The championship
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3 Assombalonga (31, 46), Carayol (54) READING 2 Kermorgant (58, 74)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST claimed a massive three points in their fight against relegation, as a Britt Assombalonga double helped them beat Reading.
The opener came in the 31st minute when Assombalonga prodded a calm finish beyond Ali Al Habsi’s reach and into the bottom corner.
And they doubled their lead a minute into the second half when Assombalonga headed home another.
Forest scored again in the 54th minute as Mustapha Carayol dodged two defenders before firing a powerful low shot beyond Al Habsi. The Royals added to the drama when they pulled one back in the 58th minute, when Jordan Obita crossed from the right to pick out veteran striker Kermorgant, who headed home.
Carayol had another effort cleared off the line, before Reading pulled another back.
A cross was not properly cleared, falling to Kermorgant who calmly volleyed home his second of the game.
John Swift came close to an equaliser with a low shot that flashed wide while Chris Gunter wanted a penalty when sub Dani Pinillos had made a firm challenge, but Forest held on.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2 Fletcher (58), Hooper (64) DERBY COUNTY 1 Bent (48)
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY edged ever closer to the play-offs as goals from Steven Fletcher and Gary Hooper gave them success over Derby.
Derby thought their winning run at Hillsborough was set to continue after taking the lead three minutes into the second-half. Darren Bent rose above his marker to meet Johnny Russell’s corner and powered a header past Kieran Westwood at his near post.
The away side should have doubled their advantage minutes later. Will Hughes weaved his way into the opposition’s box and rounded Westwood, but his strike was thumped off the line by Glenn Loovens.
The hosts responded and Fletcher, who had sent a series of chances wide, could not miss when Hooper headed Ross Wallace’s whipped ball back across the box and he simply nodded into an empty net.
Wednesday completed the comeback in under 10 minutes after a mistake from Scott Carson, who flapped at Adam Reach’s cross and the ball fell for Hooper, who drove it into the bottom left corner.