Forest’s monarch of the Glenn!
CHRIS Hughton says Glenn Murray has plenty more games and goals in him after the 37-year-old guided Nottingham Forest to victory over lowly Wycombe.
Murray has linked up with Hughton again after a successful spell under him at Brighton, in which the striker fired them to promotion with 23 goals.
The veteran’s double, with another from Murray’s former Seagulls team-mate Anthony Knockaert, pulled them clear of the relegation zone.
“Glenn is a model professional who enjoys scoring goals,” said Hughton.
“He enjoys playing and wants to play as long as possible. At this moment we have good competition in that position, perhaps three different types of number nine, and it’s about working to their strengths.”
Murray started in style as he latched on to Gaetan Bong’s long ball and deftly lobbed the ball over Ryan Allsop after only seven minutes.
Allsop’s midweek heroics helped earn Wycombe a precious point against Birmingham City and the keeper had to remain alert ten minutes later, getting down smartly to turn Knockaert’s shot on to a post and away to safety.
Having dragged a shot wide early on, Uche Ikpeazu looked the most likely for Wycombe and he sent a header looping over the bar before another shot was smothered by the Forest defence and cleared.
Despite the Wycombe pressure, Brice Samba was yet to be tested in the Forest goal but had to stay alert as Jordan Obita found his range and his 35-yard free-kick flashed narrowly over the bar. The hosts did eventually find the back of the net through an Ikpeazu header, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
The second half began with Wycombe’s first shot on target, although Ikpeazu’s acrobatic overhead kick was tame and straight at Samba.
Minutes later Wycombe were undone by another long ball, this time from Tobias Figueiredo.
Murray was again on the end of it, controlling with his chest, before being pulled back by Jack Grimmer inside the area.
The referee pointed to the spot, with Murray stepping up to grab his second of the match.
After doubling their lead,
Forest were looking to extend it further with a Cyrus Christie drive seen safely over the bar by Allsop for a corner and substitute Joe Lolley also blasting wide from range.
And it was Lolley who provided Forest’s third goal, with his low cross met by Knockaert, who smashed home from inside the area.
There was still time for further efforts on goal from Knockaert and substitute Lyle Taylor, whose shot flashed past the outside of a post, but the visitors had done enough to secure all three points.
Wycombe remain rooted to the foot of the table and manager Gareth Ainsworth said: “When you give goals away like we did, you’re going to be out of games.”