Tyson delivers knockout blow to end Albion run

11:23pm Friday 7th December 2007

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It was good while it lasted but Albion's ten-match unbeaten run came to an end against the best team they have faced this season.

Nathan Tyson, sent-off in the corresponding fixture last season, scored goals in each half for fluent Forest.

His second, soon after the interval, was a killer blow for the Seagulls and the visitors ran out comfortable winners despite playing the last 37 minutes a man down following the dismissal of Sammy Clingan.

While Forest look a good bet for promotion on this evidence, Albion must do better against the top sides if they are to mount a challenge of their own.

The result keeps them in eighth place ahead of Saturday's programme and, of the seven sides above them, Southend are the only ones they have managed to beat.

The attack-minded line-ups named by both managers emphasised their desire to take all three points, for slightly different reasons.

In Albion's case they wanted to end a run of four successive League draws, so Jake Robinson was recalled in place of the unwell David Martot.

Forest were eager to bounce back from their wasteful midweek defeat at Walsall. Illness ruled out Kris Commons and Aaron Davies was relegated to the bench. Their replacements were two recognised strikers, Junior Agogo and Grant Holt.

Dean Wilkins abandoned the midfield diamond which worked in the second half of the FA Cup victory at Torquay and then stifled Doncaster in Tuesday's goalless deadlock in Yorkshire.

The brief for Robinson, operating as he has done of late on the right wing, was to stretch the Forest defence. He was heavily involved in the first half after a cagey start by both sides. Robinson launched a counter-attack from inside his own half, spreading the play to Dean Cox who in turn found Nicky Forster.

His swivelling shot from 25 yards went narrowly wide and Forster's partner, Bas Savage was also not far off the mark with a curling effort after cutting inside and through the Forest rear guard.

There were other moments of promise for the Seagulls. Robinson was just wide with an audacious attempt with the outside of his right foot when a corner was cleared to him and Savage accidentally blocked Cox's volley from a cross by Forster.

There was not much wrong with Albion's attacking endeavours but the same could not be said of a defence fresh from consecutive clean sheets.

There was a breakdown in communication when a backpass by Joel Lynch rolled past the advancing Michel Kuipers. He had to retreat to clear into touch from the pursuing Agogo.

That was the first hint of uncertainty at the back and more followed. Clingan was not closed down when his shot deflected through to Kuipers and Chris Cohen missed a sitter for the visitors, volleying over from point-blank range when Holt headed on a free-kick by Lewis McGugan.

Albion were not getting tight enough and they paid the price on the half hour when Forest mounted a similar raid which had a conclusive ending. A cross this time from McGugan was headed on again by Holt and Tyson made no mistake with a volley from close in.

The Seagulls responded well and were unlucky not to be level in the 36th minute. A snap-shot from inside the area by Dean Hammond was parried by keeper Paul Smith and Forster, following up, smacked a low drive against the outside of Smith's left-hand post.

Albion were forced into a defensive re-shuffle for the second half, Paul Reid replacing the injured Andrew Whing at right-back. The last thing they needed was to fall further behind but that was exactly what happened four minutes into the restart.

Lynch seemed to have a long ball from the back by Kelvin Wilson under control midway inside his own half but he tried to be too cute and was dispossessed by Tyson, who did not need any second invitation. He glided past Adam El-Abd and gave Kuipers no chance with a precise finish.

Tyson's former Reading teamates, Forster and Savage, shook hands with him before the game. At that point they must have felt like ringing his neck.

Tyson's red card at Withdean last season was for swinging an elbow at El-Abd. That was daft and so was a rash tackle by Clingan on Robinson in the 53rd minute which saw the midfielder dismissed.

It was unnecessary, with his team in command, but also a touch harsh. Perhaps referee Keith Hill was swayed by the reaction of the Albion bench to Clingan's challenge, which occurred right in front of the home dugout. A yellow card would have been more appropriate.

Alex Revell was thrown on for Tommy Fraser as Albion tried to retrieve the situation but they never really recovered from Tyson doubling Forest's advantage with his sixth goal in seven games. All they had to show for their attacking endeavours against the ten men was a Revell volley over the bar from a Robinson cross.

Albion (4-4-2): Michel Kuipers; Andrew Whing, Adam El-Abd, Joel Lynch, Matt Richards, Jake Robinson, Tommy Fraser, Dean Hammond, Dean Cox; Bas Savage, Nicky Forster. Subs: Alex Revell for Fraser (withdrawn 66), Guy Butters, Paul Reid for Whing (injured 46), Nathan Elder, Doug Loft for Hammond (withdrawn 86).

Yellow Cards: Whing (45) foul, Cox (68), foul.

Nottingham Forest (4-3-3): Paul Smith; Kelvin Wilson, Ian Breckin, Luke Chambers, Matt Lockwood; Sammy Clingan, Lewis McGugan, Chris Cohen; Grant Holt, Junior Agogo, Nathan Tyson. Subs: Wes Morgan for McGugan (withdrawn 86), James Perch for Agogo (withdrawn 60), Aaron Davies, Neil Lennon, Dale Roberts.

Red card: Clingan (53) serious foul play.

Yellow card: McGugan (56) not retreating.

Forest scorers: Tyson (30), (49).

What did you think of the game?