (62nd) 6); Wheeler 6, Horgan 6 (Samuel 76th), Onyedinma

6 (McCleary (62nd) 6); Ikpeazu 6 (Akinfenwa 76th)

N FOREST: Samba 6; Christie 6, Worrall 6, Figueiredo 6, Bong 7; Garner

6, Cafu 7 (Colback 82nd), Freeman 7 (Lolley (71st) 6); Knockaert 7, Murray 8 (Taylor 76th), Krovinovic 7

STAR MAN: Glenn Murray

REF: J Linington