A rampant Leicester City banished memories of the 5-1 drubbing by Forest earlier in the season as they swept their local rivals aside this afternoon. Three second half goals without reply sealed the points, following a performance filled with purpose, pride and passion.

Nigel Pearson’s men claimed the three points and a large dose of revenge, thanks to three goals in a devastating 14 minute spell. Bruno Berner opened the scoring after an hour, before two goals in two minutes from the superb Paul Gallagher and midfielder Andy King, put City out of sight.

For an hour both defences were firmly on top, until City raised the tempo to take charge and grab a result that will make the rest of the Championship stand up and take notice. Forest are challenging for an automatic promotion place but were outclassed during a display that announces City as genuine candidates for the Premier League.

Nigel Pearson made two changes to the eleven that beat Doncaster on Tuesday, bringing club captain Matt Oakley back into midfield and recalling Paul Gallagher to the attack, as Nobby Solano and Dany N’Guessan dropped to the bench.

City went into the game unbeaten in seven matches and on the back of three tough away fixtures. Despite their second place standing, the visitors had lost three of their last seven league games, with all three defeats coming on their travels.

With the home support clearly up for it and Forest selling out their ticket collection, the atmosphere at a close to capacity Walkers Stadium was bubbling over nicely before kick-off. But, before battle commenced a minute’s applause for former skipper Bobby Smith, who passed away this week, was passionately and respectfully observed by both sets of supporters.

In the opening minutes, City earned a corner after some good work down the right flank from Paul Gallagher. Martyn Waghorn whipped in a dangerous looking delivery, which just eluded Jack Hobbs. The City man was adjudged to have fouled his marker, but it was an early indication of Forest’s vulnerability to crosses and set plays.

Following the incident, Forest keeper Lee Camp received lengthy treatment on the goal line, but despite looking slightly groggy he was able to continue.

After six minutes, a determined and skillful run from the halfway line by Martyn Waghorn tore right through the heart of the Forest defence, but the striker couldn’t direct his right-footed shot on target.

Three minutes later, Richie Wellens was booked by referee Lee Probert for an ill-timed lunge on James Perch. Forest’s rather tame free-kick was easily dealt with by Wayne Brown, who headed to safety. Wellens, Oakley and King asserted their authority on the midfield in the early exchanges, with King’s touch looking particularly assured.

Martyn Waghorn looked isolated up front at times but was a constant menace to the Forest defenders with his workrate and enthusiasm. City were getting some joy down the right flank with Paul Gallagher’s touch and movement causing problems for the visitors and the Scotsman’s delivery into the box always looked dangerous. One cross fell kindly for Bruno Berner, who should have done better with his pull-back, with men in the middle waiting to pounce.

A fantastically timed tackle from the on-song, Jack Hobbs, thwarted the Tricky Trees as they threatened on the break. Hobbs was soon in the wars after a clash of heads with Dexter Blackstock. Unsurprisingly, the former Southampton striker came off worse and required treatment.

The City defender was penalised for a heavy challenge a few moments later, presenting Billy Davies’ men with a free-kick 30 yards from goal. Radsolaw Majewski’s subsequent delivery led to the best chance of the first-half, as a Robert Earnshaw header came thumping back off the bar, before another attempt was nodded off the line from Wayne Brown.

Earnshaw, who had torn the Leicester defence to shreds at the City Ground earlier in the season, was largely kept quiet, but again went close moments later, with an improvised overhead-kick. The Wales international then saw yellow for kicking the ball away after City were awarded a free-kick as the first–half drew to a close.

Majewski soon followed his teammate into the book for an exaggerated dive after Paul Gallagher’s challenge.

After four minutes of stoppage time the referee brought the opening period to a close. It was a first half that saw both sets of defences on top and left arguably the two best goalkeepers in the Championship largely untested.

During the interval, Billy Davies made one change for Forest, taking off Melton Mowbray’s own Paul Anderson and bringing on striker Nathan Tyson in an attempt to find a knockout blow. Jack Hobbs went into the book after 51 minutes for a clumsy challenge on Dexter Blackstock as the tackles began to fly in and the pace of the game increased.

A few minutes later, Lloyd Dyer was fouled on the right-hand edge of the box. Waghorn whipped in the resulting free-kick, which was met by the head of Michael Morrison. The right-back saw his effort thump back off the crossbar with keeper Camp well beaten, but the referee ruled that the Forest keeper had been fouled.

Then, a purposeful run from Paul Gallagher led to a clever exchange with Matt Oakley, who killed the ball with a back heel before Gallagher lifted his right-footed shot over the bar.

City kept the pressure up attacking down both flanks and another good Gallagher delivery lead to the opening goal. Forest couldn’t clear the ball and it fell to Richie Wellens on the right-hand side of the box. Wellens immediately got it under his spell and drilled a classy back-heel back across goal, which was met by marauding left-back, Bruno Berner, who kept his composure before slamming an unstoppable right-footed drive into the roof of the net, with 68 minutes on the clock.

Forest’s Chris Gunter was the next player to go into the referee’s book for dissent. A couple of minutes later, a mistimed challenge from the back-tracking Paul Gallagher gave Forest a free-kick near the left-hand touchline. City struggled to deal with the ball in and a dangerous shot from James Perch was well blocked, with Chris Weale slightly out of position. As The Foxes broke forward, Perch slid in dangerously on Wellens, and was rightly booked by Probert.

The challenges continued to fly in and Leicester were awarded a free-kick on the right-hand edge of the Forest box. Waghorn and Dyer initially stood over the ball, until super Scot, Paul Gallagher stepped up and slammed a net busting strike right into the top left-hand corner. Camp was beaten all ends up as City extended their lead with just over ten minutes left.

Inside two minutes, with Leicester continuing to run their rivals ragged, Bruno Berner’s shot was turned into the net by Andy King, who had timed his run into the box to perfection. The goal caught Forest on the break and was enough to wrap up all three points and cued huge celebrations from the home fans.

In what was the Walkers Stadium’s highest attendance of the season, the last ten minutes were the stuff of dreams for the City fans. As many of the away support headed for the exit door, The Blue Army enjoyed their side’s keep ball football, cheering every pass with glee and also taunting the remaining Forest fans with several Mexican waves.

The impressive Paul Gallagher was substituted in stoppage time and given a well-deserved standing ovation as Nicky Adams replaced him. The tireless Waghorn was then taken off for Steve Howard moments later and was also given a rousing tribute by the home support.

Forest slumped to their fourth consecutive away defeat and boss Billy Davies will be concerned by their second half surrender. In contrast, his City counterpart Nigel Pearson will be both proud and delighted as his team’s impressive form continues. The win cements Leicester’s place in the top six and maybe gives the likes of West Brom, Newcastle and of course Nottingham Forest, a little cause for concern at the top of the division.

Teams

Leicester City: Weale, Morrison, Berner, Brown, Hobbs, Oakley, Wellens (Kermorgant 85), King, Dyer, Gallagher (Adams 90), Waghorn (Howard 90)

Subs: Logan, Bruce, Adams, Solano, N’Guessan, Howard, Kermorgant

Nottingham Forest: Camp, Gunter, Perch, Morgan, Wilson, Anderson (Tyson 45), Cohen, Majewski (McGoldrick 74), McKenna, Blackstock, Earnshaw

Subs: Smith, Chambers, Moussi, McGugan, McGoldrick, Adebola, Tyson

Goals: Berner (68), Gallagher (79), King (81)

Bookings: Wellens, Hobbs, Waghorn, Oakley (Leicester) Earnshaw, Majewski, Gunter, Perch, Morgan (Forest)

Referee: Lee Probert

Attendance: 31, 759

Man of the Match: Paul Gallagher – Beckham like delivery from the Scotsman whose assured touch and intelligent running caused Forest problems all afternoon. The goal was unstoppable and it was his initial free-kick that caused havoc in the Forest defence for Berner’s crucial first strike. One of Nigel Pearson’s few permanent signings and is beginning to look right at home at the Walkers Stadium.

City’s next home game is against fellow play-off challengers Cardiff City at  3pm on Saturday March 13th. For ticket information visit the club’s official website.