Championship wrap: Forest back in playoff spots

Nottingham Forest returned to the Championship playoff places with a 3-2 win over local rivals Leicester City on Friday.

Forest twice gave away the lead but eventually secured all three points after Leicester goalkeeper Chris Weale allowed a late effort from Paul McKenna to squirm under his body and make it 3-2 at the final whistle.

The hosts led through a header from forward Marcus Tudgay 15 minutes into the match at the City Ground.

Visitors Leicester equalised five minutes later courtesy of midfielder Matt Oakley’s drive from outside the area.

Forest keeper Lee Camp got a hand to the shot and might have been expected to keep it out.

It took until the 73rd minute for Forest to restore their lead, with striker Robert Earnshaw netting from close range after Weale could only parry Lewis McGugan’s strike.

Again Leicester levelled quickly – this time in less than a minute – when substitute Darius Vassell pounced to make it 2-2 after Camp failed to hold fullback Kyle Naughton’s shot.

Leicester appeared set to take a point and put a serious dent in Forest’s playoff hopes, before the speculative effort from McKenna and Weale’s error six minutes from time combined to hand Billy Davies’ side victory.

In other matches, relegation-threatened Scunthorpe gained a point with a 1-1 draw away to Coventry City.

Ramon Nunez equalised for visitors Scunthorpe after Marlon King put Coventry ahead in the fifth minute at the Ricoh Arena.

A draw leaves Scunthorpe third from bottom, three points behind Crystal Palace, who occupy the safety of 21st place.

Palace also picked up a point in a 0-0 draw away to Doncaster Rovers, who are just two points and one position better off in 20th.