Lester gives Forest edge to cut down blunt Blades

Forest defied a slippery surface to produce a slick performance, a three-goal blitz early in the second half enabling them to leapfrog Sheffield United into fifth place in the First Division table. Paul Hart's side carry the stamp of genuine promotion contenders, a comment Neil Warnock might have made about his team before two defeats in the East Midlands that halted a run of one defeat in 11.

United surrendered the lead at Derby to lose 2-1 in midweek but this defeat was much more emphatic and reflects Forest's transformation after finishing 16th last season amid huge financial problems. The former Manchester United trainee striker David Johnson has been the main difference, though others reaped the benefit of his hard work yesterday. Jack Lester followed his last-gasp equaliser against Leicester a week ago with two more goals, as well as having a hand in the other.

Forest are unbeaten in nine matches, having produced football that has at times evoked the Brian Clough era. Not surprisingly, this has led the City Ground crowd to anticipate a return to more prosperous times after several lean years, but Hart warned against letting expectations become too high. "This is a young side who still need time to develop and our supporters must be patient," he said. "I'm happy with the progress we are making but there is a long way between November and May and a lot of possible pitfalls."

Patience was required as the visitors appeared capable of maintaining the disciplined style Warnock has instilled lately. Johnson, eager to add to his 16 goals, was thwarted time and again, if not always legally, as Forest dominated the first half without making a breakthrough.

The outstretched foot of United captain Robert Page brought Johnson down in full flight after 16 minutes, earning him a yellow card. Earlier, Johnson had been denied by the legs of goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, and an incisive move involving Gareth Williams and Riccardo Scimeca was foiled by Page again, this time legit-imately as the ball was whipped off Johnson's cocked right foot. Kenny produced another vital save to defy Marlon Harewood, and was brought into action by Johnson again just before half-time.

Wayne Allison, later to spurn a chance to equalise that Warnock felt might have changed the course of events, in fact could have put United ahead three minutes into the second half, sliding his shot narrowly wide of the left-hand post. But three goals in nine minutes then established complete control for the home side, whose vibrant attacking play deserved no less.

Soon after Kenny tipped a long-range effort by Williams past the post, Lester opened the scoring after 54 minutes, the Sheffield-born striker and Johnson having attacked Scimeca's near-post cross from the left. Lester struck again in the 61st minute, beating Kenny's dive with a cleverly curled 20-yarder, before playing releasing Johnson on the right two minutes later to provide a low cross for Harewood to slide home from close range.

Nottingham Forest 3 Sheffield United 0
Lester 54, 61, Harewood 63

Half-time: 0-0 Attendance: 22,579