Ipswich 1 Nottm Forest 2

David Johnson returned to haunt his former club, scoring both goals for Nottingham Forest at Portman Road which leaves Joe Kinnear's team safe in mid-table and Ipswich looking nervously over their shoulders.

Joe Royle's men are now one of six teams separated by only three points in the battle for the four play-off places, and they face a showdown with eighth place Sheffield United on Friday.

Johnson scored his first goal since suffering a double leg fracture in September in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Millwall and he followed it up with a double which finally guarantees First Division survival for the club he joined from Ipswich for £3 million three years ago.

Matt Richards, teed up by Dean Bowditch, missed a good chance to put the home side ahead early on, but it was Forest who made the breakthrough after only 12 minutes, Marlon King squaring the ball to leave his strike partner Johnson a simple finish.

Jermaine Wright forced Forest keeper Paul Gerrard to make two good saves, while at the other end Andy Reid tested Kelvin Davis with a strike from distance.

Darren Bent headed wide from Jim Magilton's corner as Ipswich continued to press for an equaliser, which finally came when Bowditch turned in Ian Westlake's cross.

Ipswich were not on level terms for long, however, and Johnson restored Forest's lead with a diving header from an Eoin Jess cross.

Substitute Richard Naylor headed against the bar as Ipswich searched for an equaliser that would give them some vital breathing space in fourth place, but they were to be frustrated by the Forest defence.