Nottingham Forest 2 Rotherham United 0: A second-half brace from Britt Assombalonga lifted the Reds eight points clear of the relegation zone
Managerless Forest got back to winning way after losing 2-0 to Leeds United last time out to give their survival ambitions a major boost
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A DOUBLE from Britt Assombalonga lifted the sense of gloom for managerless Forest who moved eight points clear of the drop zone.
The striker hit a 50th-minute penalty and wrapped up victory with a close-range shot 19 minutes from time against Rotherham United.
A day after being turned down by Burton manager and City Ground legend Nigel Clough for the vacant manager’s role, Forest rarely impressed.
But urged on by caretaker boss Gary Brazil, they were well worth only their second win in 10 league outings.
The result left The Millers pinned to the bottom of the table, though the visitors looked the sharper team in the early stages.
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Twice Forest goalkeeper Stephen Henderson was forced into diving saves from Millers winger Jon Taylor.
But Forest gained control and three minutes before half-time wideman Jamie Ward had a 15-yard drive brilliantly saved by keeper Richard O’Donnell.
Assombalonga broke the deadlock after being brought down by central defender Richard Wood for the penalty.
As Rotherham hit back striker Danny Ward was denied an equaliser by Henderson’s superb stop from close range.
But the result was never in doubt after Assombalonga tapped in Ward’s pin-point 71st-minute cross.