DAVID Johnson was the scourge of Norwich City this evening as he scored one of the oddest goals of the season and was also involved in a controversial penalty decision for the second as Nottingham Forest beat the Canaries 2-0 at the City Ground.

On the half hour the former Ipswich striker crept up behind keeper Robert Green as he prepared to punt the ball upfield, nicked it away from him and tapped it into the unguarded net.

Green is in very good company though, as it was reminiscent of the goal Dion Dublin scored for Coventry against Newcastle a few years ago when the big striker did the same thing to keeper Shay Given.

City had started the game in excellent fashion with the side playing deep to combat the threat of Forest's speedy forwards Marlon Harewood and David Johnson. They also kept the influential Andy Reid under wraps by man marking him.

However it was the home team's loan signing Stephen McPhail who produced the first real chance of the match when his curled left foot shot just flew over the bar.

Paul McVeigh then had a snapshot but it lacked venom. The skilful forward was causing the young Forest back four a few problems with his movement and it was he who very nearly gave City a shock lead on 19 minutes.

But Forest had outstanding defender Michael Dawson to thank when the England Under-21 international did brilliantly to head McVeigh's goalbound effort over the bar.

With City looking more composed by the minute, disaster struck! There were 29 minutes on the clock when Robert Green casually bowled the ball out after catching a cross without realising Johnson was behind him. As quick as a flash the striker nipped in and casually rolled the ball into the empty net. 
    
The nature of the goal stunned City and gave Forest the impetus to finish the half strongly. The impressive Johnson flashed another shot into Green's body and McPhail also tried his luck from distance but his effort was well blocked.

HALF-TIME: NOTTINGHAM FOREST 1 NORWICH CITY 0    
 
Norwich started the second half well but were stunned when referee Lee Cable pointed to the spot for an innocuous tussle between Johnson and Gary Holt.

Holt followed the striker into the box and when making the challenge casually placed his hand on Johnson's shoulder only for the former Ipswich man to theatrically throw himself forward. The referee instantly pointed to the spot.

Holt and the rest of his teammates were incensed with the decision, with the Scotsman receiving a booking for his protest.

With 51 minutes on the clock Harewood stepped up and fired the dubious penalty home past Green's despairing left hand.

Nigel Worthington made changes to try and lift the Canaries chances but they continued to have no luck in front of goal.

Substitute striker Elvis Hammond saw a goalbound header magnificently saved by Darren Ward. It was almost as good as David Seaman's in the FA Cup semi-final last season. Ward then easily dealt with substitute Clint Easton's speculative drive.

Hammond's pace was causing the home side problems but the on-loan Fulham forward lacked a bit of composure when near on goal. It just wasn't City's day as McVeigh and the attack minded Marc Edworthy both had shots blocked late on.

The result leaves Norwich in 12th position in the First Division, but if it hadn't been for Green's error and a shocking penalty decision the team might have been travelling home with at least a point. 

There was further bad news after the game when it was confirmed that Mark Rivers had broken his big toe earlier in the game and could be out for 3 to 4 weeks.

FULL-TIME: NOTTINGHAM FOREST 2 NORWICH CITY 0